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Dental workforce data processing

Purpose

The dental workforce in Scotland works in a range of settings and consequently the data are derived from different sources. In order to report a complete picture of this workforce we combine data from three difference sources.

The following applies for the data released as part of the NHSScotland Workforce official statistics publication.

Process

The dental workforce data are held in three sources:

  • Dentists working in the general dental services (GDS) are independent contractors and are usually the first point of contact for NHS dental treatment. People registered with a dentist can receive the full range of NHS treatment available under GDS. Data on this workforce is sourced from the Management Information and Dental Accounting System (MIDAS) held at Public Health Scotland. In the official statistics, these dentists can be found in the Dentist table released in June and September.
  • Dentists working in hospitals and community health services provide dental care for people who have either been referred for further treatment or could not get care through the GDS (for example for patients who are residents of long-stay care). These dentists are directly employed by NHSScotland and their data are sourced from SWISS. In the official statistics, these dentists can be found in the employment figures updated quarterly and the Dentist table released in June and September. These numbers include Dentists in Training.
  • New or recent dental graduates undertake a one-year programme which will allow them to work as an Associate or Principle in the GDS. Data on these Vocational Dental Practitioners are available in both SWISS and Turas People. In the official statistics, these dentists can be found in the Dentist table released in June and September. From December 2022 (30 September 2022 census) they can also be found in the quarterly NHSScotland Workforce official statistics publication under their employer Board, NHS Education for Scotland, ‘community dentistry’ specialty and ‘other’ grade.

These data are merged, using dentists' General Dental Council registration number to identify Dentists who work across these areas, e.g. Dentists who work both in GDS and as a Hospital Doctor. It is not always possible to assign a registration number to all staff. As at 30 September 2022, there are approximately 150 (3.5%) of dentists who have not been assigned a registration number in our data which may result in some double counting.

Background information

Vocational Dental Practitioners (VDPs)

VDP data from SWISS and Turas People are merged to report by board of placement in the Dentists table. Board of placement is identified using the education provider (dental practice) available in Turas People. There are multiple dental practices across Scotland that share the same name but have different locations which has prevented us from assigning them a postcode. As a result, there has been an increase in ‘Unknown’ SIMD.

Dentists in Training

From September 2021 Dentists in Training data are held in Turas People due to NHS Education for Scotland becoming the lead employer. The data is processed the same way as the Doctors in Training, with the data source being a merging of Turas People and SWISS.

The Dentists in Training can be found in the quarterly NHSScotland Workforce official statistics report. As at 30 September 2022, roughly three quarters were reported under an ‘other’ grade with the remaining quarter reported under a ‘doctor in training’ grade. They are reported using a range of dental specialties but approximately 64% of dentists in training were recorded as having a ‘not known dental’ specialty.