Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Health Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 23 October 2023 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

Rebecca Morgan (Project Development Manager) and Lisa Bosomworth (Project Lead) will be in attendance to provide:

·        information on the local population’s views and experiences of accessing and using NHS dental services; and

·        details of the impacts of Covid-19 on members of the public being able to see a local dentist for both regular check-ups and emergency treatments.

The Project Development Manager and the Project Lead from Healthwatch South Tees were in attendance to provide:

·        information on the local population’s views and experiences of accessing and using NHS dental services; and

·        details of the impacts of Covid-19 on members of the public being able to see a local dentist for both regular check-ups and emergency treatments.

The Project Lead advised that for the period between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, Healthwatch South Tees had received 198 contacts via a variety of different mechanisms, such as the information signposting function, general engagement and focus groups.

Members heard that on a quarterly basis, community intelligence was gathered by Healthwatch South Tees and shared with relevant stakeholders in primary care, secondary care, social care and public health.

For the period between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, of the 198 contacts, 57 of those related to dentistry. Local residents had contacted Healthwatch because they were unable to access NHS dental care, even though at times, they had highlighted that they were in pain.

The scrutiny panel was advised that the following issues had been highlighted by the local population:

·        residents had been de-registered/de-listed by their dental practices, without notice;

·        there were no NHS dental practices accepting new patients;

·        residents who were new to the area were unable to register with an NHS dental practice;

·        residents were only being offered private appointments; and

·        residents had been unable to access emergency appointments via NHS 111.

It was commented that the most common issue reported to Healthwatch South Tees, was residents being deregistered and removed from their regular dental practice patient list. It was explained that because residents had not been accessing NHS dental services during Covid-19, they had been subsequently removed from patient lists. As a result of that, Healthwatch South Tees had developed a myth buster document, which aimed to dispel the most common rumours relating to NHS dentistry.

Members heard that Healthwatch South Tees had been informed that dentists would prioritise residents ‘in pain’. However, feedback received from local residents would suggest that was not the case. 

Members heard that Healthwatch South Tees had contributed to the work of Healthwatch England in lobbying the Government and calling for a recovery plan for NHS dentistry. The evidence received from communities across the country had made it clear that the lack of access to NHS dentistry needed to be addressed.

Concerns were expressed by Healthwatch South Tees in respect of how the independent statutory body should respond to dentistry enquiries - as, locally, there were no available NHS appointments.  Previously, Healthwatch had been advising local residents to contact NHS 111. However, now NHS 111 call handlers were recommending to residents that they contact their local Healthwatch.

It was commented that it was highly important that dental practices regularly updated their details on the NHS Choices website, as that enabled Healthwatch to access current information on availability for local people.

For the period of 1 April 2023 until 31 October  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23/20

Professor Tim Thompson will be in attendance to provide:

·        an overview of the wide range of free dental treatments offered by the University’s dental practice;

·        details of the restorative and preventive treatments offered by the University’s dental practice for adults and children;

·        information on how the University works with local dental practices; and

·        details of the patient referral process.

Professor Thompson, the Dean of the School of Health and Life Sciences, from Teesside University was in attendance to provide:

·        an overview of the wide range of free dental treatments offered by the University’s dental practice;

·        details of the restorative and preventive treatments offered by the University’s dental practice for adults and children;

·        information on how the University worked with local dental practices; and

·        details of the patient referral process.

The scrutiny panel heard that the School of Health and Life Sciences was the largest academic unit within Teesside University and comprised over 9500 students, of which 1200 were apprentices.  It was commented that the university offered:

·        a Cert HE in Dental Nurse Practice, 18 student places were available each year, 9 of which were commissioned by the NHS;

·        a undergraduate degree in Dental Hygiene, 45 student places were available each year; and

·        a postgraduate degree in Dental Therapy.

In 2023, the university had launched its Integrated Care Academy (ICA), which was an entity that wrapped around the school and functioned as a buffer between the academic offer to allow the community to better access the activities that occurred on campus. It was within the ICA, that the university’s clinical services were based.

The Student Dental Facility (SDF) within Teesside University had a focus on the oral health of the region and offered a wide range of dental treatments, including oral hygiene and dietary advice, routine scale and polish, and extensive periodontal treatments. The SDF provided a variety of restorative and preventive treatments for adults and children, utilising gold standard, evidence-based clinical practice.

It was advised that routine dental treatments were performed, however, the SDF did not perform the more complex treatments.

The SDF opened in its current format in 2020 and had been approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Prior to 2020, the university had its own dental service, which was ran by qualified dentists. However, it had been acknowledged that when operating that model, not enough placement opportunities were being created and not enough patients had been accessing the service.

Members heard that patients needed to be registered with a dentist to access the SDF, as treatments could only be provided under referral from an external dental practitioner. It was explained that once registered and referred by the dental practice, the SDF would perform the treatments required, freeing up capacity at the practice.

The scrutiny panel was advised that the SDF usually served 160 patients a week at full capacity (with a maximum of 360). Currently, the SDF was only accessible during term time.

By performing routine treatments, the SDF provided local dental practices with additional capacity/time to perform more complex treatments and activities.

It was highlighted that although local dental practices were referring patients to the SDF for routine treatments, those practices continued to benefit financially as they received the units of activity (UDA).

The following benefits of the SDF were outlined to the scrutiny panel:

·        local residents were able to access dental care for free,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23/21

The Chair will present a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 18 October 2023.

The Chair explained that at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, which was held on 18 October 2023, the Board had considered:

·        an update from the Executive Member for Children's Services;

·        the final draft of the Council’s submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission;

·        a revised report on setting the work programme for the Overview and Scrutiny Board for 2023/2024;

·        the Executive Forward Work Programme; and

·        updates from the Scrutiny Chairs.

NOTED

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (NTHFT) and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STHFT) ‘Group Model’

A Member commented that the Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee had met on 2 November 2023 to receive an informal presentation on the evolving North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (NTHFT) and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STHFT) ‘Group Model’.

Following the meeting, a statement had been prepared and shared with relevant stakeholders, detailing the comments of the committee.

The statement had been circulated to the scrutiny panel (for information) by the Democratic Services Officer.

NOTED