Jeff Sherer, owner of The Dental Design Studio, explains why those who pass the overseas registration exam (ORE) can help patients to access NHS dentistry.
Over the last 10 years, I have had the privilege of collaborating with dentists who have previously passed their ORE. I have always had profound respect for these dentists, as I often wonder how I would cope with trying to be a dentist in a different country that I did not initially qualify from.
At the same time, I am also aware of overseas dentists working in the UK as dental therapists or dental nurses, struggling desperately to secure a seat to sit their ORE. A number of our employees have taken annual leave when spaces were announced, only to spend the day frustrated because despite their best attempts all the spaces were quickly filled.
Surely as a profession, we should not be forcing resolute individuals to enter an arena where they are struggling to secure a place, in the same fashion as those who were trying to buy tickets for the Oasis concert earlier this year. In my opinion, it would be far more sensible and fairer to introduce a waiting list system, whereby you register your interest in sitting the ORE and gradually work your way up the list until you are offered a place (which can then either be accepted or declined).
That way, it would be less down to chance and give peace of mind knowing that once a place becomes available, you can take it. It would remove a great deal of anxiety and allow individuals to help plan their career moves.
In addition to this, by increasing the number of exam places each year, it would help to clear the backlog and help create more UK registered dentists.
Solving dental workforce challenges
One of my main concerns for those who pass their ORE is what happens next? What should be a happy career defining moment is quickly replaced with the challenge of them trying to find a dental practice who can offer a workplace mentor so an NHS performer number can be applied for. For some, it is literally a case of overcoming one major barrier, only to be presented with another. Although it is appealing for those who pass their ORE to work in a fully private practice, I fear there are simply not enough opportunities to enter full-time private practice.
At the same time, at The Dental Design Studio, I have had to turn down several dentists who I would love to offer a mixed practice position to but simply did not have a dentist in the practice willing to commit to becoming an NHS mentor.
I have often said that there are enough dentists in the UK, just not enough that are willing to provide NHS treatment, especially in rural areas. Those dentists who have passed their ORE represent a quality pool of dentists who could fill this void and would allow patients more access to vital NHS dentistry. I personally believe that if someone has successfully passed their ORE and the GDC has registered them, then this should be good enough for them to work in NHS dentistry without further restrictions or barriers.
This would solve a great deal of the workforce challenges in NHS dentistry and ultimately improve the oral health of our nation.
Dentistry is campaigning to make the ORE booking system fairer. You can sign the petition below:
Make the ORE booking system fairer for dentists
Signatures (88%)
Goal
Make the overseas registration exam (ORE) booking system fairer for dentists
We call on the General Dental Council (GDC) to reform the booking system for the overseas registration exam (ORE) to make it fairer and more supportive of internationally-trained dentists.
Currently, securing a place for ORE Part 1 and Part 2 is like getting festival tickets — the system favours ‘fastest-finger first’, with how long a dentist has been trying to book a place carrying no weight. Dentists must repeatedly refresh the webpage and compete in a stressful, luck-based race to book an exam. We feel this approach:
– Penalises perseverance: Those who have already invested time, money and effort in previous attempts are not given priority
– Causes unnecessary stress: Candidates face months or years of uncertainty while waiting for an exam slot
– Wastes talent: Skilled overseas dentists are unable to practise – even as the UK faces critical dental workforce shortages.
We propose a fairer system where priority is given to candidates who have previously attempted to book the ORE – allowing the process to be truly first come, first served.
Reforming the booking system is an effective short-term step that can be implemented quickly to relieve pressure on candidates and the dental workforce.
We acknowledge that broader, complementary action is also necessary, including the continued growth of available ORE places, and investment in UK dental schools and training capacities.
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To read more real life stories and thought leadership on the ORE, simply visit:
/tag/unlocking-the-ore.
