General News
Dentists might be restricted in leaving NHS
Dentists might be restricted in leaving NHS
Reports in “The Times” over the weekend highlight discussions going on in the NHS executive and Government in respect of the Dentist Work Force numbers and with the background of the recently published Work Force paper that a time restriction on leaving the NHS and working in private practice might be imposed following post graduate qualification.
There is a strong view that those who have benefited from a highly subsidised education to attain a professional degree should need to “pay back the NHS” in professional work for a proscribed period of time before electing to go “Private Only”
This is a response most likely initiated by the depleted work force in dentistry where over 40% of dentists do not provide NHS services.
One might expect a strong positive public response on this issue but it carries a threat to many vocational professional careers where there has always been a freedom to decide how one uses knowledge to assist the public.
In order not to appear dentist-centric any legislation might well blanket other professions into this new prescriptive era which would affect the small but important weaponry that optometrists have in asking for better pay.
We wonder what response would be evoked from our professional membership bodies, College and the GOC?
Read the workforce plan letter.
