As pressure mounts in some quarters for a pause in plans in the UK to dismiss health and social care workers who have failed to avail themselves of Covid-19 vaccinations, in Italy suspension notices have been issued to 1,900 unvaccinated doctors and dentists.
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News of a 50 million pound boost to NHS dentistry in England will have cheered up the army of would-be patients struggling to find dental care.
The British Dental Association has said “The practice is not the place to argue about vaccination.”
A shortage of dentists, a shortage of nurses and a shortage of hygienists is limiting dentistry’s return to pre-pandemic norms. The problem, it seems, is not limited to the UK’s woefully resourced profession. The American Dental Association is reporting similar frustrations, and there are no quick answers.
When Eddie Crouch announced that he was “sensing a big press and media day regarding the problems facing Dentistry tomorrow” it seemed a little ambitious. After a day filled with political defections, plotting, and the PM told to go, not just by the opposition, but his own side, could teeth really get a look in?
With the publication of an updated VCOD, that is the vaccination as a condition of deployment letter by NHS England, the clock is now running down to the loss of even more dental team members. The deadlines to be vaccinated are February 3rd for the first dose, and April 1st for the second.