Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE

Secretary of State for Health

Department of Health

Richmond House

79 Whitehall

London SW1A 2NS

Dear Mr Lansley,

RE: NHS Health Reform Bill

Members of the British Society for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) are most concerned about the proposals within the Health and Social Care Act, which have pronounced implications not only for our ability to fulfil our role in improving the oral health of the nation, but also the very nature of the National Health Service. We wish you to know that BASCD is formally opposed to the Bill. In particular we wish to see the following three points addressed at minimum:

First, the Secretary of State must have the duty to secure provision of comprehensive and equitable health care for the whole of the population of England.

Second, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) must make sure that comprehensive and equitable healthcare is available for everyone.

Third, nothing must be done that undermines the ability of the Secretary of State to fulfil the duty to secure provision of comprehensive and equitable healthcare.

We urge you to revise the bill at the earliest opportunity and ensure that it is not further progressed without these revisions.

Yours sincerely,

PS: BASCD is the specialist association for dental public health in the UK. Dental public health is the science and the art of preventing oral disease, promoting oral health, and improving the quality of life through the organised efforts of society. Our practice therefore involves dental care for and in the community. The Association's objectives are:

  • The promotion of oral health in the community

  • The maintenance of a body with expert knowledge of, and experience in, all aspects of dental public health

  • The study of the provision of oral health care for the community

  • The development of the teaching of dental public health

  • The study of relevant aspects of community dental practice.

We are a multi-faceted organisation with a wide membership including consultants and trainees in DPH, clinical directors of Salaried Dental Services and academics.