Key Points
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This is a postal questionnaire survey of the working patterns of professionals complementary to dentistry (PCDs) in general dental practices in the South West of England.
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The numbers, working patterns and training experiences of PCDs are described.
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The high vacancy and turnover rates for PCDs point to problems of recruitment and retention.
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The majority of dentists hold favourable attitudes to increasing the training and use of PCDs.
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An estimate is made for the future training needs of PCDs.
Abstract
Objective To describe the working patterns, training experiences, estimated size, and future training needs of the workforce of professionals complementary to dentistry in the general dental service in an English region.
Methods Postal questionnaire of NHS dental practices in the South West of England.
Results The response rate was 65%. There was an average of two whole time equivalent (wte) dentists working per practice. Dentists work a mean 0.8 wte per practice. Sixty per cent of practice time is NHS. Vacancies existed for 120 dentists (98 wte) with reported difficulties in recruitment. There was an average of 1.25 wte dental nurses per dentist with 44% of nurses working part-time. A quarter of nurses' time is on non-clinical duties. The turnover rate for nurses was between 13% and 26%, with recruitment difficulties. Approximately 50% of nurses do not have a professional qualification. There is variation between health authorities in proportions of qualified nurses. Hygienists are employed in 72% of practices, but only 20% of their work is NHS. Dentists have favourable attitudes to an expansion in the employment and training of professionals complementary to dentistry.
Conclusions There are problems with recruitment and retention of all categories of the dental workforce in the GDS, particularly in rural areas. There is a large unmet need for pre- and post-qualification training for professionals complementary to dentistry compounded by marked inequalities in access to training.
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The authors would like to thank the South West Region NHS Executive for their support in commissioning this survey.
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Sprod, A., Boyles, J. The workforce of professionals complementary to dentistry in the general dental services: a survey of general dental practices in the South West. Br Dent J 194, 389–397 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4810005
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4810005
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