South West Regional Chief Dental Office (RCDO)

Core Functions

  1. Support NHS England and NHS Improvement to deliver evidence based, clinically led commissioning for oral health and dental care through joint development and leadership of commissioning priorities and plans which will integrate with locally based planning and commissioning systems
  2. Focus strategies and plans on the themes of the 5 Year Forward View including prevention and working towards reducing health inequality within the overall context of improving outcomes.
  3. Set up, where appropriate and work with, Managed Clinical Networks to deliver and review the service outcomes of the elements of the local strategies and plans at a system level
  4. Use a pathway approach to service design and delivery, as set out in the Guide to Commissioning the Dental Specialties, which promotes clinical effectiveness through using appropriate skill mix and integration.
  5. Promote and support the development and implementation of local quality assurance and improvement systems to drive improvement in outcomes, in line with local and national priorities.
  6. Provide clinical and professional leadership and facilitate wider clinical engagement across the Network, ensuring relationships with public and patients CCGs, PHE, LETBs, Local Authorities and the STP process
  7. Contribute to the national LDN Assemblies and Conferences

Local Dental Networks are concerned with the whole dental pathway. Commissioning all primary, secondary and community dental services presents an opportunity for LDNs to integrate dental care pathways.

Dentists and other dental care professionals across the NHS can work together to make sure care best meets the needs of patients, by placing services in the most appropriate setting and linking workforce development and dental commissioning strategies.

Dental LDNs will support practices in making sure day-to-day care is both clinically appropriate and delivers the best for patients.

NHS England, through their dental networks, will work with local authorities and Public Health England to develop and deliver oral health improvement and associated commissioning plans specific to the needs of local populations.