Nigel Jones explains why the workforce crisis should be the first item on the new government’s dental agenda.
As our new government gets to grips with NHS dentistry, I sincerely hope they are giving appropriate thought to the workforce issue. I believe that single issue, more than any other, is driving change in the UK dental landscape.
That seems irrefutable now that we have fewer dentists working in the NHS, and more of those that do working part-time clinically with little to tempt them back to devoting more surgery time to NHS rather than private work, despite the aspirations of the previous government’s long term workforce plan. Just keeping pace with that erosion, given the timescales for additional training places for dentists, therapists and hygienists, seems daunting.
Add to that the quality assurance, supervisory and mentoring considerations surrounding the apparent silver bullet of overseas dentists which seem destined to slow the impact of that particular solution.
In amongst that maelstrom of headcount numbers, FTE stats and skill mix debates, I can’t help wondering how much time is being devoted to what’s happening to productivity.
‘Absurd’ throughput
When I started working with the profession in 1990, stories abounded of daily patient throughput that would seem absurd now. However, that was when the practical experience of new graduates seemed far greater than that of current ones and was also before the advent of defensive dentistry and the accompanying pressure to write copious time-consuming notes.
Not that the latter is necessarily a problem. Patient safety must come first and appropriate note taking is vital to demonstrate that. However, I think a legitimate question to consider amid the workforce debate is how the fear of the GDC and of complaints might have impacted on access.
Fewer NHS dentists working fewer clinical hours and seeing fewer patients during those clinical hours do not make for comfortable maths. However, until it’s tackled, the scarcity of clinicians will drive up their value making it harder and harder for NHS practices to compete for their services and remain financially viable.
If you’re considering your options away from the NHS and are looking for a plan provider who will hold your hand through the process at a pace that’s right for you, why not start the conversation with Practice Plan on 01691 684165 or book your one-to-one NHS to private call today practiceplan.co.uk/nhsvirtual.
For more information visit practiceplan.co.uk/nhs.
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