How is the Welsh Government encouraging dentists to begin or continue working under the NHS rather than taking up private practice?
We incentivise new graduates to work in the NHS in a number of ways.
On graduation newly-qualified dentists can undertake dental foundation training(DFT). Graduates join as salaried performers in approved practices with general dental practitioners who have been appointed as educational supervisors. During the three academic terms, the foundation dentists attend an educational day release programme designed to educate them in both the clinical and the administrative aspects of NHS dentistry. Educational supervisors are required to attend specific educational activities to equip them for their supervisory and training responsibilities.
As part of this programme graduates opting to undertake their training in rural areas benefit from the Welsh enhanced recruitment offer (WERO), which offers an additional £5,000 in salary (rising to £7,000 from September 2024), plus additional educational and wellbeing support.
Health Education and Improvement Wales has recently launched a Strategic Workforce Plan for Primary Care and a plan for dentistry with a clear focus on retention.
We recognise the dental contract needs reforming and we are in negotiations with the British Dental Association.