Committees

MPs to examine challenges to high street dentistry in workforce inquiry

20 May 2022

The British Dental Association is one of a number of health professional bodies that will appear before MPs examining challenges facing the workforce in their inquiry into recruitment, training and retention. Representatives from the nursing, midwifery and pharmacy sectors will also give evidence.

With a fall in the number of dentists working with the NHS and evidence that overall numbers are at their lowest level for eight years, MPs are likely to consider the system of targets in the dentistry contract as well as levels of recruitment and retention. The Committee will also consider the workforce challenges facing social care and is expected to raise questions about the impact on standards of care with the Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission and with the Local Government Association. The role of employers and national policy makers in dealing with the challenges posed, direction on training numbers, and the types of training offered are also expected to be explored.

Evidence to the Committee has cited poor workforce planning, weak policy and fragmented responsibilities as contributing to a workforce crisis, exacerbated by the lack of a national NHS workforce strategy. It has been estimated that by 2030/31, up to almost half a million extra health care staff would be needed to meet the pressures of demand and recover from the pandemic – the equivalent of a 40% increase in the workforce.

Witnesses

Tuesday 24 May in Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Panel 1 - at 10.00am

  • Shawn Charlwood Chair, General Dental Practice Committee, British Dental Association
  • Ravi Sharma Director for England, Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • Dr Denise Chaffer President, Royal College of Nursing
  • Gill Walton Chief Executive, Royal College of Midwives

Panel 2 - at approx. 10.40am

  • Ian Trenholm Chief Executive, Care Quality Commission
  • Simon Williams Director of Social Care Improvement, Local Government Association

Panel 3 at approx. 11.20am

  • Danny Mortimer Chief Executive, NHS Employers
  • Dr Navina Evans Chief Executive, Health Education England
  • Professor Em Wilkinson-Brice Acting Chief People Officer, NHS England

Further information

Image: Flickr