Immigration rules change will worsen access to care crisis
Shortages in a wide range of roles will be exacerbated, say the BDA.
The British Dental Association (BDA has warned that proposed changes to immigration rules will have a direct impact on patient access to care UK-wide, affecting key members of the dental team and the future pipeline of dentists.
In an open letter to Yvette Cooper, the UK Government’s Home Secretary, and Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary, the BDA says that the “abrupt removal of key roles” – both medical and dental technicians (code 3213) and dental nurses (6113) – from eligibility for the skilled worker visa from 22 July, will exacerbate shortages in a wide range of roles including dental therapists, dental hygienists, orthodontic therapists, and dental nurses.
Dental technicians fabricate and repair various dental appliances, such as dentures, crowns and bridges, have seen their numbers fall by more than 10% since 2020.
The BDA said this will also have knock-on effects on the supply of dentists, given these codes are often used by overseas qualified dentists to work in other dental roles while waiting to sit the professional registration exams which are highly oversubscribed and can take years to complete.
Official data shows 100 applicants sought dental nursing visas in the six months from Quarter 4 2024 to Quarter 1 of 2025, alongside 88 medical and dental technicians.
The BDA said that both occupational codes 3213 and 6613 should be retained in the Immigration Rules without changes, so that individuals currently applying for visas will receive them. Failing this, it said, these codes must appear in the new temporary shortage list as of 22 July 2025.
“Changes to immigration rules for skilled dental team members risks deepening an access crisis already felt by millions,” said Eddie Crouch, the BDA’s chair. “Everyone agrees we should be focused on building home grown talent, but this cliff-edge approach is careless and will be felt by patients the length and breadth of this country.”
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