Last week we submitted evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into dentistry. The inquiry, which has faced several delays, will review what steps can be taken to improve access to NHS dental services, how inequalities in accessing services should be addressed, the potential need for further reform and what incentives could be offered by the NHS.
We know that the role of mixed and private practice should be considered if we are looking at solutions for the wider provision of dentistry in this country. However, there is a common belief that private in many cases, means cosmetic dentistry. We know, that so much of private dentistry is the ongoing care of generations of family in the same practice, regular attendance, and oral health advice. This is not as newsworthy or social media friendly as cosmetic cases, yet very much the reality of many mixed and private practices across the country.
We continue to face challenges with access, regardless of NHS or private practice. Staff shortages and difficulty in recruiting associates is a profession wide problem, also poor mental health within the sector is an ongoing issue. We are concerned that the situation has deteriorated, with the Covid-19 pandemic accelerating issues with stress and anxiety resulting in many leaving the profession.
We want to support practices, to limit those leaving, through a wide range of training to suit the whole team, which develops everyday knowledge and skills to stay up to date with important subjects. When designing these programmes, we will take learnings from the practices we work with, developing and evolving material to keep teams feeling refreshed, well-informed and motivated. It is our aim to support professionals to find their careers rewarding.
While it may feel we still have a bit of a battle on our hands, we are ready to embrace the opportunities this year will bring. As an organisation, where one part has a 150-year heritage and the other is heading into its 37th year, we have navigated our way through many different challenges and look forward to championing the needs of the practices we work with and wider profession.
