Advancing Dental Care (ADC) review report published

HEE has published the Advancing Dental Care (ADC) Review report; the culmination of a three-year review to identify and develop a future dental education and training infrastructure that produces a skilled multi-professional oral healthcare workforce, which can best support patient and population needs within the NHS.

HEE has worked and engaged with trainees, patients and system partners to devise a clear blueprint for change to reform dental education and training, which includes widening access to dental careers and understanding the oral health needs of patients in specific communities, so the skills and competencies of the workforce can be targeted where they are most needed.

Over the next four years, we will continue to work collaboratively with system partners to deliver the recommendations of the ADC Review report across each of England’s seven regions. The proposals include:

  • Skills development:
    • Giving trainees diverse experience of managing complex care, co-morbidities, and a stronger understanding of the communities they serve in changing care models and pathways.
    • Better use of the skill mix of the dental workforce and multi-disciplinary team working.
    • Options for qualified dentists and dental care professionals to increase their knowledge and skills and develop new capabilities and competence, including leadership, management and research.
  • Widening access and participation:
    • More flexible entry routes into training, to widen access and participation and develop more dental professionals in areas of greatest need.
    • Supporting the development of apprenticeships to diversify and promote the concept of a local dental workforce approach.
    • Co-ordination and distribution of postgraduate training posts, so that it is better aligned to areas with the highest levels of oral health inequalities.
  • Flexible working:
    • Flexible models of Dental Core and Specialty Training to support workforce retention and career progression and an equitable distribution of postgraduate dental training places.
    • Digital and blended learning opportunities to deliver dental education and training.
    • Options for less than full time training and career breaks, which can support differing lifestyles and wellbeing of trainees.

You can read the final report on HEE’s website at: www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/advancing-dental-care.