DT News - UK - Report highlights views and intentions of EEA-qualified dental professionals regarding Brexit

Dental Tribune UK

Thu. 24 January 2019

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LONDON, UK: With Brexit still set to take place on 29 March of this year, understanding its potential impact on the British dental workforce is of paramount importance. A new report commissioned by the General Dental Council (GDC) has thus sought to illuminate the post-Brexit intentions of dental professionals who qualified in the European Economic Area (EEA), but work in the UK.

The report was conducted on behalf of the GDC by Enventure Research, which issued an online survey to all EEA-qualified dental professionals based in the UK and conducted in-depth telephone interviews. Over 2,400 registrants completed the survey, which sought to understand, among other things, their reasons for coming to the UK, whether they intended to leave the UK and whether Brexit played a role in this consideration.

The majority of the telephone interview participants explained that they had originally come to the UK to work both for economic reasons and because of the large number of available posts. Furthermore, 75 per cent of the survey respondents said that they had found a post within three months of coming to the UK.

However, 32 per cent of the survey respondents stated their intention to leave the UK in the next few years. Half of these respondents clarified that Brexit was the reason behind this, and a number of telephone interview participants highlighted that the fall in value of the pound meant that it was no longer as economically attractive to work in the UK as it had once been. In addition, several interview participants said that they no longer felt welcome in the UK given the result of the Brexit referendum, while some participants voiced their concerns about the uncertainty regarding their continued rights to live and work in the UK.

“Exploring the intentions of people who are currently able to work in UK healthcare because their qualifications are recognised under EU legislation is essential,” said David Teeman, Head of Regulatory Intelligence at the GDC.

“This research was undertaken before important issues have been resolved, such as recognition of qualifications, residency rights and access to the UK for existing and prospective dental professionals,” he continued.

“Once these issues are settled, we are planning a further round of research which will aim to provide us with increased insight and aid us in our planning. We recognise the information could be useful to others, for example those involved in workforce planning, and will therefore be making it publicly available also.”

The report comes in a time of great political upheaval in the UK, as the threat of a “no-deal” Brexit looms. On 15 January, Prime Minister Theresa May placed a bill outlining a withdrawal agreement from the European Union in front of the House of Commons, which voted 432 to 202 against the deal. A motion of no confidence in the government was soon after tabled by Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn and was narrowly rejected by the House with a vote of 325 to 306.

The report, titled Survey of European Qualified Dental Professionals: Final Report, is available under the heading “General regulation” on the GDC’s research page, which can be viewed here.

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