Nationwide engagement starts on future dental education and training

A widespread engagement exercise is getting underway to ensure the workforce delivering future dental services meets the needs and expectations of patients and the priorities set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. 

The exercise builds on work already carried out by Health Education England (HEE) as part of the three-year Advancing Dental Care Review. 

The review, led by HEE’s seven dental deans, aims to identify the skills, training, workforce profile and funding models needed to meet future population demands. 

It is due to make its recommendations in 2020/21 following a roll-out of new pilot training models. 

Starting this month (October) and continuing until December, engagement will take place with national and regional stakeholders ranging from public and professional bodies, employers and dental schools to local practices and commissioners. 

The public’s views will be gathered via local patient representatives and Healthwatch groups. 

Prof Simon Gregory, HEE’s deputy medical director, primary and integrated care, said: “As with most health services, the dental workforce needs to adapt to meet the changing needs of the 21st century. 

“This England-wide review will help us create flexible training opportunities to enhance recruitment and retention within the NHS, develop new skill-mix models and address geographical and dental workforce shortages.” 

Malcolm Smith, Chair of the Advancing Dental Care Review and Postgraduate Dental Dean for the North East, said: “I am delighted that we have reached the point where we are in a position to share the evidence we have gathered with stakeholders and engage with them on future NHS dental workforce models to deliver 21st century oral health services. “

Key issues already identified by the project include workforce optimisation and an unequal distribution of training places in England across the dental specialities.