Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating health, economic and social impact on the UK health services. The learning from redeployment demonstrated that dental professionals can be rapidly integrated into the wider healthcare system, but the challenge is how this can be sustained in the future. This is an opportunity for dental training to be incorporated into a more integrated model of care, and this article outlines a collaboration between NHS England and NHS Improvement, Health Education England and Local Dental Networks to establish a novel training opportunity. This Assistant Dentist Integrated Care Pilot Programme has provided retention of dentists within areas of unmet need and introduced innovative opportunities for dental workforce transformation.
Highlights
The global repercussion of the COVID19 pandemic has had a devastating health, economic and social impact, which continues to disrupt the sustainable delivery of health services
This should be viewed as a positive opportunity for dental training to be incorporated into a more integrated model of care, and this paper outlines a pilot collaboration between NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I), Health Education England and Local Dental Networks, which has established a novel educational programme that crosses primary and secondary care boundaries
This novel programme has been delivered using a combination of clinical and academic work-based placement, similar in structure to existing dental training models. It offers a unique opportunity for general dental practitioners (GDPs) wishing to enhance their clinical skills within primary care while developing additional transferable skills through interprofessional working within secondary care
Summary
Local workforce opportunities may improve recruitment and retention within the dental profession. Collaboration is key, not just between stakeholders and between dentistry and wider health and social care
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