Dental Services: Migrant Workers

(asked on 21st July 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to (a) increase and (b) expedite the recruitment of dentists from overseas for NHS work; if he will take steps to (i) enable increased recognition of NHS equivalent overseas dental qualifications and (ii) retain the number of dentists currently undertaking NHS work; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
James Morris Portrait
James Morris
This question was answered on 5th September 2022

The General Dental Council (GDC) is the independent regulator for dentists and dental care professionals in the United Kingdom. All dentists and dental care professionals are required to register with the GDC in order to practice in the UK. The GDC assesses the skills, knowledge and experience of healthcare professionals who have qualified outside of the UK to ensure standards of practice are met. As an independent body, the GDC is responsible for these arrangements.

The Department recently consulted on legislative changes to provide the GDC with greater flexibility to establish alternative routes to registration for international applicants. Officials are analysing the responses received and the Government’s response will be published later this year. Subject to the outcome of the consultation and the Parliamentary approval, we aim to introduce the legislative changes in autumn 2022. The GDC will determine how this flexibility can be applied, with up to 12 months to introduce changes to its international registration processes, including stakeholder consultation.

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