ADG cautions the need to take a ‘TOTAL TEAM’ approach
The long-awaited Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ‘Fixing NHS Dentistry’ report lands today and the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) warns that the priority should be filling the massive gap in the total dental workforce. The report states that in March 2024 there were over 5,500 vacancies across the NHS dental profession with many going unfilled for over 180 days. We also know that there are over 3,000 positions, across NHS and private, for fully-trained dentists that are vacant.
On the plus side, the PAC report is inviting stakeholders’ input on the incremental changes to support patient access whilst longer term reform takes place, as well as looking for engagement from the profession in determining what future reform should look like. This is something the ADG is well-placed and happy to support. The Association also notes the recognition given of the need to ensure remuneration for the true costs of dentistry. The ADG, which represents UK dentistry’s ‘mixed-economy’ has long-advocated that NHS dentistry needs to be financially sustainable. Largely there is a feeling at the ADG that the NHS contract is not currently fit for purpose and we agree with the PAC that it is important that DHSC and NHSE should explain what incremental changes can be made whilst a new contract is developed. Although the Dental Recovery plan may not have achieved its objectives, previous incremental changes have been successful. The ADG is the expert with members representing large and small groups up and down the country who are facing the issues of the UK dentistry crisis daily, and this is what they are telling their trade association.
However, the ADG is disappointed that there is no mention of the complexity of the GDC’s Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) system, which means that hundreds of fully-trained dentists from overseas are currently having to take unskilled work.
Neil Carmichael, Executive Chair, Association of Dental Groups said: “The PAC report into Fixing NHS Dentistry clarifies that the number of dentists carrying out NHS treatment in the UK is not just too low but alarmingly – it is falling! This is a serious cause for concern when we consider that there are over 2,700 NHS dentist vacancies we can’t fill. This issue has to be the priority and needs to be tackled at speed. We need to take a ‘total team’ approach, remembering that every appointment with a dentist requires a dental nurse to be present – and we are looking at a gap in the workforce of over 5,500. We need to cut red-tape to get the trained dentists who are currently working outside their profession re-engaged through revising the ORE system and we also need to support dental schools here in the UK – as well as revising the contract to make working for the NHS affordable for the profession.
“We can all work together on this. The ADG needs its place ‘at the table’. It is not enough for Government to always hear the voice of a union. It should also understand the interests of dentistry. So, we are heartened by DHSC outlining how all dental professionals will be engaged in future reform and we urge DHSC and NHSE as they merge to consult with the ADG since we are well-placed to advise.”
