CDO’s Project Takes Shape. Is This The Future of NHS Dentistry?
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- Published: Thursday, 08 June 2023 09:12
- Written by Peter Ingle
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NHS England began their statement announcing the Chief Dental Officer’s departure with the emphasis on the next stage of her career. Rather than lead with her past achievements they began: “Sara Hurley, the Chief Dental Officer for England is standing down after eight years in the job to focus on her new roles as a Non-Executive Director at Surrey Heartlands ICB and as an independent director at the University of Suffolk.”
The CDO’s complex involvement with the University of Suffolk has produced more questions than answers.
Little by little though, information is emerging about the project. Now an MP writing about his activities for the local paper, has shed a little more light on the scheme.
Tom Hunt is the Conservative MP for Ipswich. His rapid rise has been based upon a mix of party membership appealing opinions, and enthusiasm for more state spending, at least in Ipswich. In this way he has combined membership of the European Research Group and the informal Common Sense Group, along with requests for better rail services, a new by-pass, and more investment in public services.
He frequently appears in a local paper, The Ipswich Star, who recently published an opinion piece by him. Entitled “University of Suffolk’s playing vital health role” it began by reminding readers that he frequently visits the University. At a recent visit he had been able to “learn a bit more about the new dental centre that will be based there.” It was he said, “Great news for Ipswich and Suffolk.”
“Foundation year dental students, who have just completed their five year degree and are building up their practical experience, will work in this dental centre alongside more experienced dentists to carry out up to 60,000 NHS dental appointments every year!”
Further insights followed; “This will all happen on the top floor of the James Hehir building.
On the floors below, large numbers of dental technicians and nurses will also be trained in these high skill roles. There will also be a new dental nurse apprenticeship that Suffolk New College will be involved with, further linking two great local educational facilities.
The university is determined to step up its work when it comes to filling shortages of those working in health and social care. In this centre, like with the dental centre, the university is playing a vital role which benefit many Ipswich residents.”
Strangely, he then switched the thrust of his article to make a case for a reduction in the numbers of university students. “I think it’s fair to ask ourselves the question, have too many young people been going to universities? And, have they been studying the right courses?” he wrote, as if it was time to throw some red meat to the party members.
BDA Chair Eddie Crouch’s twitter response was withering, pointing out that there were no trainers recruited, so there would be no FD’s for 18 months. Similarly there were no labs, so no technicians could be trained. His assessment: “no chance of 60000 appointments.”
Dentist and Medical Protection Society board member, Judith Husband spotted “foundation year dental students” and asked if we were witnessing the launch of a new six year undergraduate training pathway.
Commons debates show that MP’s from both parties have a soft spot for local training schemes as the magic wand to clear their mailbag of angry letters about NHS deserts. The Suffolk scheme, so far, has served both the outgoing CDO, the University and local MP’s, well. As the project unfolds, members of the public hoping for a dental appointment, a profession looking for an NHS future, and the tax payers footing the bill, may not be quite so happy.
Interesting @tomhunt1988 https://t.co/1PKSDQzt6n No trainers yet recruited no Foundation Dentists for 18 months No labs so no technicians being trained No chance of 60000 appointments Otherwise fairly accurate Think you may have been misinformed? @TheBDA
— Eddie Crouch (@EddieCrouch) June 2, 2023
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