Registrant Numbers Stop Dropping
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- Published: Friday, 18 August 2023 10:05
- Written by Peter Ingle
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The latest figures from the GDC may offer a glimmer of hope for UK dentistry as it struggles with workforce shortages. Following the latest renewal cycle, the number of Dental Care Professionals (DCP’s) has risen. This is in contrast to recent years where the trend has been one of declining numbers.
Taking the July 31st changes into account there were 71,769 DCPs on the register. This compares to a total of 69,676 at the same stage in 2022, an increase of 2,093 registrants.
3,541 DCPs did not renew their registration which represents nearly 5% of the total. This figure too gives some encouragement, as the last four years had seen an average of 6.4% lapsing.
This year the GDC have provided a breakdown of numbers of removals from the register, by professional title. This reveals that with the exception of orthodontic therapists, removals have reduced. Dental nurse removals dropped by nearly 20% and were at their lowest for the last five years.
At the time of compiling there were 59,238 dental nurses on the register. The numbers of other professions on the register as of 3 August were as follows: clinical dental technician, 404; dental hygienist, 9,177; dental technician, 5,023; dental therapist, 5,558; orthodontic therapist, 957.
The latest figures are a snapshot, and over the course of the year the number of registered professionals fluctuates. This is due to a combination of new registrations, and professionals leaving the register for a variety of reasons.
The GDC point out that the figures do not provide insight into the number of professionals working in different patterns such as full time vs part time, or how many DCPs are working in NHS services compared to private practice. Nor do they give any insight into the significant local variations.
Workforce planning does not lie within the GDC’s statutory remit, although as reported on GDPUK the council does plan to collect what it describes as “some simple workforce data” as part of the annual renewal of dentists’ registration this December. As GDC Chair Lord Harris explained to LDC’s earlier this year, they hope that this will help to inform the discussion on the important issue of workforce.
This year, in a welcome change the GDC have made it easier for dental professionals to restore their name to the registers, so that they can continue to practise in the UK. Dental professionals who have been off the register for less than 12 months and have always complied with CPD, are able to sign a declaration that it is up to date, rather than send a copy of their full CPD record.
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