Government set to simplify GDC registration for international dentists
The government is set to introduce new measures to simplify the process of recruiting international dentists to boost NHS workforces.
Following a public consultation, the government is preparing to implement proposals to make GDC (General Dental Council) registration easier for dentists from overseas who want to work in the UK.
The Department of Health and Social Care oversaw a public consultation to determine views and opinions on proposed changes to international registration. The consultation covered the GDC and the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council). In total, there were more than 1,600 responses.
The government is now working to push forward measures, which will lower the number of dentists who need to sit the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE), provide more flexibility for the GDC and accelerate the recruitment and registration process.
The latest data shows that more than a third of new GDC-registered dentists qualified outside of the UK in 2021. The consultation put forward a series of changes, including eliminating the requirement to sit the OSE for some candidates and providing more assessment options for the GDC to determine whether or not dentists have the required skills and experience to work in the UK.
It is hoped that making the process more efficient and accessible will encourage more international dentists to work for the NHS in the UK. There is currently a shortage of NHS dentists in many parts of the country, which is contributing to long waiting times and a lack of NHS places. In some areas, up to 99% of NHS practices have no available places for new NHS patients.
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