The Society challenges the numbers. The headlines are telling us one thing and reality is telling us another, it is time to face reality as the Society continue to ask for a workforce review and to have real data that tells us what the workforce need is. Year on year there is a headliner ‘x’ amount of dental nurses have left the register or there has been an increase in numbers of dental nurses on the register, but nobody is talking in real time figures and the Society remain concerned and frustrated with the lack of interest and indeed action.
The tables below must be referenced to the GDC – with thanks and acknowledgement https://www.gdc-uk.org
The information below shows the August 2023 figures as 59,350 although it is not clear how many of those registered are working full time or part time or in any capacity of dental nursing. Equally, although this information is available, when we look at these base line figures,we often forget that these figure include those with dual or even triple registraions such as perhaps orthodontic therapists, dental hygienists etc. Take a look at July 2023 and ask what is going on? Then take a look at August and July 2022 and ask the same thing, by our calculations there is a deficit or drop off of 2,837 dental nurses on the register between July 2023 and Aug 2023 and in 2022, a deficit or drop off of 3,715 between July 2022 and Aug 2022; this needs to be investigated not ignored or forgotten, as other dental matters continue to create the headlines.
July 2023 – notice there were 62,187 dental nurses on the register, now lete compare this to last year and at th same points in time to give you a snese of the trend that is appearing and it is not new!
August 2022 shows 57,950 dental nurses on the register, obviously with the same caveat stated above about those registered.
And July 2022, where there were 61,665 dental nurses registered with the GDC
The Society continually seek an answer to what is the need and we are told there is not the appetite to invest in the workstream, but how can we possibly run a service when we don’t have the data relating to need. WHO and the NHS talk of ensuring we have the right people with the right skills, in the right place at the right time and health systems only being able to function with well trained and adequate and safe staffing numbers and this has to sit across dentistry too, and particularly primary/high street dental care. The challenges of staffing are facing dental practices that are NHS, mixed and private alike and of course in some dental schools to our knowledge. Of course what has not been navigated is the growth in agency working and the loss to other dental professional groups. It has to be said, this is across all four nations too, it is also an international problem.
There is a huge and missed opportunity to start and put some of the challenges within the profession right in the current Skill-mix agenda, but so far the silence on dental nursing is deafening, we are so far behind other countries. We have to ask why when there are approximately just over 59,000 dental nurses and some willing to do more, provide more care, and are very capabale of doing more, even if it means adding to there qualifications or skill sets, that we as a country seem so set on keeping doors tightly shut. Dental nurses should be recognised for the skills and work that they undetake, not only by being valued and respected, but in the way they are rewarding and remunerated, which has to be fair and proportionate – goodwill is beginning to falter.