UEA 'provisionally granted' half of all new dental training places
The Office for Students says 25 new spots could soon be created at the University of East Anglia
A local Uni's provisionally been allocated half of all new dental training places by the Government.
The Office for Students says 25 new spots could soon be created at the University of East Anglia.
UEA's long been pushing for a new school of this kind to be built on campus- to tackle the region's so-called 'dental desert'
Dental training places are capped by Government, with universities requiring allocation from the Office for Students (OfS) to offer programmes.
the Norwich-based university says it's "set to pull out all the stops" so that it can welcome its first dental students in September 2027.
The East of England remains the only region in England without a dental school and consistently records some of the lowest NHS dental access rates in the country.
Norfolk's ratio of 36 dentists per 100,000 people starkly contrasts with the national average of 53 per 100,000.
"The culmination of many years of hard work and campaigning"
Prof David Maguire, Vice-Chancellor of UEA, said: “It is tremendous news that UEA has been provisionally awarded half of the country’s new dental training places. This will enable us to offer undergraduate dental training and address the dental challenges across Norfolk and East Anglia, representing the culmination of many years of hard work and campaigning here at the University.
“The region is currently significantly under-served by dentists, with Norfolk described by the Secretary of State for Health as the ‘Sahara of dental deserts’. By training new dentists locally, we can strengthen the general practice workforce, improve access to NHS dental services, and deliver better oral health outcomes for our communities.
“This development reflects UEA’s deep-seated civic responsibility and our longstanding tradition of supporting the region’s health services. Building on more than 20 years of our Norwich Medical School – as well as strengths in nursing, midwifery, and allied health professions – these training places reinforce our purpose: to educate the key workers who underpin healthcare and wellbeing across East Anglia.”
"A vital step in tackling workforce shortages"
Prof Phil Baker, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: “UEA’s success in provisionally securing undergraduate training places reflects the strength of our existing medical and healthcare provision.
“We are home to one of the top medical schools in the country, with exceptional national exam pass rates and graduates who are highly prepared for medical careers. Our School of Health Sciences also delivers outstanding training across a range of healthcare professions. Together, these strengths highlight how UEA is well-placed to train a cadre of high calibre dentists.
“Just as importantly, Norfolk and East Anglia are widely recognised as a dental desert, with the nearest dental schools a considerable distance away. Being able to offer dental training in Norwich is therefore a vital step in tackling workforce shortages and improving dental care provision for patients and communities across the region.”