The January 2023 update from Ali Sparke, director for dentistry, and Rebecca Harris, deputy chief dental officer, opened by expressing plans to support the “development of skill mix in dentistry”.

The authors recognise that “since 2013, dental care professionals (DCPs) have been able to work privately to their full scope of practice, providing direct access to patients without people needing to see a dentist first.”

To coincide with the 2022/23 contract reforms “NHS England is satisfied that dental therapists (DTs) and dental hygienists (DHs) can provide direct access to NHS care where that care is within the GDC scope of practice, if they are qualified, competent, and indemnified to do so.”

They also announced that the skill mix guidance has been published which “clarifies a number of the misunderstandings that previously existed.”

Skill mix in NHS general dental practice - changes to the FP17 claim form

The update recognises that until “October 2022, several administrative processes have created a barrier to NHS dental teams maximising the full potential of DCPs.” Changes to the FP17 will allow DCPs to “record their contribution to providing NHS care, including to open and close a course of treatment under NHS contract arrangements.”

The list of changes includes:

  • “FP17 amendments allow the DCP’s role and their GDC number to be inputted, allowing DTs and DHs to open and close a CoT.
  • “Until additional proposed changes are finalised and completed, a dentist’s ‘Performer ID’ will still be required on the FP17, even if DTs or DHs have completed all the CoT. Practices will need to agree a suitable approach regarding which Performer ID is input for administrative purposes. We anticipate this will be a contract holder’s Performer ID, where possible.
  • “Where delegation of part of a CoT occurs, the contribution of the DCP to that treatment should be included on the FP17.
  • “DCP data fields should be used to record the clinician/s who have provided one or more components of treatment for the patient. Other dental staff, for example dental nurses providing chairside assistance, should not be recorded here.
  • “Guidance from the NHS BSA on completion of FP17 forms can be found on their website.”
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Miranda Steeples, BSDHT president said, "BSDHT are happy to hear that dental hygienists and dental therapists are being recognised as being able to contribute to the oral healthcare of England’s population across all sectors in dentistry. It is a positive move that NHS England are aligning with providers outside of NHS dentistry in facilitating these proficient professionals in delivering exemplary care to patients, without a referral from a dentist. We look forward to working with NHS England to secure safe and fair working practices and conditions for our members, and exploring ways in which contract reform can work better for patients accessing care from the whole dental team".

Fiona Ellwood, executive director SBDN said, "We are delighted to see the momentum growing towards better use and incorporation of skill-mix across the team. Dental nurses are well-placed, agile, adaptable, and future-focused and have waited so long to play their part within the skill-mix agenda. We acknowledge this is still very early days, but we are cautiously optimistic that progress is being made."

Also covered in the update:

Changes requiring regulatory amendments

From November 25, 2022 the amendment to the Band 2 UDA allocation for fillings and/or extraction of three or more teeth, and/ or provision of non-molar and molar endodontic care has come into effect.

For more information about this change, please visit the NHS website.

Free PPE to health and social care sectors extended by up to one year

Free covid PPE will be extended until March 2024 or “until stocks are depleted (whichever is sooner).”

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-scheme

Code of practice on IPC

Infection prevention and control guidance under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 has been updated. Appendix B of the code of practice gives examples of interpretation for primary care dental practices.

Keeping your NHSmail active – use it or lose it

The authors remind readers that NHSmail user accounts which are not proactively used now have 30 days before being classed as inactive. If there is still no activity, the account will be deleted after a further 30 days.

Undertaking one of the following every 30 days will keep your NHSmail account active:

BMJ Leader Live Event

St Pauls will host a gathering of health and care professionals on February 24, 2023. The event will provide delegates with “the support and skills necessary to become better leaders.”

For more information email clinicalLeadership@leadershipacademy.nhs.uk

Practitioner Health Mental Wellbeing App

The app is now available to every member of the primary care team. Register using the code PC2022.

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