Dental practice workforce challenges in rural England: survey into recruitment and retention in Devon and Cornwall

Introduction Devon and Cornwall have been identified as 'dental deserts' with limited NHS dental access and high levels of oral health inequality. Challenges around recruitment and retention of the dental workforce have been acknowledged as an important contributory factor. Aims The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of dental practices within Devon and Cornwall in relation to recruitment and retention of the dental workforce. Method A self-administered, online questionnaire was used to explore various aspects of workforce recruitment and retention. The questionnaire included categorical rating scale and free-text question formats providing quantitative and qualitative data. Results In total, 106 dental practices responded to the survey, providing a response rate of 36%. The vast majority of respondents (94%) considered recruitment and retention to be a major barrier to delivering NHS services. Additionally, 77% of practices had a current staff vacancy, 57% had a dentist vacancy and 48% had a vacancy for dental nurses. Thematic analysis led to identification of four main themes which were considered to influence recruitment and retention: NHS system; economic challenges; logistics; and support networks. Conclusion A large number of dental practices in Devon and Cornwall are failing to operate at capacity due to workforce shortages, which is affecting access to services in both NHS and private practices. Recruitment and retention of dentists and dental nurses appears to be the most challenging factor, with NHS practices affected more than the private sector.