Motivation ‘greater than morale among UK dentists’

Morale among UK dental professionals are generally dipping below their motivation levels, according to a new official report.

Data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) has revealed that 45.7 percent of providing-performer dentists in England and Wales agree or strongly agree that they are motivated.

This dips to 42.4 percent for principals in Scotland and 35.2 percent in Northern Ireland, while among associate dentists, the figures stood at 49.9 percent for Scotland, 48.8 percent in England and Wales, and 39.8 percent in Northern Ireland.

However, dental morale was generally lower than motivation in each country, with only 27.2 per cent of providing-performer dentists in England and Wales recording their morale as very high or high.

This was even lower at 22.4 percent for principals in Scotland, while in Northern Ireland the figure sunk to 14.4 percent.

The British Dental Association (BDA) expressed concern about these trends, with Northern Ireland dental practice committee chair Peter Crooks saying: "The BDA believes this is an escalating situation which requires action now."