Dentistry Graduates To Complete Training In Areas Of Patient Need, UK

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 06 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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New NHS training places will be made available to dentistry graduates in areas of highest patient need, Health Minister Ann Keen announced today.

Following a Government pledge in 2004 to increase the number of dental students by 25 per cent, the first tranche of students will complete their studies next year and begin one year of vocational training.

The initial 40 extra training places coming through in 2009 will be located in Yorkshire, the North West, the South West and the South Central and the 170 dentists graduating every year from 2010 will also be allocated places according to oral health need or where demand is greatest.

Consideration is also being given to extending the NHS vocational training scheme to two years to include a broader base of experience. The measure would help to tackle poor access and is expected to be welcomed by dentists.

The Government is making available £32 million to meet the cost of vocational training for high numbers of dentistry graduates over three years starting in 2009. This is additional to the £30m the Government is already investing each year in dental schools for the increased intake of students.

Health Minister Ann Keen said,

"The NHS now has over 4,000 more dentists than it did in 1997. We are continuing our drive to expand the NHS workforce by ensuring that every student dentist has access to vocational training upon graduation.

"This vocational training will be targeted in those areas of the country where NHS dentists are in highest demand as part of our commitment to improving nationwide access and improving oral health."

In December 2007, the Government announced that increasing access to NHS dentistry was a national priority for the NHS, and that it would increase funding for dentistry by 11% [or £209m].

Demonstrating a continued commitment to improving dental services, Ann Keen also announced today that money being invested in NHS dentistry will continue to be ring-fenced for a further two years than previously expected, until 2011. This means that over £2 billion is allocated for NHS dentistry alone.

Since 2006, primary care trusts have had a legal duty to provide dental services for those who need it. Patients in pain or requiring urgent treatment should go to their PCT who will be able to advise them on getting urgent dental care.

Notes

1) When the Government introduced the new dental contract system in 2006, it decided that NHS dental funding would be ring-fenced until 2009. It has today decided to extend that ring-fencing for a further two years in order to provide extra reassurance to patients and dentists of its continuing commitment to NHS dentistry.

2) In March 2007, there were 21,041 dentists on NHS lists, an increase of over 4,000 since 1997.

Department of Health