Sir, your correspondent E. Gordon (The end of skill mix; BDJ 2020; 228: 655) derides the term 'skill mix' as 'an egalitarian fantasy supported only by salaried academic elites'.
The existence of Gateway Dental Practice in Abergavenny, which became an Employee Owned Trust (similar to the John Lewis Partnership) in October 2016, contradicts this view. This innovative dental practice ownership model is doing its part in building a motivated and sustainable dental workforce. In addition to promoting skill mix, the model also promotes social sustainability in its ethos of collaborative working, alongside the encouragement of entrepreneurial activity, training and development for the employees. It reflects the fact that dental practices are assets to the communities they serve, such as in providing employment opportunities to local residents, as well as providing vital healthcare services. I encourage practice owners considering disposal of their practices to read the recent paper by Allen and Karki.1
I would agree, however, that there is a need for regulatory reform, both to bolster skill mix throughout dental practices and to improve access for those in need. The COVID-19 pandemic is stimulating contract reform significantly throughout the UK, with commissioners of dental services having to re-evaluate provision and monitoring.
Reference
Allen M, Karki A. Employee Owned Enterprise - an innovative general dental practice model. BDJ In Practice 2020; 33: 20-23.
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Hutchison, H. Skill mix alive and well. Br Dent J 228, 813 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-1731-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-1731-3