The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) has warned that this does not bode well when it comes to filling the current 3,000+ vacancies for dentists.
The working patterns survey received a 66 per cent response rate from dentists who were sent the questionnaire.
Data published by NHS England for the period to March 2024, show there are 2,749 full-time equivalent (FTE basis) NHS dentist vacancies. These are roles that have been open for an average of 180 days per post. Furthermore, with 411 (FTE basis) vacancies in private practices still open, the ADG has said it is clear that irrespective of the need for NHS contract reform, there is a system-wide shortage of dentists in the UK across the profession’s ‘mixed-economy’.
However, despite this gap, the GDC survey has revealed there is a willingness among dentists to take on NHS care, with the data showing that the number of dentists undertaking 75 per cent or more NHS dentistry care is at 42 per cent.
Neil Carmichael, executive chair of the ADG, said, “The ADG encouraged the GDC to conduct the survey which will help all dentistry stakeholders get an up-to-date picture of the status. The crux remains that our priority still needs to be recruitment. We have a shortage of over 2,700 vacant dentist roles within the NHS – and yet the news from the GDC shows that from those who completed the survey there may only be approximately 241 dentists who were actively looking for work. Our ADG members who run dental practices up and down the country from the large to the small are leaning-in to support the ‘mixed economy’ - but we do need to recruit, recruit, recruit!
“However, it is heartening to hear that 42 per cent of the dentists who responded said that they spend at least 75 per cent of their time delivering NHS care. So, there is a willingness to undertake NHS treatments, despite the fact that we know that the NHS dental contract does need revision. But without the sheer scale of the number of dentist vacancies filled, we cannot hope to speed-track reform.”