Rishi Sunak"s dentist recruitment drive fails to hire any new dentists
- Rishi Sunak's dentist recruitment drive launched in February has not hired any new dentists after seven months.
- The initiative included a £20,000 'golden hello' incentive, but no payments have been made under the scheme.
- The failure to recruit dentists highlights the Conservative government's overpromising and underdelivering, prompting a shift in focus to the new Labour government's efforts to address NHS dentistry issues.
Rishi Sunak's initiative to recruit new dentists has been met with significant criticism after failing to attract any new hires in the seven months since its launch in February. The scheme, which included a £20,000 'golden hello' incentive, has not resulted in any payments being made, highlighting the challenges in addressing the shortage of dental professionals in underserved areas. A government source pointed out that the lack of recruitment reflects a broader issue of the Conservative government's inability to deliver on promises, contributing to their electoral defeat. The new Labour government is now taking steps to address the crisis in NHS dentistry, emphasizing the need for urgent and emergency dental appointments to restore patient access to necessary treatments. The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the dire state of NHS dentistry, with many patients struggling to secure appointments, and is committed to revitalizing the sector by filling 240 vacancies in critical areas. This situation underscores the importance of effective recruitment strategies and the need for a more robust approach to healthcare provision in the UK.