BDA warns over reduction in dental student numbers
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- Published: Monday, 30 December 2013 08:11
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A proposed reduction in the number of places to study dentistry at UK institutions must be considered very carefully to ensure that it does not harm patient care, the British Dental Association (BDA) has warned. Judith Husband said “If workforce planning is to be meaningful, it is also vital that dental students graduating from UK institutions are able to develop careers in the NHS. Matching the available number of foundation training places to the number of dentists being trained is vital to achieving this.”
The warning follows the publication of new reports by Health Education England (HEE) and the Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) estimating an over-supply of between 1000 and 4000 dentists by 2040 if the number of places is not reduced. The reports also stress the importance of regularly monitoring the impact of any intervention and keeping the dentist and dental care professional workforces under regular review.
A review of the dental workforce published in 2004 predicted that, without remedial action, a shortfall of practitioners of between 3,640 and 5,100 would be seen by 2011. That review was followed by increased student numbers at some dental schools and the creation of new postgraduate-entry institutions. Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of patients accessing NHS dental care as a result.
Dr Judith Husband, Chair of the BDA’s Ethics, Education and the Dental Team Working Group, said: “The conclusions of HEE and CfWI must be carefully considered and pragmatic, sensible decisions taken about any changes to student numbers. Although the UK has seen a significant overall improvement to oral health since the 1970s, pronounced regional inequalities persist. We are also seeing the emergence of a cohort of older patients – the so-called ‘heavy metal generation’ – with complex oral health needs. Significant potential change to the way NHS dental care is delivered in England could additionally have implications for the dental workforce, as these reports acknowledge.
“Dental students and the taxpayer alike invest significantly in dentists’ training. Balancing the responsibilities to the young people who strive for careers in dental care, taxpayers and patients, should be central to any decisions. Furthermore, it is important that the impact of any changes for all dental team numbers are monitored regularly and rigorously. If workforce planning is to be meaningful, it is also vital that dental students graduating from UK institutions are able to develop careers in the NHS. Matching the available number of foundation training places to the number of dentists being trained is vital to achieving this.”
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