Over 5,500 vacancies were recorded across the NHS dental profession in March 2024, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ‘Fixing NHS Dentistry’ report.

The report also revealed that many of the vacancies went unfilled for over 180 days, as the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) has warned that the priority should be filling the massive gap in the total dental workforce. The ADG has also said there are over 3,000 positions, across NHS and private, for fully-trained dentists that are vacant.

The PAC report has invited stakeholders’ input on the incremental changes to support patient access whilst longer term reform takes place. It has also called for engagement from the profession in determining what future reform should look like. The ADG has emphasised the recognition given to the need to ensure remuneration for the true costs of dentistry. The association has long-advocated that NHS dentistry needs to be financially sustainable.

According to the ADG, there is a feeling that the NHS contract is not currently fit for purpose, and it has said it agrees with the PAC that it is important that Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (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.

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 trained dentists from overseas are currently having to take unskilled work.

Neil Carmichael, executive chair of the ADG, said, “The PAC report into Fixing NHS Dentistry clarifies that the number of dentists carrying out NHS treatments 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 must 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.”

Author: