Dental foundation training warning

The fresh warnings for dental foundation training (DFT) places has come from the British Dental Association (BDA), it is arguing that sufficient places must be made available in time for the second round of allocations taking place in the summer.

The BDA's chair of ethics, education and the dental team, Dr Judith Husband, has written to the Department of Health reiterating both the loss to the public purse and tragic personal consequences for aspiring young practitioners if places are not found.

Following BDA campaigning the selection criteria was amended to include the necessity for a candidate to complete foundation training in order to practise in the NHS.

Dr Judith Husband said: 'The changed criteria for the selection of DFT applicants was a common sense move that recognised the importance of UK graduates being allocated places, as it is a prerequisite for them for practising in the NHS.

'Before the summer round of allocations there must be a concerted effort from the Department of Health and Health Education England (HEE) to make available the funding, and create the places to ensure that the 107 UK candidates on the waiting list are also able to take the next step in their professional lives.'

The significant number of unplaced individuals has been highlighted on a number of occasions by various leaders, teams and committees recently.

The BDA is campaigning on this issue for the third year in succession, with concerns about a shortfall in available places having previously arisen in 2012 and 2013.

In those years, 35 and 38 candidates respectively were left without places.

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