The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) welcomed the recognition given by Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) of the dental workforce issues that stand in the way of recovery. UK dentistry stakeholders gathered to hear the minister at the BDIA Dental Showcase at London Excel on Friday 14thMarch, as he outlined the Government’s plans for recovery.
Stephen Kinnock was mindful to thank the industry for the NHS delivery already happening. He recognised the need to focus on ‘dental desert’ areas and why support for the total dental workforce matters. The minister’s speech showed an understanding of the current recruitment challenges across dentistry and in particular when it comes to dentists. ADG members have been repeatedly flagging that there is currently a 3,000+ gap in the dentist workforce. The ADG now awaits news from DHSC on provisional registration as part of a comprehensive revised workforce plan.
The issues in UK dentistry are multi-faceted, and so the ADG, the profession’s trade association which represents the ‘mixed economy’, also welcomes the minister’s commitment to tackle NHS contract reform. The minister also correctly identified that access for children, the vulnerable and urgent care cases need prioritisation. The Association is delighted with his focus on prevention as exemplified by the introduction of a targeted supervised toothbrushing initiative and the news of the expansion of community water fluoridation (CWF) in the North East, which are both evidence-based, proven oral health interventions.
Stephen Kinnock MP’s efforts to secure a good funding deal with the Treasury is welcomed by the ADG. The minister outlined the ongoing financial constraints, but also understands the role dentistry’s ‘mixed economy’ in the UK plays.
Neil Carmichael, Executive Chair, Association of Dental Groups, said: “It was gratifying to hear the minister’s focus on ‘dental deserts’ which is an issue that the ADG has been raising for some time, having coined the expression ‘dental deserts’ in a previous report. There are dental workforce issues across the whole of the UK, but they are particularly severe in certain areas. Recruitment, support for dental schools and improvements in the Overseas Recruitment Examination (ORE) access are fundamental to recovery.
“Stephen described UK dentistry as a “team sport” – and I can assure him that the ADG is ready to play its part!”
