And just like that, LDC Conference 2024 has passed. It has been a privilege to chair this year and host the conference in beautiful Brighton. Thank you all for attending, participating, and bringing such warmth and joyfulness.

I am grateful for the support from the Agenda Committee, BDA, GDPC, my own LDC, and all of you.

The theme was exploring what good looks like, with reflections on current realities and how we got here. With insights from the GDPC chair, the outgoing health select committee chair, and the four devolved nations.

We discussed young dentists' concerns, patient needs, and the call to lead the prevention revolution. We explored sustainability, enabling us to start that audit cycle today. We explored the future, and we were invited to be part of the solution through the BDJ portfolio's role.

We addressed all 34 motions efficiently, highlighting our ability as GDPs to overcome time pressures.

I am very much looking forward to welcoming you to Brighton for our Annual Conference of Local Dental Committees. Along with the agenda committee and our colleagues at the BDA, we have taken on board your comments and worked hard to put together a programme that we hope will engage and inspire. We have reached out to key speakers, in line with our overarching theme of exploring what "good" looks like from different perspectives.

Given that it is an election year, Dentistry is in the media a great deal and is an important doorstep issue for politicians and the public alike. It is likely that there will be more scrutiny and interest in what we say and the way we represent our profession. With NHS dentistry facing an existential threat, the NHS workforce experiencing diminished hope, Integrated Care Boards grappling with delegated commissioning, and patients confronting an escalating crisis in access to NHS dental services, the need for dialogue and collective problems solving has never been more critical.

Our first day will be focused on hearing different perspectives from distinguished speakers, while our second day will be devoted to motions LDCs have brought forward. It is an honour to chair this conference. Like you, I take pride in being an elected representative of our profession. We willingly accept the responsibility to support, represent, and influence on behalf of our electorate NHS GDPs. LDCs were established by statute when the NHS was first formed, and I firmly believe they play a crucial role in shaping the future landscape too.

Thank you to those of you who contributed to the ‘Slido’ question I shared previously to explore what "good" looks like from the perspective of LDCs. Three issues emerged: reform funding, support and engagement with the workforce, and ensuring sustainable, equitable quality care. These topics are also, perhaps unsurprisingly, reflected in the motions submitted. You may notice that motions have been divided by objectives to aid democratic discussion and timing so that we can reinforce or challenge current policy, scrutinize, or support ideas both new and old, to influence the future of our profession within the NHS framework.

It is my hope that we can influence change for the better, as losing NHS Dentistry from our society cannot be the goal. I believe there is a unique opportunity currently to influence change. For too long, we have seen our service wither on the vine; I hope we can change direction and rebuild a service that serves the patient, the practitioner, the practice, and the state.

Thursday 6 – Friday 7 June 2024
DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel

NHS dentistry is in a perilous position. The NHS workforce is disheartened and disillusioned. The current and next generations of dentists see little prospects within the NHS. Integrated Care Boards are grappling with delegated commissioning and competing budgetary demands. Patients are encountering difficulties accessing NHS dental services, and politicians' mailboxes are overwhelmed with letters detailing the impact of insufficient care, with no clear political solution in sight.

This could be an election year. Can we help turn any of this around?

The profession is seeking engagement with key stakeholders, we believe that an active dialogue is necessary to address the impasse we currently find ourselves in.

The central theme of our conference is "Exploring What Good Looks Like." We believe that good healthcare practices and policies can vary greatly depending on one's viewpoint – from policymakers to performers, practices, and patients. We aim to understand these diverse perspectives to evolve the collective good.

From the iconic Brighton Pier to the stunning Royal Pavilion, Brighton promises to provide a memorable backdrop for the Local Dental Committees Annual Conference 2024. The agenda committee and I look forward to welcoming you to Brighton, renowned for its rich history, cultural diversity, and picturesque landscapes.

NHS dentistry is in a perilous position. The NHS workforce is disheartened and disillusioned. The current and next generations of dentists see little prospects within the NHS. Integrated Care Boards are grappling with delegated commissioning and competing budgetary demands. Patients are encountering difficulties accessing NHS dental services, and politicians' mailboxes are overwhelmed with letters detailing the impact of insufficient care, with no clear political solution in sight.

This could be an election year. Can we help turn any of this around?

The profession is seeking engagement with key stakeholders, we believe that an active dialogue is necessary to address the impasse we currently find ourselves in.

The central theme of our conference is "Exploring What Good Looks Like." We believe that good healthcare practices and policies can vary greatly depending on one's viewpoint – from policymakers to performers, practices, and patients. We aim to understand these diverse perspectives to evolve the collective good.