The Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, to discuss NHS dental services, GP provision, and workforce updates within the Lincolnshire system. Councillors will also have the opportunity to comment on the committee's work programme.

NHS Dental Services in Lincolnshire

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on NHS dental services across Lincolnshire. Rose Lynch, Senior Commissioning Manager, Pharmacy, Optometry, Dental & GP Services – East Midlands Primary Care Team, is expected to present a report that includes information on:

• access to NHS dental services, including for children and young people
• the Lincolnshire Dental Strategy
• developments with the national dental services contract
• the three-year dental commissioning plan
• patient feedback

Sandra Williamson, Director for Health Inequalities, Prevention and Regional Collaboration – NHS Lincolnshire ICB, Kenny Hume, Local Dental Network Chair, Andy Fox, Consultant in Public Health, Anna Ireland, Consultant in Dental Public Health – NHS England, and Vanessa Hails, Head of Primary Care Services – East Midlands Primary Care Team are also expected to be in attendance for this item.

The report notes that a similar update was given to the Lincolnshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) in February 2025, and that a request was made at that meeting for a further briefing in December 2025.

The report on NHS Dental Services in Lincolnshire includes data on dental access rates for 2024 and 2025. According to the report, in 2025, 25.84% of the total population accessed NHS dental care, slightly lower than the national average of 26.51%. However, the report also indicates an increase in access compared to the same period in 2024.

The report also contains a map that shows the level of dental access for Lincolnshire ICB by Middle Super Output Area (MSOA) from January to June 2025, which indicates that:

the level of access remains the most challenging on the East Coast, South Holland, North Kesteven, Boston and areas within Lincoln City and better rates of access in South Kesteven, East Lindsey (excluding the coast) and West Lindsey.

The report also notes that the socioeconomic landscape of Lincolnshire is unequal, which has a direct bearing on access to NHS dental care.

The Lincolnshire Dental Strategy is scheduled to be discussed, which has four key pillars:

• Developing the Dental Workforce
• Improving Access to Dental Services
• Increasing the Focus on Prevention
• Strengthening the Integration of Oral Health into Wider Health Care Services.

The report also mentions the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health (LIDOH) and the Lincolnshire Institute of Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH), both based at Lincoln University.

The committee will also consider the government's manifesto pledge to improve dental access by 700,000 urgent care appointments.

GP Provision in Lincolnshire

The committee is scheduled to discuss general practice provision in Lincolnshire, with reports from both NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the Lincolnshire Local Medical Committee. Dr Reid Baker, Chair of the Lincolnshire Local Medical Committee, Sarah Jane Mills, Director for Primary Care, Community and Social Value - NHS Lincolnshire ICB, and Nick Blake, Programme Director for Primary Care – NHS Lincolnshire ICB are expected to be in attendance for this item.

The GP Provision report pack includes a report from NHS Lincolnshire ICB, which states that there are 81 GP practices across Lincolnshire, working together as 14 Primary Care Networks (PCNs). The ICB is working with these practices to improve access, sustain high-quality services, support population health management, and implement developments agreed as part of the 25/26 GP contract.

The ICB report also refers to the NHS Long Term Plan¹, which describes how general practice should lead on improving the 'whole person' health of a local population.

The report from the Lincolnshire Local Medical Committee notes that general practice is working hard to meet the needs of patients, providing new services and more access. The report states that appointment data from September 2025 shows increasing activity levels in general practice.

The LMC report also raises concerns about the impact of the contractual access changes implemented on 1 October, as well as the lack of progress on a new substantive GP contract.

Lincolnshire System Workforce Update - Health

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on workforce provision within the Lincolnshire system. Claire Low, Chief People Officer - Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, Amy Beeton, Chief People Officer – Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Sarah Jane Mills, Director for Primary Care, Community and Social Value - NHS Lincolnshire ICB, Julie Stevens, Senior Workforce Lead for System Transformation - Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, and Vicki Lightfoot, System Retention Lead, Community Health Services NHS Trust are expected to be in attendance for this item.

The Lincolnshire System Workforce Update - Health report includes information on several significant announcements made by the Government impacting the health and care system, including the abolition of NHS England, and plans to introduce both opportunity and challenge.

The report also mentions the NHS ten-year health plan 'Fit for the Future' which was published setting out three strategic aims and objectives: analogue to digital; and sickness to prevention.

The report notes that Lincolnshire ICB would be clustering with NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB and NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB.

The report also provides an update on the NHS workforce, and wider work of people and workforce across health and care in the Lincolnshire system aligned to our forward look at initiatives, system.

Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire - Work Programme

The committee is scheduled to consider and comment on its forthcoming work programme. Simon Evans, Health Scrutiny Officer, is expected to present a report for discussion.

The HSCfL Current Work Programme report lists confirmed items of business for forthcoming meetings, and also lists items to be programmed, including:

• Stamford Health Engagement Exercise
• Transport and Travel Review (including car parking) by Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group
• NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board Clustering Arrangements
• Stroke Services at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme
• North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust - Annual Update
• Way Forward of the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board
• Hospital Discharge Arrangements