Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships: What are they and how do they affect dentistry?

Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships or 'STPs' have been formed from NHS and social care providers, commissioners, and local councils in 44 areas covering the whole of England to improve the care they provide. Proposals, known as 'Sustainability and Transformation Plans' have been developed that address the needs of the whole population of each area, rather than the needs of each individual organisation. STPs are fundamental to how care will be delivered and commissioned in the future and have recently been portrayed in the media as the vehicle for cuts to NHS services. Here we explore how accurate this is, how STPs vary in different areas, and the opportunities they present for dentistry to become more integrated with other NHS services.