New NHS dentist rules will put patients in England at 'significant risk'

Plans to prop up NHS with dentists from overseas put patients at risk, leaders have warned. The Royal College of Surgeons has hit out at ministers’ proposal to loosen restrictions on hiring dentists trained abroad for the NHS.

Charlotte Eckhardt, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “This proposal puts UK patients at significant risk. It would give the General Dental Council powers to provisionally register dentists who have qualified overseas without passing examinations to prove their competency.

“We recognise that the UK is currently facing a substantial shortage of dentists and patients are struggling to get appointments but the Government’s quick fix solution to this problem is short-sighted and dangerous.”

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The college said: “Many overseas qualified dentists may be accustomed to different standards from the UK.” Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, said in a statement after the proposals were put forward: “Any risk will hinge on whether a new model will be as rigorous with overseas dentists as it is with UK colleagues.

“Cutting corners will serve no one. Ministers keep reaching for silver bullets but this route is unlikely to be quick or cost effective.” A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Strengthening the workforce is key to our ambitions and our proposals would abolish red tape that currently prevents overseas-qualified dentists from working in this country.

“Our new approach would allow them to work safely under the supervision of a registered dentist whilst they themselves seek full registration, allowing us to increase workforce capacity while maintaining high standards of care and patient safety."

The statement from the government went on, adding: “There will be no change to the standards required for any individual to be able to join the full dentists register and practise independently as a dentist.”