Kent Local Dental Committee

Supporting NHS Dentists in Kent

The Kent Local Dental Committee (KLDC) is a statutory NHS body made up of dentists from General Practice, the Hospital Services, East Kent Salaried Services and West Kent MCH Community Dental Services. Its function is to represent the interests of dentists and dentistry in Kent and to advise NHS England / NHS Improvement SE in their commissioning of NHS services and the newly formed Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB).

For the LDC to be recognised and have influence with the various dental authorities it must operate according to its constitution. The constitution is a legal framework that has been drawn up by the Department of Health & Social Care and British Dental Association and adapted by the Kent LDC to make it relevant to this County. The LDC constitution has now been agreed and accepted by NHS England / NHS Improvement (South East).

Although members of the LDC are committed to represent the interests of all dentists in Kent, for the constitution to be recognised and agreed by NHS England, GDP membership of the LDC has to be restricted to dentists who have an NHS contract (as provider or performer). In accordance with  Kent’s new constitution 2021, dentists who are fully private are now eligible to join the LDC provided they contribute by way of a monthly levy.

Private dentist? If you are a private dentist and do not pay the NHS LDC levy you can still get involved with Kent LDC, benefitting from full LDC support and perhaps being elected to serve on the main committee.  Dentists with an NHS commitment, pay on average £180 per year.  This is collected as a monthly deduction from their NHS schedules.  As a private dentist the annual £180 contribution can be taken as an annual subscription or a monthly standing order of £15 per month.

Benefits? Dentists who are wholly private can benefit with advice and support in any area of dentistry whether it be in contract disputes, regulatory requirements of the CQC or indeed patient referrals using the NHS REGO service.  LDC levy payers can also stand for election onto the LDC which is normally for a 4 year term.   As a member of the committee, you can benefit from the latest information in the world of dentistry and also get involved in representing the constituents of your part of Kent at committee level.   The LDC website gives you an insight into what we get up to.

Who to Contact? If you wish to know more, contact the LDC secretary via the Contact page

Please remember any dentist in Kent is welcome to attend an LDC committee meeting by approval of the Chairman as an observer.

Email: chairman@kldc.org.uk