Dentistry In
The New Millennium
Education and Training
of the Professionals
Complementary to
Dentistry in Scotland
Summary and Recommendations
of the Working Group Report
February 2002
Working together for a healthy, caring Scotland
EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF
THE PROFESSIONALS
COMPLEMENTARY TO DENTISTRY
IN SCOTLAND
Summary and Recommendations of the
Working Group Report
February 2002
1.
Introduction
The Professionals Complementary to Dentistry (PCD) are healthcare professionals
who deliver oral health services in a range of settings including primary dental care,
dental teaching hospitals, acute hospitals and as private businesses (independent dental
technicians). They are an essential component of the dental workforce and
NHSScotland dental services. These professionals offer clinical services and support
clinical services and thus make a significant contribution to oral health and to the
quality of dental services in Scotland. There are an estimated 5,500 such professionals
presently working in Scotland.
2.
Background
Improvements in oral health and dental services are a core component of Our National
Health - A plan for action, a plan for change in NHSScotland. The commitment to
improving oral health was highlighted in Towards a Healthier Scotland and the future
direction of the primary care dental services was outlined in the Action Plan for Dental
Services in Scotland published in August 2000. This latter report is fully endorsed in
Our National Health and incorporates 48 action points including initiatives on the
dental workforce and preventive programmes to improve oral health.
Complementing and informing this report is a review of workforce planning for the
dental team in Scotland published in September 2000 and a report on information
management and information technology for dental services published in July 2001.
In all of these documents the important role and contribution of the Professionals
Complementary to Dentistry is highlighted.
The main aim of this report is to develop an organisational structure capable of:maintaining an increased production of Professionals Complementary to
Dentistry.
maintaining a higher standard of education and training for all Professionals
Complementary to Dentistry.
and thereby
increasing the potential for Professionals Complementary to Dentistry to
contribute to improving oral health and the quality of dental services in
Scotland.
This report has its basis in the education and training strategy for NHSScotland
Learning Together published in December 1999.
An initial review of the
Professionals Complementary to Dentistry workforce, by the National Dental
Advisory Committee, highlighted the need for a comprehensive plan to bring about a
significant change to present education, training and workforce planning. Change
needed to be delivered in association with the developments outlined above for
Scotland and with those promulgated through the General Dental Council and the
Department of Health (England) to which matters of regulation of these professions is
1
reserved. This plan restricts itself to operational and workforce issues concerning
NHSScotland.
3.
Professionals Complementary to Dentistry
This term refers to the following: •
•
•
•
dental hygienists
dental technicians
dental therapists
dental nurses
•
•
•
dental health educators/oral health promotion officers
dental practice managers and receptionists
maxillofacial prosthetists and technologists
The first four are distinct established oral health care professionals. In 1999 the
General Dental Council identified two new clinical professionals in their consultation
document on the Professionals Complementary to Dentistry.
•
•
clinical dental technicians
orthodontic therapist
The two latter groups involve clinical roles and remits not previously undertaken by
the established professionals.
Dental Health Educators/Oral Health Promotion Officers and maxillofacial
prosthetists and technologists, although recognised separate professional groups, are
often recruited post-qualification from the other professional groups.
Practice managers and receptionists have not always been recognised as professionals
with separate and distinct roles and therefore are often not included within the term
health professional. They are regarded in this document as full members of the dental
team and included within the term Professionals Complementary to Dentistry.
Priority for development will initially be given to education and training opportunities
and courses for the four established professional groups. Development of the two
new proposed clinical grades will proceed in line with changes in legislation and advice
developed through the General Dental Council followed by a full assessment of the
need for these grades in Scotland.
2.
4.
Overview of organisation and structure of education and
training
In the past, education and training of some of these professionals was of variable
quality and structure. There was little workforce planning either at a national
(Scotland/UK) or local (Health Board/Trust) level and the education and training of
these professionals required significant change in structure, leadership and
organisation.
Issues of concern highlighted in this review were: •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
5.
No workforce estimates or control existed at Health Board, Scottish or UK
level for these professionals.
Decisions on student training numbers were arbitrary and taken by training
authorities often without identified appropriate funding or needs assessment.
Difficult to identify accurately where or by whom the education and training
was offered.
Courses started and ceased depending on the local enthusiasm of an
individual. Courses had little quality assurance or contact with other similar
courses.
Dental nurses, dental technicians, practice managers and receptionists have no
mandatory requirement for either foundation, registration level educational
qualifications or continuing professional education.
Registration level training in dental technology is only available in two
locations in Scotland, (Glasgow and Edinburgh).
Many of the qualifications offered have no educational equivalence and are
only recognised by dental organisations.
There is no mandatory continuing professional education for any group of
Professionals Complementary to Dentistry although many already undertake
such activity and have proposals for mandatory systems. Continuing
professional education is self-motivated with little encouragement or funding.
Change Recommended within this Report
This plan outlines seven significant aspects of change in the education and training of
these professionals.
•
•
•
•
Recognition of the role and value to the health services of the contribution of this
group of professionals.
Development of appropriate standards of induction, foundation, registration level
courses and continuing professional education.
Integration of this group of professionals into workforce planning for the whole
dental team and other health care professionals.
Structured foundation courses widely available throughout Scotland for these
professionals.
3.
•
•
•
6.
Structured opportunities for continuing professional development as individuals,
as members of the dental team and as health care professionals.
Support funding for the additional clinical costs associated with the education and
training of these professionals.
Improved co-ordination between health services, regulatory bodies, educational
organisations and industry to ensure high quality education and training for all
Professionals Complementary to Dentistry.
Change already initiated as part of this plan
The Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) identified in 2001 a resource of
£1.6 million over the next 3 years to facilitate the education and training of this group
of staff. Funding will support the additional clinical costs associated with education
and training of these professionals.
Significant progress includes:Ø Increase by 30% in the number of student hygienists in Scotland with an output of
at least 30 hygienists a year from 2003 onwards.
Ø Feasibility study in Glasgow for the training of dental therapists in Scotland.
Ø Support for development of:new training schemes in Scotland for dental nurses
and
Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ) for dental nursing
In the last 12 months 203 dental nurses qualified in Scotland and a minimum of
200 should qualify annually for the next 3 years.
Ø Establishment of continuing professional education through team training for all
clinical Professionals Complementary to Dentistry.
Ø Development of partnerships between dental schools, colleges of further education
and dental professionals to develop courses for dental nurses and dental
technicians.
7.
Recommendations
Recommendation 1
The Scottish Executive Health Department should monitor changes driven by
the General Dental Council concerning the Professionals Complementary to
Dentistry and ensure that NHSScotland is appropriately prepared to resource
and support changes to the education and training of these professionals.
4.
Recommendation 2
The Scottish Executive Health Department should advise the Department of
Health (England) and the General Dental Council through appropriate
channels that it supports the proposed changes governing the education,
regulation and clinical duties of the Professionals Complementary to
Dentistry.
Recommendation 3
The Scottish Executive Health Department should agree with NHSScotland
Health Boards and Trusts and the Information Services Division (ISD) an
appropriate way to collect workforce information on all dental professionals.
Recommendation 4
The Scottish Executive Health Department should support the development of
a central source of information on educational courses and opportunities for
these health professionals.
Recommendation 5
The Scottish Executive Health Department should encourage, with
professional bodies and employers, minimum standards of education and
training for these professionals working within NHSScotland Trusts, dental
practices and dental laboratories.
Recommendation 6
NHSScotland should encourage the development of quality accreditation
schemes with professional organisations for all independent dental
organisations/employers. These must include standards related to education
and training and standards of employment for staff.
Recommendation 7
It is recommended that all new team members entering dental services undergo
an appropriate induction course. Core elements of these induction courses
should be standardised throughout Scotland.
Recommendation 8
5.
The Scottish Executive should liase with the Scottish Qualifications Authority
and educational organisations to establish foundation or registration level
qualifications for all Professionals Complementary to Dentistry.
Recommendation 9
A centre of excellence for the education and training of the Professionals
Complementary to Dentistry should be developed. This centre should develop
direct links to NHSScotland, educational organisations and those involved with
education in remote and rural settings.
Recommendation 10
Courses and opportunities for professional development including advanced
qualifications should be identified and developed for all Professionals
Complementary to Dentistry to allow each profession to meet the needs and
standards of a modern NHSScotland.
Recommendation 11
NHSScotland should identify in conjunction with professional associations the
career pathways for continuing professional development available to those
Professionals Complementary to Dentistry wishing to develop more advanced
skills.
Recommendation 12
Independent dental practices and dental laboratories should be encouraged to
develop education and training plans similar to those established by
NHSScotland Trusts. This will ensure that all staff are able to undertake
regular continuing education relevant to their post. Educational opportunities
where feasible, should be based on principles of multi-professional and/or team
education and training.
Recommendation 13
The standards set out by the General Dental Council for the competence,
registration level qualifications and continuing professional education of all
dental professionals should be supported and appropriately funded by
employers.
Recommendation 14
Scotland should achieve an output of a minimum of 30 hygienists/therapists
annually from 2003. Dental therapy training should start in Scotland as soon as
6.
planning allows and should be delivered within an integrated therapist/hygienist
joint course.
Recommendation 15
Scotland should achieve an output of a minimum of 200 dental nurses
qualifying annually from 2001 onwards with up to 500 student dental nurses in
training (2-year course).
Recommendation 16
Scotland should aim to achieve an output of at least 15-20 dental technicians
qualifying annually from 2004 with up to 35 student technicians in training (2year course). This could translate into larger numbers of part-time students
participating in longer courses.
Recommendation 17
NHSScotland should ensure that resources are available to support the
additional clinical costs of the education and training of the Professionals
Complementary to Dentistry in Scotland.
This funding will ensure
appropriate standards of education and training and help achieve the clinical
governance requirements for NHSScotland dental services.
Recommendation 18
The Scottish Executive Health Department should liaise with the Department
of Education and Lifelong Learning and the Department of Industry to enhance
and clarify the educational opportunities and resources supporting the
education and training of these professionals.
8.
Operational plan and timetable
Funding supporting the education and training of the Professionals Complementary to
Dentistry has initially been allocated to the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical
and Dental Education(SCPMDE). SCPMDE and in future the new Special Health
Board subsuming the role of SCPMDE, will with professional organisations and
educational organisations develop an operational plan to deliver the changes outlined
in this report to an agreed timetable.
The full report is available on www.show.scot.nhs.uk
or from:Rosemarie Pelosi
7.
Scottish Executive
Health Department
Area 1 East Rear
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
Representatives of professional organisations
Ms H Carpenter, Dental Nurse, Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust
Mr G Smith, Dental Instructor, University of Glasgow
Ms M Cameron, Oral Health Co-ordinator, Glasgow
Mrs M Ross, Hygienist Tutor, Glasgow
Mrs M Moodie, Dental Therapist, Glasgow
Mr A Petrie, Laboratory Manager, Lothian Primary Care Trust
Mr F Walker, Oral Maxillofacial Technician, Canniesburn Hospital
Mr D McCall, Consultant in Dental Public Health, Greater Glasgow
Health Board
Mr G Findlay, Findlay Dental Laboratories, Fife
Representatives of bodies involved in education and training
Mr P Callis, Director of School of Dental Hygiene, Consultant
Restorative Dentistry, Edinburgh
Mr T Ferris, Director of Community Dental Services, Forth Valley
Primary Care Trust (representing SCPMDE)
Mrs S Winning, Director of the School of Dental Auxiliaries, Glasgow
Mr J McIntyre, Langside College, Glasgow
Mrs E Proudfoot, Langside College, Glasgow
Mr P McMahon, Programme Team Leader, Telford College, Edinburgh
Mrs E Hutchison, Tutor, Telford College, Edinburgh
Scottish Executive
Mr T R Watkins, Chief Dental Officer
Mrs M F McCann, Deputy Chief Dental Officer
Professional organisations represented
British Association of Dental Nurses
Dental Technicians Education and Training Advisory Board Ltd
British Association of Dental Therapists
8.
British Association of Dental Hygienists
Institute of Maxillofacial Prosthetists and Technologists
9.
ISBN 0 7559 0337 4
Astron B23134 3/02
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