The role of our primary care dental teams is to:

• Commission quality, accessible and timely NHS dental services for  residents in the South West, across primary, secondary and community care dental pathways
• Implemented through national contracting mechanisms, enablers and frameworks, developed to support local commissioning of NHS dental services

Information for professionals

The South West Primary Care Dental team regularly shares information for dentistry professionals via Special Bulletins and updates. These are sent direct to dental practices via email. If you are a practice manager or contract holder and not receiving these, please contact england.swdental@nhs.net quoting your contract number(s) and practice details. Please share these bulletins with your GDPs and other appropriate staff.

• Information for professionals in South West, covering Devon, Cornwall, Isles of Scilly, Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
• Information for professionals in Bath and North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire

Contact our dental team

For Devon, Cornwall, Isles of Scilly, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Tel: 01138 253039
Email: england.swdental@nhs.net

For Bath and North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire
Tel: 0113 825 1520
Email: england.swdental@nhs.net

Local Dental Networks and Committees

Local Dental Networks (LDN) provide local clinical leadership. They support the implementation of national and regional strategy and policy at a local level and are a vehicle for working with key stakeholders on the development and delivery of local priorities.

The LDN is represented through a national LDN Assembly in order to influence future policy change and improvements. A single operating framework guides LDNs’ establishment, development and functioning. This promotes a consistent approach across the country but also allows flexibility for health communities to develop their own LDN structures that fits with local needs.

We currently have information about the following LDNs:

• South West Dental LDN

The dental team encourage all GDPs both working in the NHS and private practices, to engage with their Local Dental Committees who are there to give support and guidance, particularly regarding Urgent Care Referrals:

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LDC https://www.cornwall-ios-ldc.co.uk/contact/
Devon LDC https://devonldc.org/contact/
Somerset LDC http://www.somersetldc.org/contact-us/
Dorset LDC https://www.dorsetldc.org/contact-us/
Avon LDC https://www.avonldc.org.uk/contact/
Gloucestershire LDC http://gloucestershireldc.co.uk/contact-us/
Wiltshire LDC https://www.wiltsldc.co.uk/contact.htm

Support for Dentists

There are many organisations that dentists can contact for help, support and advice.