Overseas dentists 'cannot work'

By Caroline Parkinson
Health Reporter, BBC News

The dentists say they want to work in the UK

A group of dentists are claiming they cannot practise in the UK because they are unable to get permission to work, despite a demand for more NHS staff.

The dentists are all British citizens or residents, but were trained outside the European Union.

The General Dental Council can ask them to take a qualifying exam - but the entrance list has been closed.

The GDC said it has to check that overseas dentists are properly trained and fit to practise in the UK.

We're here, trying to be responsible and go through the system Dr Bea Kayani, Resident Dentists UK Group

Two months ago, two dentists decided to form a campaign group. The Resident Dentists Group UK now has over 100 members.

Representatives are set to meet dental leaders and Jack Straw, Leader of the House of Commons, next month to lobby for action.

Increasing demand

Dr Bea Kayani, who heads the group, said: "As British citizens and residents, we don't get any recognition.

A DENTIST'S STORY One dentist, who but did not want to be named, qualified in South America and passed further exams in the US She also worked as a dentist in the Middle East and came to the UK with her husband, who moved because of his job She has applied to the GDC three times - twice the regulator asked to see more documentation, while on the third occasion she was simply told her application was rejected She says she is frustrated, she has proved her experience abroad many times, and tried to do so here She can now only practice when she returns to her home country

"Some of us were born here and others have come to live in the UK with their husbands or wives.

"We have qualified and gained registration - but not here."

Ms Kayani, who trained in Pakistan, added: "The government has spent millions of pounds recruiting dentists abroad.

"But we're here, trying to be responsible and go through the system.

"We have 100 members, and everyday someone else comes and says they are in the same position."

The group says there are anomalies in the way they are treated.

For example, dentists with degrees from institutions within the European Union are automatically recognised.

Those who went to other institutions within the European Economic Area - including British nationals - will be assessed individually.

But dentists who are not nationals of any EEA country, and who qualified outside the EU, will be asked to take the three-part International Qualifying Exam (IQE), which takes around 18 months to complete and costs around £2,800.

Figures show between half and two-thirds of entrants pass the various stages of the exam.

But there is increasing demand for the IQE.

There were 246 applications in 2003, increasing to 1,087 applications in 2005. Much of the increase has been made up of Indian dentists seeking work in the UK.

Around 1,000 of the 33,000 dentists registered in the UK have passed the exam.

'Comprehensive review'

The GDC says it has made "a record number of places" available for the IQE, but entries have been suspended because it was not seen as fair to take new people into the system until the waiting list has been cleared.

We have a duty to ensure that all dentists working in the UK are properly trained, qualified and fit to practise Duncan Rudkin, General Dental Council

The body's chief executive Duncan Rudkin said: "To protect the public, we have a duty to ensure that all dentists working in the UK are properly trained, qualified and fit to practise.

"Overseas-qualified dentists, including UK nationals trained outside Europe, must demonstrate to us that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to practise dentistry on UK patients.

"They are able to do so by passing our IQE."

He added: "We are also carrying out a comprehensive review of the IQE to ensure the GDC's processes are robust and up to date and, most importantly, that they are fulfilling their public protection purpose.

"We are proposing that the current IQE is replaced with a new exam which would make use of modern assessment methods and would be better able to cope with fluctuations in demand than the current IQE.

"We hope this new exam will begin in the second half of 2007."

A spokesperson for the British Dental Association said: "The backlog of candidates waiting to take the IQE should be addressed.

"This would allow individuals to demonstrate whether they meet the rigorous standards required to practise in the UK and prevent their talents being lost and wasted."