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CDO letters
CDO letters are the main way in which the Chief Dental Officer communicates with dentists and their teams.. They are issued to inform dentists of policy changes and to advise on key issues of the day in terms of the practice of dentistry in England. They are issued as appropriate. Copies of the most recent letters are located here.
Letters relating to the GDS contract
25 April 2006
This letter sets out a number of important current issues. While the first relates specifically to dentists with NHS contracts, the enclosed information also addresses wider issues relating to all dentists in England
29 March 2006
The new contractual arrangements come into force on 1st April 2006. In advance of April, this letter aims to draw attention to the following key transitional matters: Contractual continuity over the transitional period; Maintaining cash flow; and Transitional arrangements for patient charges in courses of treatment that span the April change period.
4 January 2006
This letter from Barry Cockcroft, Chief Dental Officer for England (Acting), gives details on new dental services contracts and system of patient charges approved by Parliament. This letter asks dentists and primary care trusts to work together to agree new contracts to ensure continuity of service provision from April 2006.
29 November 2005
This letter from Barry Cockcroft (Acting Chief Dental Officer for England) highlights important information from the Dental Practice Board (DPB) to all dentists with general dental services (GDS) contracts.
8 November 2005
This letter from Barry Cockcroft, Chief Dental Officer for England (Acting), addresses the following three issues of concern among dentists: children only lists, Units of Dental Activity, and the future of current PDS agreements.
General letters
5 February 2008
Letter from Chief Dental Officer Barry Cockcroft to SHAs and PCTs. It covers the legislative framework, the requirement for PCTs to assess the oral health needs of their population and good practices on the conduct of consultations on new fluoridation schemes (or changes in existing schemes).
3 May 2007
Chief Dental Officer, Barry Cockcroft is writing in response to the BDA Chief Executive's letter to BDA members about infection control guidance and vCJD.
3 April 2007
The Department and strategic health authorities have agreed that a dental health survey of 5 year old children should be undertaken in 2007/08 as part of the NHS rolling programme of dental surveys. This letter to PCT Chief Executives outlines the legal requirements with regard to dental surveys and their importance in the local commissioning of dental services.
4 December 2006
Improved validation of data submitted by dental contractors to the NHS Business Services Authority is being implemented this month. This note explains the improvements and outlines possible action for PCTs.
18 September 2006
Review of current issues, including fluoridation, take up of the new contract, use of new capital funding, reconfiguration of Local Dental Committees, and controlled drugs.
4 July 2006
This letter serves to inform SHAs and PCTs of the funding flows for Vocational Dental Training posts attached to primary dental care contractors. Under the new framework for primary dental services SHAs will receive devolved budgets to support the employment of Vocational Trainees within practices providing primary dental services.
1 June 2006
Letter from Clare Hiblin to SHAs outlining arrangements for the collection of data on the new dental contract.
19 January 2006
As the Modernising Medical Careers programme does not include dentistry, there will be a continued need for senior house officer (SHO) posts in the dental specialties after the introduction of Foundation Year 1 and 2 posts to medicine. This letter from the Chief Dental Officer (CDO) asks for these posts to be retained.
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Publications and letters library
Use this library to find publications, letters, circulars and related documents. You can use words or figures, such as series number to help locate documents.
Chief Dental Officer letters
Letters from the Chief Dental Officer to key audiences.
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