In February this year the BDA suggested that there was an imminent recruitment crisis brewing in NHS dentistry. Survey evidence suggested that over two thirds (68 per cent) of NHS practices in England who attempted to recruit in 2017 year struggled to fill vacancies, while half of the NHS practices who attempted recruitment reported issues in the previous year.
David Worksett said, “Relaxing the embargo on non-EU skilled workers for doctors and nurses is an important step in addressing the current and future shortage of professionals within the NHS.
"The next step should be to look towards NHS dentistry, where skilled professionals are still desperately sought after – especially within deprived areas of the UK where dental need has hit crisis levels. We have already written to the Home Secretary and Health Secretary to stress the importance of easing recruitment channels within the dental sector, which would enable us to build a workforce capable of delivering the care needed across the country.
"Ultimately, we all want the same thing – to ensure access to high quality, patient-centred dental services for a wider proportion of individuals. Developing the workforce in the dental sector and avoiding the potential issues of a further recruitment shortage is therefore essential.”
For more information on the Association of Dental Groups, visit http://www.dentalgroups.co.uk/