Dental Graduates May Be Required to Work in the NHS, Says Government

Government Consultation on Compulsory NHS Work for New Dentists

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is launching a new consultation to explore whether newly qualified dentists should be compelled to work in the National Health Service (NHS) for a certain period after completing their postgraduate dental foundation training.

Concerns Over Dentists Opting for Private Practice

The government’s move comes amid growing concerns that an increasing number of dentists are choosing to go straight into private practice or delivering very little NHS care once their training is finished. According to figures cited by the DHSC, out of approximately 35,000 dentists registered with the General Dental Council in England, only 24,000 delivered NHS work during the 2022/23 financial year, meaning almost a third did no work for the health service at all.

NHS Dentistry in Scotland Facing Recruitment Crisis

One of the proposals being considered is whether newly qualified dentists should commit to delivering a minimum amount of NHS dental care for a certain number of years after graduation. Additionally, the government is seeking views on whether these dentists should repay some of their training fees if they do not comply with the proposed requirements. The DHSC estimates that training a single dentist can cost up to £300,000, with students not having to repay around £200,000 of that amount.

“I want to make access to dentistry faster, simpler and fairer for everyone – and part of this is ensuring that dentists are supporting the NHS with their skills and expertise,” said Health Secretary Victoria Atkins. “Taxpayers make a significant investment in training dentists, so it is only right to expect dental graduates to work in the NHS once they’ve completed their training.”

Andrea Leadsom, the Primary Care Minister, added, “I want to thank our hard-working dentists for their efforts in treating more and more patients over recent years and helping us improve access to care.” She noted that the amount of ‘courses of treatments delivered’ by NHS dentists increased by 23% in 2022/23 compared to the previous year.

Calls for New Dental School Amid NHS Dentist Shortage

Benefits of Working in the NHS

The DHSC believes that working in the NHS will give new dentists the best start to their careers, citing the broad range of experience available, great support from strong teams of dental professionals, and comprehensive training as key advantages.

“Today’s proposals will ensure dental graduates benefit from the broad experience and comprehensive training of working in the NHS, while also delivering value for money for the taxpayer,” Andrea Leadsom concluded.