Health
secretary John Reid today announced plans to recruit 1,000 more NHS dentists
over the next 15 months.
The
move, part of a shake-up billed as the "biggest reform" of NHS
dentistry since 1948, will see a third of new dentists recruited from overseas.
"We
are investing an extra £368m in NHS dentistry, recruiting 1,000 more NHS
dentists in little over a year, and reforming the dental system to improve the
long-term oral health of the nation,” said Reid.
The
new contract arrangements, which are yet to be concluded, are aimed at luring
back dentists from private practice to work in the NHS.
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The
health secretary also announced an increase of 170 extra dental training places
from October 2005, a 25 per cent rise.
