Children’s hospital unable to hire dentists due to recruitment crisis

The news outlet, The Independent, has seen a report stating that the trust has been operating with one part-time consultant but needed at least two.

In its response, GOSH told The Independent that there is a “limited pool” of paediatric dentists. This has resulted in many patients waiting longer than the standard 18-weeks.

The Health Education England inspectors were sent to GOSH after “serious concerns” concerning trainee supervision levels were raised.

The inspection resulted in two junior doctors being removed until the hospital is able to appoint consultants to oversee them.

According to The Independent, the report said, “The HEE review panel were seriously concerned with the current clinical supervision arrangements for paediatric dentistry trainees due to staffing issues within the department and the limited capacity of the single, part-time paediatric dentistry clinical supervisor to provide consistent, adequate supervision of trainees.