College responds to the government's plans for NHS dentistry

The updated statement from the college includes responses to the proposal to speed up entry to the NHS Performers List; to the idea of commissioning private-only practices to deliver NHS care; to the intention to press the GDC in relation to the recognition of additional qualifications as being equivalent to the UK BDS; to the intended expansion of the LDS, and to the plan to provide preparatory support for LDS candidates.

It also includes additional considerations in relation to the proposed ‘golden hellos’; to the creation of a provisional registration scheme; and to the increase in the number of dental school places.

A college spokesperson commented, “While we support in principle the NHS making use of available local capacity to provide much-needed dental care, the proposal to use private-only practices to do this would either fail or be completely iniquitous to those practices which have remained committed to NHS delivery. The correct solutions are to take measures to support the recruitment and retention of dental professionals in the NHS, and to support the financial viability of practices through adequate funding of contracts.