The ability to successfully include primary dental care practitioners in commissioning groups.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate two total purchasing (TP) sites and ascertain whether general dental practitioners (GDPs) could be successfully included in the total purchasing model of health care commissioning. Another objective was to examine the role GDPs may play in future primary care commissioning groups and trusts.


METHODS
An observational cross-sectional study of two dental purchasing pilots in the North West Region.


METHODS
Two TP sites were studied, one in South Cheshire, the other East Lancashire. Each TP organisation had a dental subgroup which had a formal structure and was given an active role in dental healthcare service decision making.


METHODS
General dental practitioners' ability to manage dental health care provision in the selected sites and the suitability and effectiveness of the services managed by them.


RESULTS
GDPs were willing and able to form cohesive primary care commissioning organisations but attitudes in secondary care prevented the implementation of their decisions.


CONCLUSIONS
Structural, organisational and psychological changes would be necessary if GDP led purchasing were to be successfully implemented. Such changes are vital if GDPs and the dental profession are to have an effective role in the newly formed primary care groups and trusts.
Jessop
N M
NM
Department of Oral Health and Development, University Dental Hospital of Manchester.
Kay
E J
EJ
Mellor
A C
AC
Whittle
J G
JG
Jenner
A
A
D003159:Community-Institutional Relations / Q000191:economics; D017046:Cost Savings; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D004739:England; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D017754:Group Purchasing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000191:economics; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics; D013218:State Dentistry / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*