Dental group ramps up recruitment to tackle dentist shortages in Scotland
Scotland’s largest dental group is ramping up recruitment to tackle dentist shortages north of the border.
Clyde Munro is investing in a recruitment drive to encourage dentists to either stay in Scotland after graduating or move from other countries or UK nations amid dentist shortages.
The move comes as thousands of patients have recently been removed from practice lists in Moray. Three thousand patients at Bishopsmill Dental Centre have been deregistered following the departure of two NHS dentists. Patients were contacted by the practice team to inform them of the news, which was described by Clyde Munro as a “temporary” measure. Clyde Munro acquired the practice in 2019 and is working with Grampian Health Board to identify solutions for the patients affected by the reshuffle.
There are now two NHS dentists at the clinic with 12,000 patients on the books. All practice lists in Moray are currently closed to new NHS patients, which has sparked worry among local patients. Those who have been removed from practice registers or moved to the area are struggling to find a dentist and even those who are willing to travel further afield to the Highlands or Aberdeenshire have encountered problems.
Group clinical manager at Clyde Munro, Jacqui Frederick, issued an apology to the patients who have been removed from the register at Bishopsmill Dental Centre and pledged to try to increase capacity as quickly as possible. The firm has launched a recruitment drive across Scotland and is working on opening a dental academy in Perth to boost dentist numbers. The company is also looking to increase applications from abroad and has invested in new digital technology to improve services in rural areas.
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