New Powers Granted to UK Dental Hygienists

UK: In a bid to streamline processes within dental and pharmacy settings and enhance patient experiences, the UK government has announced plans to grant greater powers to pharmacy technicians, dental therapists, and hygienists. 

The initiative aims to alleviate bureaucratic hurdles and facilitate more efficient patient care across dental practices and pharmacies. The Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP, the Primary Care Minister, unveiled these plans on Thursday, March 28th, highlighting the significant impact on primary care accessibility.

Key Changes

Following two public consultations conducted by the government, widespread support was found for empowering these staff members to administer and supply medicines independently, thereby reducing reliance on prescribers. Dental hygienists and therapists will now have the authority to provide certain medications, such as pain relief and fluoride, without requiring dentist approval. 

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Similarly, pharmacy technicians will be empowered to administer specified medicines to select patient groups without prescriber intervention. This move is anticipated to enable pharmacy technicians to undertake tasks such as administering vaccinations and providing consultations under Pharmacy First.

The newfound authority bestowed upon dental and pharmacy staff is expected to have a transformative effect on patient care. By delegating certain responsibilities to pharmacy technicians, dental hygienists, and therapists, pharmacists and dentists will have more time to focus on delivering patient-facing clinical services. 

This reallocation of responsibilities is poised to enhance access to primary care services for patients, ultimately contributing to a smoother and more efficient healthcare experience.

Professional Responses

Primary Care Minister Andrea Leadsom emphasized the government’s commitment to providing faster, simpler, and fairer access to healthcare, acknowledging the pivotal role of these staff members in achieving this goal. 

Nicola Stockmann, President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, welcomed the legislative update, recognizing its significance in expanding patient access to pharmacy services. She stated, “APTUK welcome this update to legislation, recognising the value of the pharmacy technician profession. This is a landmark moment for the expansion of access for patients to pharmacy services in a pressured healthcare landscape without compromising patient care.” 

Similarly, Miranda Steeples, President of The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, lauded the plans, highlighting the benefits of a more streamlined oral healthcare team. She remarked, “BSDHT welcomes plans to enable our professions to work to the full extent of their skillset and give them new powers that enable them to offer patients the care they need. Everyone will benefit from an oral healthcare team that runs more smoothly and uses its time effectively.”

Public Support and Long-Term Goals

Public consultations held in 2023 garnered overwhelming support for the proposed changes, with 97% of respondents favoring expanded powers for dental hygienists and therapists, and 84% supporting similar changes for pharmacy technicians. 

These reforms align with the government and NHS’s Primary Care Recovery Plan, aimed at maximizing healthcare capabilities and leveraging professional staff in pharmacies and dental practices. Furthermore, the initiatives resonate with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which aims to significantly increase the involvement of dental therapists and hygienists in dental activities and expand training opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians by 2031/32.