Community Dental Service Faces 'Crisis of Sustainability'
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- Published: Wednesday, 20 November 2024 09:55
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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This stark warning was issued by the British Dental Association (BDA) following the publication of a survey which reveals that almost a third - 29% - of community dentists in England are contemplating retirement over the next five years,
The BDA says there has been a long term decline in the workforce which now stands at a little over 1100. This constitutes a crisis of sustainability, the Association says.
The BDA has published what it calls its vision for community dentistry to ’future proof this vital and often poorly understood service.’
Billed as a a ‘call to action’ from community dentists themselves on how to end a crisis that has gone under the radar of decision makers for far too long’, the campaign’s authors believe that ’those who run the service are best equipped to set out a credible and realistic vision for its future.’
More transparency around access, the commissioning of additional activity, addressing the ’relentless’ workload together with improving pay and conditions ’to make CDS an attractive career destination’ are some of the campaign’s recommendations to government and NHS England.
Giten Dabhi, Chair of the BDA’s England Community Dental Services Committee said "Community dentists care for the nation’s most vulnerable patients, but demand is exceeding supply. Undervalued and overstretched, a shrinking workforce is struggling to meet the pressures placed upon it.
"For too long the mantra has been do more with less, and Government has a moral duty to turn the page. We still have an opportunity to future proof this service, but we simply cannot go on as we are" he added.
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