UK
Overseas Dentists from Poland for NHS, UK
By Ashwin, UK Correspondent
Feb 24, 2005, 19:31

Health Minister Rosie Winterton met dentists who will work in the NHS, on a visit to a training centre in Warsaw, Poland today.

On completion of their induction programmes, the Polish dentists will fill vacancies in areas with some of the most long standing shortages of NHS dentists, such as Hull, Shropshire and Sussex.

The recruitment of overseas dentists to ease pressure in these areas is part of a programme of reform for NHS dentistry which includes unprecedented levels of investment, extra UK training places and new ways of working to make the NHS an attractive career option for dentists.

In addition, Primary Care Trusts in the hardest pressed areas are managing their own international recruitment activity in addition to the Government's centrally managed programme.

Visiting the Polish capital to discuss a range of issues, Rosie Winterton met the Polish Health Minister Mr Marek Balicki and his Deputy Mr Pawel Sztwiertnia and thanked them for their co-operation with the recruitment of dentists.

Rosie Winterton said:

�Our international recruitment programme is well underway. The first group of 29 dentists from Poland are already at work in the NHS treating thousands of patients, with more on the way. The NHS has been impressed by their high standards and is supporting them to settle into life in England. We have committed to increasing the number of NHS dentists by 1,000 by October this year, and our domestic and international recruitment programme will deliver two thirds of these.

�I thank the Polish Ministry of Health for their co-operation in this mutually beneficial project. Polish dentists working in England provide care for NHS patients and the NHS offers excellent opportunities for them to develop professionally. The majority of dentists from Poland are on new Personal Dental Services contracts which, as requested by dentists, takes the focus away from invasive dental treatment to give them more time with patients. They, like over 4,000 dentists in England, are embracing this new way of working.

�Our reforms ensure that more dentists want to work in the NHS.�

The Minister met the dentists towards the end of their language training courses. They are part of the second tranche of 41 dentists due to start work in England in March and April.

Immigration Minister Des Browne said:

�This is a good example of accession state nationals providing key scarce skills to the UK. Since May 2004, workers from Poland and from the other seven accession states who have come to the UK are working not only in the health service, but also are filling gaps in sectors such as hospitality, agriculture, and construction.

"Earlier this week the Home Office published figures for the Worker Registration Scheme, which requires that workers from the accession countries register when entering the UK to work. The scheme is part of a common sense approach on fulfilling our labour market needs. It puts us at a clear advantage in being able to meet skills shortages while being able to monitor carefully the affects of accession on the labour market."

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