Recruiting and Retaining Dental Professionals
in Remote/Rural Areas
John Lyon
Chief Administrative Dental Officer
NHS Western Isles
“Efforts should continue to address the shortage of NHS
dentists in remote and rural regions. NHS Boards should
be encouraged to explore innovative methods of
maximising recruitment”
Scottish Needs Assessment Report on Remote and Rural
Dentistry 2007
Western Isles Dental Centre
Training of Dental Professionals
Primary Care Dental Service Provision
Delivery of Oral Health Improvement Programmes
Provision of Specialist Dental Services
Dental Student Outreach Programme
Dental students from Aberdeen University
rotation to Stornoway throughout final year
Dental Student Electives
Dental Hygienist/Therapist training
BSc Oral Health Sciences from UHI
3 year programme, students based in Stornoway, Dumfries
and Inverness
Local students
Single-handed Dental Practitioners
Professional isolation
Vocational Trainee Dentists
Benbecula
First year rural/remote experience after
undergraduate qualification
Vocational Trainee Dentists
Teamwork
Rural and Remote Dental Fellows
Three year programme
MSc qualification from Scottish Dental School
Funded by NES
Opportunities for further qualification
Out of Hours Dental Service
Integration with national NHS 24 emergency dental services
Incentives
Undergraduate Bursary
Vocational Trainee Allowance (Designated Areas)
“Golden Hello” (Designated Areas)
Remote and Rural Allowance for NHS committed Dentists
Scottish Dental Access Initiatives Grants
Practice Improvement Grants
Thank you