To receive an annual update from NHS Devon ICB and Torbay Public Health in respect of oral health and dental access in Torbay.

Melissa Redmayne - Senior Commissioning Manager (Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental) and Jonathan Bouwer-Davies – Clinical Dental Advisor for NHS Devon Primary Care Commissioning Team outlined the submitted presentation which provided an update on Oral Health and Dental Access, Mark Richards – Public Health Specialist also attended the meeting and responded to questions.  The key points included:

·                Commissioning had moved to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) in July 2023, who worked jointly with Torbay Council.

·                Improvements in dental access were noted, but extractions for 0–19 remained high.

·                Government plans minor contract reforms in April 2026 to improve retention and delivery.

·                Preventative initiatives: Big Brush Club (nursery coverage) had been extended to cover deprived areas in Torbay.

·                Local Recovery Plan: procurement for new dental practices with a value of £1.3m (it was noted that the original presentation stated 8,000 urgent care appointments but this was 1,645).

·                Electronic referral system introduced with validation of dental waiting lists underway.

·                Workforce Strategy was looking at retention and career pathways for NHS dentists.

Members raised the following questions:

·                Why were dentists moving to private practice instead of NHS?

·                Was there evidence that vaping causes oral cancers or mouth problems?

·                How does the Big Brush Club ensure children continue brushing at home?

·                Do dentists have targets for waiting lists?

·                How many practices have opted out of NHS contracts?

·                What support exists for emergency dental stabilisation?

·                What would happen if NHS dentists cannot be recruited in Torbay?

·                How was Torbay-specific data being addressed?

·                The Community Cancer Team provided sessions at Paignton Library to check for oral cancer but were not allowed to advertise in advance that they would be at the library, what was the reason for this.  A written response would be provided.

The following responses were provided:

·                NHS dentists face greater challenges, particular regarding the contract based on Units of Dental Activity.  The UDA system can make delivering dentistry more challenging in areas of greater need. Private dentistry may be more appealing due to the greater remuneration and flexibility.

·                Emerging evidence suggests vaping was linked to gum disease, but there was no strong evidence yet connecting it to oral cancers.

·                Through the Big Brush Club children receive home packs with toothpaste, leaflets, and guidance.  Outreach included distributing leaflets via food banks and warm spaces.  Councillors could help by sharing these resources in their communities.

·                Dentists do not have targets for waiting lists.  Dentists were commissioned for a set amount of activity, not for maintaining patient lists.  There was no registered NHS patient list; patients could attend any practice that has capacity.

·                No NHS dentist contracts have been revoked in Devon.  Some practices have chosen not to renew contracts, but procurement was underway to fill gaps.

·                Stabilisation services were available but limited.  Healthwatch reports high demand.  The Workforce Strategy aims to improve retention and recruitment to expand these services.

·                Procurement was ongoing, with bids under evaluation.  Contracts will prioritise urgent care and vulnerable patients.  Additional funding was being repurposed for preventative work.

·                Public Health has some Torbay data, but future reports aim to disaggregate Devon-wide data for local insights.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.       that the Public Health Specialist and Director of Adult and Community Services be requested to work together to identity the appropriate baseline information/data that would be useful for the Sub-Board to consider at their next annual update to ensure that they are able to understand where Torbay is and what stabilisation of dental access looks like;

2.       that the Integrated Care Board be requested to provide a written update on access to domiciliary dental care within care homes;

3.       that information on the Contract award for urgent dental access and the mobilisation timeframe be provided to the Sub-Board when available; and

4.       that the Director of Public Health be requested to provide Councillors with paper and electronic leaflets on good oral hygiene to share with their residents to promote good practice and raise awareness of where people can go to receive help and to provide more information in the community.