OHIP updates from the Scottish LDC Conference
The Scottish Conference of Local Dental Committees held their 19th annual Conference on Friday 20 April 2018 at the Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling. Conference had invited Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport to speak to delegates on the political matters relevant to GDPs in Scotland and in particular about the Scottish Government’s Oral Health Improvement Plan (OHIP). At Conference S Robison made the following announcements:
Community Challenge Fund
Action 7 in the OHIP states that ‘Scottish Government will intend to introduce a new three-year Community Challenge Fund for Oral Health Improvement. We will host an event with our partners to help develop key components of the fund’. The fund will allow organisations to bid for funding to work in deprived communities and support people to change their oral health behaviours. Ms Robison stated that an initiative would be launched later this year.
New Domiciliary Care Provision
Action 11 in the OHIP states that ‘the Scottish Government will introduce arrangements to enable accredited GDPs to provide care in care homes. These practitioners will also work with care home staff and the PDS to ensure the maintenance of good oral health and hygiene.’ Ms Robison made an announcement that by the end of this financial year, Scottish Government plan to implement a joint working group for GDPs and the PDS to address the shared care arrangements which will initially focus on care in care homes and will eventually move to address the needs of those living in their own homes.
Occupational Health
Action 34 in the OHIP states that ‘the Scottish Government will introduce an occupational health service for GDPs, members of the dental team and other practice staff’. Ms Robison announced that the Scottish Government will introduce this service for GDPs, members of the dental team and other practice staff. It will be implemented on 1 June 2018. The Chair of SDPC has written to the Cabinet Secretary seeking more detail about how funding will be made.
Workstreams
Action 38 states that ‘the Scottish Government will establish a number of short-life working groups to take forward the actions set out within this plan’. Ms Robison announced that an overarching steering group would be set up in May 2018 by the CDO, and that input from key stakeholders would play a central part. She also said that there would be regular updates to the profession on the work of the groups.
Contributed by Elaine Bruce, Policy Adviser at the British Dental Association