Dental Schools Call for Urgent Government Action to Address Worsening Workforce Crisis
Amid growing concerns over access to dental care and long NHS waiting lists, academic institutions warn that without immediate intervention, the UK will face a long-term shortage of qualified dentists.
The call comes as patient backlogs grow and recruitment struggles persist across both NHS and private practices.
Professor Ewen McColl, Chair of the Dental Schools Council and Head of the School of Dentistry at the University of Plymouth said:
“Dental schools are calling for bold action to meet oral healthcare demand and ensure every UK region has a skilled workforce. Dental schools stand ready to scale up, and thousands of highly motivated applicants are eager to take up new places the moment government funding is made available. In addition to expanding training places, it is crucial that the NHS retains the professionals it trains. Retention difficulties must also be addressed, and stakeholders have outlined issues responsible including limited career development, inequitable payment structures, restricted access to pensions, and dissatisfaction with the dental contract. If the government is committed to improving access to NHS oral healthcare, it must create stronger incentives for the dental professionals it funds to remain in the public sector.
“It is equally important to make better use of the diverse skill set of the entire dental team, including dental nurses, dental hygienists, and dental therapists, to ease the pressure of backlogs and reduce waiting times. The closure of two Dental Therapy programmes recently, largely due to inadequate funding for clinical placements, is a major concern impacting on workforce planning. Proper funding for these programmes is crucial for building a sustainable workforce and ultimately improving patient care which is in all our interests.”
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