One of Scotland’s largest dental groups commits to 12,000 new NHS patients – Scottish Business News

CLYDE Munro, Scotland’s leading dental group, is welcoming NHS registrations across the country for up to 12,000 new patients throughout 2024.

In a significant move to address the escalating demand for dental services across Scotland, the group has committed to new NHS patient registrations in 12 practices across five NHS health boards: Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Lanarkshire, Highlands, and Lothian.

Prospective patients are being encouraged to enquire by calling their local practice or submitting an online enquiry form.

Jim Hall, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Clyde Munro, said: “As Scotland’s leading dental group, we recognise our responsibility to support dental patients across the country, given the ongoing crisis facing NHS dentistry. Behind the scenes, we’ve been working tirelessly to prepare for this moment, ensuring that we’re fully equipped to welcome new NHS patients.”

Despite the reformed payment system which was rolled out in Scotland on 1 November 2023, which aimed to incentivise dentists to stay in the NHS through increased funding, new statistics from the British Dental Association (BDA) show almost 82% of NHS dentists in Scotland are no longer accepting new patients and 83% are planning to reduce their NHS numbers.

In the past year, Clyde Munro has established the Scottish dental sector’s first dedicated in-house recruitment team, committed to attracting and retaining top-tier talent. The size and breadth of Clyde Munro’s operations offers practitioners the option to work in a location that suits their lifestyle, with increased support and access to industry-leading resources.

Jim continued: “Our focus on recruitment underlines our steadfast commitment to ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care and aims to bridge the gap in accessibility to NHS services in rural and deprived areas. Since our dedicated in-house recruitment team was established, we have recruited 94 clinicians which will have a positive impact on the wider sector.

“Our success in securing talent has only been made possible by our investment in skills development and training and our dedication to digital dentistry and world-leading technologies, all of which ensure dentists in Scotland are less likely to look to other countries or private practices.”

Clyde Munro is at the forefront of digital dentistry in Scotland, investing more than £2.5 million in 75 innovative digital scanners, digital learning, development tools and a purpose-built skills academy that aims to bring cutting-edge specialists and skills to Scottish dentistry. Together, they allow the group to offer more advanced procedures and digital technologies with improved accuracy and efficiency, creating shorter waiting times and increased availability for appointments across the board.

Jim said: “While we prioritise the retention of the exceptional dentists we already have across the group, through our Perth-based Advanced Dentistry and Clinical Skills Centre, it’s equally as important that we work with young dentists to support them on the transition from university to working in general practice. Our Flying Start programme provides young dentists with practical career, finance, and business advice alongside dental skills development, while our Best Foot Forward programme supports Vocational Training Dentists in their career progression. 

“I believe our efforts in recruitment, digital investment and dedicated training and skills development are what sets us apart from the market. However, these measures will also benefit the sector as a whole, helping to secure dentists for Scotland and increase NHS capacity.

“NHS dentistry is invaluable to the people of Scotland, and we are absolutely committed to providing those services to our patients across the group.”

Clyde Munro operates across Scotland providing routine and specialist dental services for NHS and private patients. The group comprises over 250 clinicians and 600 support staff and is committed to the recruitment and retention of talented dental professionals across the sector.  

To register at your local practice please visit: https://clydemunrodental.com/accepting-nhs-patients/