Sir, it has been noted by many education providers that some of the trainee dental nurses they are expected to get through the training are considered to be 'high maintenance'. By some, it may be considered the GDC's responsibility to regulate the basic line of education each trainee should have before being taken on a course, since they claim to 'assure the quality of dental education'.

Perhaps the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses should have a say since they insist that any provision for the National Certificate is accredited and standardised? When approached the NEBDN did indeed say that it is 'up to the individual education provider to decide on the entry requirements'. Education providers then have to take a stand, but since it is not they who actually 'take on' the trainees, they simply have the issue of the theoretical training of them. A difficult situation is then afoot when a trainee approaches a course provider and on the application form states they have been working in practice for a few months and really want to do this course; they have managed to gain GCSEs at 'D' and 'E' grades and wish to be a great asset to the practice.

Education providers have been concerned, since we live in such a litigious society, that perhaps they [the education providers] could be formally sued by a trainee because they cannot get through the training! Badly sourced dental nurses are for all intents and purposes being set up to fail! My opinion it may be, but I believe this issue needs to be bounced back to the source of the problem: the employers. It is time to look at the bigger picture and see that potential trainee dental nurses need to be 'savvy' enough to get through training or you are simply wasting your time, energy and more importantly your money. If the interview and selection process is better laid out and the employers realised the benefits of better organisation during these important steps, the problems facing the training providers and ultimately the employers would be considerably reduced. The employers also need to take a more serious look at the part they play in the training of the trainees. It is no longer acceptable to 'pay off' the education provider and then expect to get your trainee back qualified. It is so important that employers and providers work together to offer a more jointly run and cohesive course, so that the standards of training and ultimately patient care does not suffer.

Forgive me for seemingly generalising, but for many years many dentists have taken on employees with little thought about their long-term prospects and what that employee will offer their practice. In some cases, the employer has taken on the school leavers with minimal qualifications just so they can pay them less than the minimum wage, they cannot expect training providers to work miracles and get them through a training course which is beyond their capabilities.

Interviews are an integral part of the recruitment process. The one-to-one contact can provide an in-depth impression of how a candidate would perform on the job. Getting the most out of interviewing is a combination of preparation, suitable questioning and listening.

If the applicant gained 'D' and 'E' grades in their GCSEs ask them why? If they fooled around in school, ask yourself, will they be reliable and will they be a great student during training?

If future employers take this seriously, then the education providers will have a more enjoyable journey along with any potential dental nurses for the future. Come on please, look at the bigger picture.