As previously reported, the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) launched a new report this week. ‘Patients First’ details seven core recommendations for Government that, “if implemented, will transform the experience for dental patients in every corner of the United Kingdom.”
The report was presented in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon to MPs and Peers from across the political aisle, as the ADG seeks to work with the new Government to improve dental care across the board. The ADG’s seven recommendations, most of which can be actioned in the short term without legislative change and with no cost to Government, are as follows:
- Commit to support recruitment: Accelerate long-term workforce plan and unlock barriers preventing high-quality international dentists registering
- Use commissioning solutions: To meet the needs of the population and roll out examples of successful flexible commissioning
- Plan the workforce: Recognize the relationship between the mixed economy, skill mix and devolved nations
- Invest in community prevention: Support water fluoridation, have policies for sugar reduction, hold Integrated Care Boards/ LA/ NHS to account for delivering community preventative schemes like supervised toothbrushing
- Renumerate practice-based prevention: Offer realistic remuneration and promote flexible commissioning for practice-based prevention.
- Protect the dental budget: Ringfence the budget and require ICBs to have a clear plan for dental underspend.
- Support the retention of the workforce: Continue to reform the dental contract and ensure that pay review processes are transparent.
Neil Carmichael, Chair of the ADG and former MP explained that: “Our recommendations are centered around increasing the numbers of dentists working in order to provide better access for patients. Just 100,000 more dentists will create 750,000 more appointments, massively improving access for so many patients in dire need, and reducing pressure on NHS services elsewhere. We stand ready to support the new Government in putting patients first.”
When Parliament adjourned, the ADG was joined by MPs, representatives from various dental associations and press, for a launch event in Terrace Dining Room A of the Houses of Parliament. among the speakers was Tom Whiting, Chief Executive and Registrar of the General Dental Council (GDC). “We welcome the ADG’s discussions about access for patients, oral health and creating a sustainable dental industry,” he said. “There is evidence that the recovery of dental services after the pandemic has not only stalled but may have gone into reverse. We believe that this needs urgent attention.
“If we want more dentists and other dental professionals, there needs to be a multi-point plan for the capacity needed to train them.”
The GDC Chief Exec went to on to explain that the supply of UK qualified dentists is fixed in the short term but that inquiries have been received by the regulator from those seeking to establish new dental schools. He added that the GDC has tripled the number of places for part 1 of the ORE and increased capacity of the Part 2 exam by a third. “we are currently tendering for more capacity for next year.”
There is, however, no guarantee that increasing international registrants will solve the challenge of delivering NHS care. “Once a dentist is registered with the GDC, where and how they work and whether they provide NHS or private treatment is a matter for them,” Whiting explained.
“Furthermore, for the longer term, there’s a real need to modernise the legislation we work under – so that we can protect patients and support dental professionals effectively,” he concluded.
