Abstract
IntroductionThe National Health Service’s reliance on overseas doctors and nurses, unlike dentists, has been widely reported. As the United Kingdom (UK) leaves the European Union, an understanding of the migration trends and possible influences are important to inform future planning.AimTo examine trends in the profile of UK registered dentists in the context of key events and policy changes from 2000 to 2020.MethodData were obtained from the General Dental Council via annual reports, and under ‘freedom of information’ communications; details of policy initiatives were obtained from the government and professional websites.ResultsOver a 20-year period (2000–2019), the number of registered dentists increased from 31,325 to 42,469, a net increase of 36% (11,144 dentists), the majority of whom were international graduates (58%; n = 6,416) such that by December 2019, 28% of all registered dentists had qualified outside of the UK. Similarly, regarding new registrants, there were increases of graduates from UK (18%), EEA countries (214%) and, via the Overseas Registration Examination route (621%); and a decrease from countries with bilateral agreements for recognition (43%), in line with changes in health and immigration policies.ConclusionsInternational dental graduates increasingly contribute to the UK dental workforce and there is an urgent need for research into dentist migration and retention in the UK in support of patient access to dental care.ImpactThe United Kingdom (UK) dental workforce is increasingly reliant on international dental graduates representing 28% of current registrants compared with 18% in 2000.Health policies and immigration policies were the main drivers that influenced dental workforce migration to the UK along with wider events, such as EU expansions, global recession and Brexit.Pre-existing lack of research into dental workforce could add to the uncertainties of post COVID-19 oral health care access and delivery.
Highlights
The National Health Service’s reliance on overseas doctors and nurses, unlike dentists, has been widely reported.As the United Kingdom (UK) leaves the European Union, an understanding of the migration trends and possible influences are important to inform future planning
The change in system resulted in an exodus of UK trained health professionals, reluctant to work in National Health Service (NHS), which led to active recruitment of the doctors trained in India and nurses trained in the Caribbean in the 1950s and 1960s;11 setting a precedence for active recruitment of an international health workforce
The GDC maintains a register of dentists based on their route to registration as UK qualified dentists, Economic Area (EEA) qualified dentists, nonEEA qualified dentists (IQE/ORE route) and as overseas dental graduates mainly consisting of those qualifying from countries with whom UK has bilateral agreements
Summary
The National Health Service’s reliance on overseas doctors and nurses, unlike dentists, has been widely reported.As the United Kingdom (UK) leaves the European Union, an understanding of the migration trends and possible influences are important to inform future planning. It is well recognised that the National Health Service (NHS) is reliant on overseas health professionals and the UK is an attractive destination country for overseas qualified doctors and nurses.[1,2] little is known about the extent and the type of migration of the IDGs over the past two decades and the UK’s reliance on IDGs. The increase in migration of dentists from Europe to the UK,[3,4,5] factors that may affect their performance[6] and the impact of Brexit on the migration of European Economic Area (EEA) dentists have been reported.[7] the trends of the profiles of all the registrants over the last two decades and the policy directions that may have influenced these changes have not been correlated or reported. The change in system resulted in an exodus of UK trained health professionals, reluctant to work in NHS, which led to active recruitment of the doctors trained in India and nurses trained in the Caribbean in the 1950s and 1960s;11 setting a precedence for active recruitment of an international health workforce
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
