Refugee dentists to be included in Glasgow retraining programme

Government says Scotland will benefit from their expertise and specialised knowledge

13 June, 2018 / infocus
 Scottish Dental  

Dentists are to be included in a scheme that has helped 37 refugee doctors start retraining to work in Scotland.

They will receive the same training, language support, professional mentoring and work experience necessary so their qualifications can be recognised by the General Dental Council.

The New Refugee Doctors Project is run by the Bridges Programme, a Glasgow-based organisation. Ten dentists will be supported by the scheme over the next year.

Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said: “The New Refugee Doctors Project has been a great success and is an example of how we can support refugees with medical skills start to practice in their new home country. Expanding the scheme to support dentists means Scotland will benefit from their expertise and highly specialised knowledge.”

Maggie Lennon, Director of the Bridges Programmes, said: “We’ve been running the doctors’ programme very successfully for a year and were receiving approaches from dentists asking if they could take part. 

“When it came to talk about funding with the Scottish Government we told them we had identified at least 10 dentists who could benefit. The Government said yes and have put in money for English language provision, which is underway.” 

The Bridges programme is now building the clinical support programme, among other things talking to National Health Education for Scotland (NES) and Glasgow’s Dental Hospital. 

Maggie added: “The BDA are delighted with the programme and offering free membership for two years to dentists who qualify through the scheme, as well as access to study materials for clinical exams.”

“We are also seeking dental practices and surgeries who will offer observation opportunities and placements so the refugee dentists can see modern dentistry in Scotland.”

Tags: Dentist Refugees / Maggie Lennon / Refugees / Scottish Government / Specialists

Categories: News

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