Scotland-based Wesleyan Financial Services consultant, Morna Beattie, looks at what the options are in 2022 for NHS dentists in Scotland who are looking for change.
After a period of sustained pressure within Sottish NHS dentistry, many dentists may feel the strain from a financial and work/life balance perspective.
Recent figures from Public Health Scotland reveal treatments dropped 75% over the pandemic between March 2020 and March 2021. NHS dentists now face clearing an unprecedented backlog.
While the latest IPC announcement has eased COVID-19 infection and prevention control procedures, it hasn’t done so enough to allow for this backlog to be tackled without further adding to the pressure of the NHS workforce.
Adding to that the government’s announcement that it will scrap emergency support funding from April 2022, dentists in Scotland might look at their options outside the NHS to ease the burden and help reintroduce a better work/life balance. Or look for a way out of the profession altogether and enjoy a well-earned retirement.
Morna shares the next steps to help you gather the information needed to make an informed choice for where you would like your career to progress to in 2022.
If you’d like to benefit from further guidance as to what options are available to you outside of the NHS, you can speak to a specialist dental financial consultant as part of a no-obligation financial review by visiting www.wesleyan.co.uk/dental or calling 0800 316 3784.
