A thought-provoking response

Acknowledging that there is undoubtedly a national issue with NHS dentistry and those wishing and in fact, needing to access NHS dental care are in an untenable situation, the society amongst others, is questioning why the discussions that have underpinned the Nuffield Report has excluded the wider professional bodies.

We acknowledge that the autonomous working of the dental nurse is currently hampered by the so-called ‘red tape and bureaucracy’ highlighted in the pandemic, as well as outdated regulations and legislation as noted by others. The window of opportunity to make changes must be now. Dental nurses are pivotal in intervention and preventative practice and so much of this is not deemed as an act of dentistry. Whilst dental nurses have been highlighted in the so-called ‘long-term plan’, there is little evidence of how dental nurses will be included, although talks are ongoing.