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| Issue 5 - October 2009 |
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| Second e-reporting licence issue to PCTs NHS BSA Dental Services is in the process of rolling out a second e-reporting licence and full day's training to every PCT. The first licence and associated training was issued during January to March 2009 and - while most PCTs recognise the value of the system - there still appear to be some areas where its usage is low. In August when the roll out was announced SHAs were invited to assist PCTs with choosing the best person to receive the second licence and training and to ensure that the significance of e-reporting as a management tool for NHS dentistry is understood. A copy of a report outlining current system usage was also sent to SHAs in advance of this. As at 22 September all but 8 PCTs had nominated an individual to receive the second licence and full day's training. It is strongly recommend that if you have not done so already, SHAs work with PCTs to ensure the right person is trained so that the full benefits of this system can be realised. NHS Dental services can provide SHAs, on request, with information about which PCTs have registered for the licence/training and who has been nominated. If you would like this information or have any other questions about the training or licence roll out please do not hesitate to contact NHS Dental Services at the following address: service.development@dpb.nhs.uk |
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| Procurement |
| Progress on procurement and template Agreement You may be aware that we are currently in discussions with the BDA with regard to a revised template Dental Agreement. We are making progress in developing a template Agreement that provides quality and access metrics, and is attractive and workable for providers. The BDA have concerns that the current version is unnecessarily complex and over specified. We are working constructively with the BDA to address these issues and are confident that over the coming weeks we will have a new template agreement that is effective in achieving our aims and attractive to providers. Some PCTs are at a crucial stage of procurement and need to know how to proceed. A few PCTs have asked to use the new template Agreement and are already in contact with the Commercial Team. For those PCTs it is vital they keep in close contact with the Commercial Team as the agreement has changed from the earlier version. For those procurements that are imminent and who are not planning to use the template agreement, it is still vital to use this unique opportunity to use the additional investment to build in quality and access metrics to all new procurements. Many PCTs have already achieved this, however if you require support please contact the Commercial Team in the first instance through Jatinder.Garcha@dh.gsi.gov.uk. |
| Workshops The DH Commercial Team is making good progress on the procurement workshops for PCTs and SHAs and the schedules for Workshops 1 and 2 are now complete. Workshop 1 covered the process leading to publication of an advert (including affordability assessment, needs assessment and PCT Essential Data). Workshop 2 covered the Memorandum of Information (MOI) and Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ). Workshop 3 will be taking place during October. This workshop will cover the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage and the Agreement in detail. Further details will be sent by the Commercial Team shortly. Please check the DAP web pages regularly as the following documentation is due to be uploaded shortly:
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| Performance Management |
| SHAs have recently submitted the trajectories for the Dental Vital Signs indicator. Once these have been agreed and signed off, they will be used in routine monthly performance management discussions with the Performance Delivery Team in DH. More information to follow in the next issue of Access@dental. |
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| Contract Management |
| As previously reported, a comprehensive contract management good practice guide is under development and is due to be published later in the year, subject to compliance with internal DH clearance protocols. |
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| New access indicator |
| Piloting of a possible new indicator across sample PCTs, based on the public's experience of dentistry, started in early August and finished in mid September. The pilot surveys peoples' most recent experience of seeking an NHS dental appointment. We are testing out whether it is possible to develop a measure that differentiates effectively between areas of good dental access (where supply meets demand) and poor dental access (where demand significantly exceeds supply). The company appointed, BMRB, is carrying out the survey via 1,000 telephone interviews per selected PCT. The calls are being made directly to residential homes via randomly generated telephone numbers. Decisions on whether the pilot can be used as a prototype for a new measure will be made by mid autumn. Factors to be considered include not only how effectively the survey works as a measure of demand and supply, but also whether there is a cost effective way to deliver a measure based on public experience across all 152 PCTs. The results of the survey and next steps will be covered in future issues of Access@dental. |
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| Communications |
| Communications pilot programme now up and running Leading PR agency, Bell Pottinger, has been appointed to work on developing PCT based communication pilots. The objective will be to test out the best ways of changing public perceptions on the availability of NHS dentists. The pilots will be testing both proposed messages and proposed communication channels, and will be sharing the findings amongst all PCTs in due course. Work with the PCTs is starting in October and we will be giving regular updates on this work via this newsletter and the DAP website. |
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| Do you have any feedback? We are keen to receive comments and case studies from PCTs working to increase access to NHS dental services. Please email julia.battersby@pcc.nhs.uk |
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