Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that dental professionals are adequately (a) represented and (b) involved during decisions on that profession's services under the new Integrated Care Structures.

The introduction of integrated care systems, consisting of an integrated care board (ICB) and integrated care partnership, will strengthen partnerships between National Health Service, dental care and local authorities, and with local partners, including Local Dental Networks. As a minimum, ICBs will include a chair, chief executive and representatives from NHS trusts, primary care and local authorities. Local areas will have the flexibility to determine further representation.

‘Building strong integrated care systems everywhere: ICS implementation guidance on effective clinical and care professional leadership’ sets out how system leaders should ensure that the full range of clinical and care professionals are involved in decision-making at every level of their system. This guidance is available at the following link:

B0664-ics-clinical-and-care-professional-leadership.pdf (england.nhs.uk)