GDC Registration Numbers Remain Steady
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- Published: Tuesday, 18 January 2022 07:34
- Written by Peter Ingle
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After another rollercoaster year for the profession, the GDC has now published figures from the updated register including the number of registered dentists coming into 2022.
Despite the continuing effects of Covid, assorted regional restrictions, and the variety of other challenges that the profession faces, there was a slight increase in numbers to a total of 42215 registered dentists counting in the week following the renewal period. This represents a modest rise in numbers of 352 which is similar to the increase recorded at the same time last year. 1079 dentists were removed, again a similar figure to those leaving over the last four years, and representing 2.56% of those registered.
There is some similarity with the trends for Dental Care Professional [DCP] registration renewals from last August. The total of 69625 DCPs renewing represented an increase of 654. There is some similarity with the trend seen with DCP registration renewals from last August. The total of 69625 DCPs renewing was an increase of 654 year on year.
The GDC’s Chief Operating Officer, Gurvinder Soomal commented that “Following such a challenging period in dentistry which continues for many, it is encouraging to see the number of registered dentists in the UK remain stable”. The GDC go on to point out that the headline numbers of registrants do not show how many dentists are working in NHS services compared to private practice, or whether full or part time. There may be pointers for future capacity in the GDC figures for 2020 which show that of new dental registrants the ratio of male to female was 32:68. To add to the possible reduction in dental capacity GDPUK’s own forum has had recent posts about returning NHS contracts.
Last week’s news showed numbers of NHS dentists performing work on NHS contracts had fallen by 1000 during 2021. We can conclude this means 1000 more are practising wholly privately.
The GDC figures do mean that the prediction of large numbers of EU dentists leaving post Brexit has not happened so far, as it would have been reflected in the GDC headcount.
This January also sees the publication of the largest UK dental corporate Mydentist’s “Great British Health Report”. A key feature of this is the claim that 78% of the public would support the recruitment of more overseas dentists to fill the “gap of NHS dentists”. With EU qualification no longer being a route onto the register from the end of this year, the larger corporates that are heavily NHS reliant may be wondering just how they will hit their UDA targets. With GDPUK’s estimates of a further 1000 dentists moving from NHS to private work the GDC may be under considerable pressure to reform the troubled ORE process, which will soon be the main pathway for overseas qualified dentists to gain entry to the register.
As ever the figures on their own may not tell the whole story and it remains to be seen if this January’s numbers which are, to quote the GDC, “ in line with the trajectory of previous years” are sufficient to keep dentistry, particularly in the NHS, able to meet demand.
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