A report from a BDA organised roundtable event has just been published. The discussion brought together key stakeholders to focus on workforce issues impacting on Community Dental Service (CDS) dentists, and what fixes are needed.
The roundtable event held in September was a proactive response in a context of worsening morale of CDS dentists, and failure to address workforce needs at a time when pressures on the service have never been higher.
As well as capturing those concerns impacting most acutely on staff, the report also aims to inform key steps which need to be taken to support colleagues, and the service as a whole.
The premise of a roundtable approach was that no one individual or organisation is able to fix all of the issues affecting CDS on their own, rather it will require a collaborative approach involving all in leadership including ourselves. This comprises clinical directors, Health and Social Care Trusts, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Strategic Planning and Performance Group and more, all working together.
Key workforce issues
The main points that emerged from the roundtable were the following.
- Defining what CDS is commissioned to do. The CDS workforce is feeling overwhelmed, lack clear direction about what care they are commissioned to provide at a time when service pressures are high and do not correlate with available workforce capacity
- Limited opportunities for progression and career pathways, with a desire for more specialist pathways
- The need for better joint working across trusts, standardisation of data and developing joint business cases towards developing a modern Northern Ireland-wide service
- The need for a review of CDS pay and progression to be taken forward.
Ann McAreavey, chair of the Northern Ireland Community Dentists Committee says “This is a critical juncture both for colleagues who work in CDS, and for future development of the service. This roundtable report captures what are some of the most critical issues impacting on CDS but also should inform those actions which now need to be taken.
All of us must put our shoulder behind the wheel to make these reforms a reality in the weeks and months ahead.”
Read the CDS workforce roundtable report.
Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to capture a true and accurate record of roundtable discussions, the final report should be attributable to BDA solely. Attendance in the roundtable event should not be regarded as endorsement by any of the organisations or individuals listed as attendees.