Dentistry
Health
Paul Beresford (Mole Valley, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the relative skills, competencies and experience of (a) UK and (b) overseas dental graduates upon their admission to the Dental Foundation Training Programme; and how any such assessment is made. [R]
Daniel Poulter (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Conservative)
In 2011-12 the Department commissioned the London postgraduate dental deanery to run the first national recruitment programme to dental foundation places. We are aware that 41 overseas dentists were successful at interview involving a test of communication and clinical skills and management and leadership skills. The individual trainers of foundation dentists will tailor the training they provide to meet the needs of individual trainees. Trainers receive advice from directors of foundation training programmes working under the direction of postgraduate dental deans.