HEIW is supporting dentists with advanced skills to improve patient care in Wales
Published 08/05/2026
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) has supported 33 dentists across Wales to achieve advanced accreditation in oral surgery through its Dentists with Enhanced Skills (DES) programme. Launched in 2023, the programme helps dentists build specialist expertise while strengthening patient care and supporting a more sustainable dental workforce in NHS Wales.
The DES programme enables more treatment to be delivered safely in primary care by supporting referrals to dentists with advanced skills. It improves access to care closer to home, helps reduce waiting times and supports dentists to develop new skills alongside their existing roles.
Rhian Jones, Specialist Oral Surgeon and DES Oral Surgery Panel Chair, said:
“The Oral Surgery DES pathway has enabled dentists with enhanced skills to gain formal recognition and progress their careers, while supporting the safe movement of appropriate care from secondary into primary care.”
Following feedback from general dental practitioners, HEIW continues to refine and progress the DES process to optimise both programme experience and the impact on patient care.
Dr Anjani Holmes, Dental Professional Lead at HEIW, said:
“The progress of the DES programme demonstrates its value for both the workforce and patients. By continuing to refine and develop the pathway, we are creating clear and sustainable opportunities for professional development while strengthening patient centred care across Wales.”
Building on the success of oral surgery, HEIW has extended the DES framework into paediatric dentistry. The paediatric dentistry DES accreditation process is now underway, alongside a dedicated training programme supporting dentists to work towards accreditation.
Early feedback from participants has been very positive, particularly on the mentoring and study day components, reinforcing HEIW’s commitment to continuous improvement and quality training.
Looking ahead, HEIW will continue to strengthen DES accreditation in oral surgery and paediatric dentistry, while exploring opportunities to expand the framework into other dental specialties. This ongoing development will further support workforce capability and improve patient care across Wales.
For more information and details on DES applications, please visit the HEIW DES Webpage.