Amalgam update

Dear Contractors,

 

Please see below a few updates on things which you need to be aware of.

 

1. Paper FP17s – In November 2017 the National Health Service (Primary Dental Services and General Ophthalmic Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 were laid before parliament. These regulations require that all FP17 claims from 1^st May 2019 be submitted electronically. As such, NHS BSA (Dental Services) will not accept paper (hard copy) claims for treatment carried out on or after this date.  If you do not already submit your claims electronically, this means you will need to have changed to electronic submissions by that date.

 

2. Expressions of Interest for Further Prototype Sites – As you may be aware prototype regulations have been extended for a further two years, allowing us to continue testing the approach further. As well as continuing to work with existing prototypes the programme is inviting further practices to join the prototype arrangements. The aim in taking on additional sites is both to increase the overall learning while simultaneously focussing on the practical learning that will be gained to manage any subsequent rollout effectively.  There is an online form for practices to complete their expression of interest. This can be found, along with supporting information at:  https://www.pcc-cic.org.uk/article/dental-contract-reform. A message has already been placed onto Compass to notify practices of the process and provide links to the online form.  The closing date for applications is Friday 9 March 2018 at 9am.

 

3. NHS England-South Wessex is looking to secure the provision of an electronic referral service and to have this in place later this year.  We will update you nearer the time. Please be aware that any electronic referral system will require users to hold a valid NHS mail account –  so if you do not already use one please email our generic email address urgently to request one:  [email protected], and a member of our team can assist you.

 

4. Mercury Regulations – European Union (EU) Regulation 2017/852 on Mercury has been made on the use and disposal of mercury.   Article 10 introduces new legislation around the use and disposal of dental amalgam. The regulation came into force last month and is now part of UK legislation however the provisions on dental amalgam have later implementation (effective) dates:

 

• from 1 January 2019, dental amalgam must only be used in pre-dosed encapsulated form. (Article 10(1)),
• from 1 July 2018, dental amalgam must not be used for dental treatment of deciduous teeth, of children under 15 years and of pregnant or breastfeeding women, except when deemed strictly necessary by the dental practitioner based on the specific medical needs of the patient (Article 10(2)),
• from 1 January 2019  dental facilities must be equipped with an amalgam separator and by 1 January 2021 all separators must retain at least 95% of amalgam particles (please note this latter requirement applies to any new separators installed from January 2018 onwards) (Article 10(4)).

 

5. Team Contacts – we have taken this opportunity to attach updated contact details for members of our team.

 

6. Contractor Details – may we remind you to let us know of any changes to your email address/es.  We have nearly 400 NHS dental contracts to manage and we need to know that we are reaching the correct person when we need to advise of new referral pathways, new regulations, etc.  Your cooperation with this would be much appreciated.