Key stakeholders, including policymakers and healthcare professionals, met to discuss and debate the steps needed to transform dentistry. The parliamentary roundtable focused on improving dentistry both now and in the long term. It also discussed the need to address access to services, especially urgent care, with a particular emphasis on increasing the dental workforce and reforming the NHS dental contract in England.
Chaired by the Association of Dental Group’s (ADG) executive chair, Neil Carmichael, and hosted by Dr Peter Prinsley, MP, the roundtable’s main issue for discussion was patient access to a dentist. There are currently over 3,000 unfilled vacancies for dentists across the NHS and private sectors. Data published by NHS England for the period to March 2024, show there were 2,749 full-time equivalent (FTE basis) NHS dentist vacancies, with 411 (FTE basis) vacancies in private practices still open.
Whilst the roundtable also talked about the need for NHS contract reform and increasing Units of Dental Activity (UDA) payments, it is clear that irrespective of the need for contract reform, there is a system-wide shortage of dentists in the UK across the profession’s ‘mixed-economy’.
Neil reminded attendees that less than one per cent of dentists are looking for work. Data released by the GDC on dentists’ working patterns, reports that just 0.8 per cent (241) of the 30,066 who completed their questionnaire said they were actively seeking work as a dentist. The ADG has said this is not good news when it comes to filling the current 3,000+ dentist vacancies.
Discussions included improving the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) system, how Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) need to be more flexible in their commissioning powers and improving workforce planning by recognising the skills mix across the full dental team, as well as supporting dental school development. Members also emphasised the need for an approach that incentivised a prevention approach.
Neil said, “Hearing from the GDC during the roundtable, that there are currently approximately 6,000 fully-trained overseas dentists already in the UK who are on the waiting list to get through the ‘bottle-neck’ of the ORE system should be a priority. Currently each ORE sitting only has capacity for 600 students. At that rate, it will take years to get them qualified!
“Valuable input from ADG members highlighted how a ‘provisional registration’, similar to the system available to overseas doctors arriving in the UK could also be an immediate and impactful step. We look forward to seeing the post-roundtable briefing paper with an implementation plan for ministers. Solutions must include rapid expansion of the workforce.”