We are writing in response to the letter The ARF fee should be tiered in the winter 2010 issue of Vital, by Xyanthe Lambert (page 5).

We are totally in agreement with Xyanthe's points regarding the Annual Retention Fee (ARF) for dental nurses. The cost is too high for the average salary we are paid and there is no structure in place for part time workers. Dental nursing can be a greatly rewarding job and offers the opportunity for qualified nurses to return to work after having a family, fitting in to the average dental practice on a part time basis. Yet these dental nurses still have to pay the full amount! As a previously part time nurse I paid the registration fee just so I was available to cover holidays which meant that not only did I only work two days a week, I was not even in surgery on those two days on a regular basis! I have now returned for four and a half days and only work in surgery for one hour a week yet am still required to pay the £96. Another colleague has returned part time also working two days a week and only covering in surgery for holidays/sickness and lateness.

Having questioned many of our ‘general nurse’ patients, they are paying less registration fee than us yet earning perhaps double many of our salaries. [Ed's note – the registration fee for nurses and midwives who qualified in the UK is currently £76 pa.]

The GDC says that one of the reasons for the recent increase in the ARF fee to £120 is to cover the administrative cost of the cases that are brought with regards to misconduct of the profession, but seeing as many of these cases are regarding dental surgeons and their fitness to practise, shouldn't they be the ones that foot the bill?

I do agree that dental nurses should be registered. This gives dental nurses a professional outlook on their career. But a little bit of thought needs to go into the ARF. Maybe it could be paid on a monthly direct debit basis to budget the costs? Most certainly it needs to acknowledge part time work and the varying salary scales across the profession. Maybe it should just be scrapped altogether!