Efforts underway to retain new dentists in East Anglia
UEA sets sights on improving Norfolk dental care by 2030
The University of East Anglia (UEA) is laying the foundation for its new dental school, but also considering how dentistry in Norfolk will change by 2030.
With dentistry students set to begin courses in 2027, the university is focusing on efforts to retain new graduates in the region, a strategy designed to address the shortage of dental professionals.
Professor Philip Baker, Pro-vice Chancellor for Health and Medicine at UEA, said he was optomisitic about keeping graduates in Norfolk, and ecouraging them to practise locally under the NHS.
"Retention of new dentists is essential, and we're exploring several incentives to encourage them to stay in Norfolk,
We will be focusing recruitment efforts locally within the county, who are more likely to stay on" Professor Philip said.
He said that attracting and retaining talent is crucial for healthcare in the region.
The government are following the same initiative, by encouraging students to take work in the NHS after they've completed their training:
"The government will be encouraging people, when they've benefited from the training that the government's provided, to stay and work in the NHS for a fixed period of time," said Professor Philip.
Since joining the UEA and moving to Norfolk, Philip said he hadn't experiences a dental scene like it:
"Since I arrived in Norfolk ive seen a dental desert, where people can't find a dentist,
people are taking their own teeth out, taking their children's teeth out, taking their friends teeth and doing their own dental care,
I have never come across stories such as those" He said.
He hopes that the dental school, can help shape get rid of the "desperation" that people have in Norfolk.
Professor Philip hopes that by 2030: " I want not to hear any more of those stories. I'd want us to be providing safe, compassionate care for people across the country... our new dental school will be a contribution to that."