HEIW Launch Dental Strategic Workforce Plan

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is thrilled to launch the Dental Strategic Workforce Plan. The actions derived from the plan will inform sustainable solutions for the dental workforce in Wales, which will help improve patient care and provision of services.

Created in partnership with the Strategic Programme for Primary Care, and aligning with the Strategic Workforce Plan for Primary Care, the focus of the dental plan is to ensure that the primary care dental workforce has the skills and competencies needed for the future delivery of oral health care.

The plan has evolved following an extensive review of literature, analysing the available workforce intelligence and consulting with key stakeholders.

This plan will aid the future planning of dental services and improve some of the existing workforce challenges while continuing to train the workforce for the future. It will require sustained work by all stakeholders across the system to improve the provision of dental services for the future.

The next steps in the delivery of the dental plan include prioritisation of actions, development of costing and implementation plan and a benefits framework.

Kirstie Moons, Postgraduate Dental Dean said:

“ I am delighted to share with you the Dental Strategic Workforce Plan. We are aware of the significant challenges in the dental workforce in Wales and the impact this has on patients and their care. This workforce plan has been developed to address some of these and lay foundations, both in supporting the existing workforce and planning the training pathways for the future workforce.”