In a new mini-series for BDJ Upfront, Sarah May Lewis [SL], Leadership Fellow NHS England (Midlands) for Workforce, Training and Education, interviews Kenny Hume [KH], Local Dental Network (LDN) Chair for Lincolnshire and Local Dental Committee (LDC) Chair for Lincolnshire, to find out more about primary care delivery in the region.

figure 1

Sarah May Lewis

SL: What does a typical week look like for you?

KH: I work two days clinically and then spend the remainder of the week working for the LDN and LDC. My main area of focus is orthodontics, where I spend 1.5 days in practice and the other half day in the local hospital. My week is very varied. The LDC is all about representing and supporting dentists within the county and my role with the LDN is to give clinical advice and support to the Integrated Care Board.

figure 2

Kenny Hume

What do you like about having a mix of clinical and non-clinical roles?

I feel that the clinical aspect is really important as you are working on the frontline NHS, and you see how decisions made at a national/regional/local level can impact on patients. Hopefully a good level of knowledge and clinical experience enables me to carry out my non-clinical roles more effectively. Having a non-clinical element to my working week gives me more variety and flexibility and gives me an opportunity to ensure Lincolnshire has a voice.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Supporting colleagues is very rewarding. I also want to feel that I have contributed to making dentistry better at a local level and helped to make changes we need in the area.

What advice would you give to someone trying to carve out a career in primary care?

Find a practice where you feel there are elements of support, knowledge, teamwork and camaraderie. You want to be in an environment where you feel able to develop your own career but be happy and feel appreciated at the same time.

Tell me a bit about how you got into your roles as LDN and LDC chairs.

I very much wanted to put something back into the profession and have always had an interest in how dentistry functions within the area. I have been on the LDC for 30 years and started off as a committee member. For the past ten years, I have been the Chair. I feel I have developed a good relationship with providers and practices in the area to help me understand the issues we face in Lincolnshire. Although there are overlaps, the LDN is a different role and one I've been involved in for four years. There is a great deal of learning from colleagues and the opportunity to influence at a local level. My clinical experience and knowledge have been the foundations for me.

What different opportunities have you had a result of your roles?

I've had a chance to see how dentistry is delivered from a national perspective and to meet people who are really committed to seeing positive change. I've been able to go to India to look at overseas recruitment and see how that could impact on workforce in Lincolnshire.

Why should more dentists get involved in LDCs and their local dental community?

You get to gain knowledge from your peers who work in similar settings. It gives opportunity to connect with others and gain experience of different views but also give back to your local dental community.

What brought you to Lincolnshire and what has made you stay in the area?

I came to Lincolnshire by accident, after turning down a job at Birmingham Dental Hospital. (Birmingham Dental Hospital was much better as a result!) The longer I stayed the more I became embedded in the community. I played a lot of sport and met people from all walks of life as a result. Lincolnshire is a great county to bring up a family, and I have developed long lasting friendships and worked with brilliant colleagues… all with a bit of humour along the way, which has given me a nice balance.

Why do you think Lincolnshire is a good place to be right now in terms of dentistry?

It's an exciting time in Lincolnshire with the establishment of two institutes based at Lincoln University: the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health (LIDOH) and the Lincolnshire Institute of Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH). Lincoln University have ambition for a dental school and as such, there has been a noticeable upturn in interest in working in the area, both now and in the future. LIDOH will focus initially on training dental therapists but in time it is hoped that training for the whole dental team will be part of the programme as well.

What makes Lincolnshire different to other areas?

I attended a BDA meeting several weeks ago and was sitting next to a younger colleague who recently moved to the area. He commented that we don't have anything like this in the area where he came from. He was not necessarily referring to the presentation, but the friendliness of those attending the meeting, the sense of camaraderie and friendship, and the desire for everyone there to be inclusive. It is a county that caters for everyone and for all ages; a fabulous and safe place to bring up a family; and it has great education, including a university very much on the up and supportive of all things dental. It has affordable house prices; culture and history throughout the county; accessible sporting and leisure facilities; daily fly pasts by the Red Arrows. I could go on… It was chance that brought me here, but I feel so lucky it did. Lincolnshire truly is a hidden gem.

To read more about Sarah May Lewis, visit https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-025-9031-6.