The same idea has different names depending on the country. In England a dentist must be on the performers list, working under a performer number. In Scotland a dentist must be on a Health Board dental list, working under a list number. Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own arrangements again.
Getting it right is not just naming. Each country has its own application, its own Health Board or commissioner and, in Scotland, its own training and assessment before a list number is issued. We coordinate the correct route alongside the dentist’s GDC registration so everything lines up and NHS activity can begin cleanly.
To be issued a list number and treat NHS patients in Scotland, a dentist joining a Health Board dental list for the first time, or returning after twelve months or more away, must complete mandatory training and pass a test of knowledge. This is run by NHS Education for Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, and the certification is what allows a Health Board to issue the list number.
The test of knowledge is not a clinical exam. It covers prescribing, regulations and governance in Scotland, so the dentist understands how the system works. A dentist already on a list elsewhere in the UK usually completes a shorter route, Part 2 of the training and the test, rather than the full programme.
Dentello assists with all of it: booking the mandatory training, preparing the dentist for the test of knowledge, submitting the Health Board application and coordinating it with onboarding, so the list number is issued and the dentist can start.
A dentist can be fully registered and still unable to deliver claimable NHS activity if the practice-level arrangements are not in place. We make sure both sides line up, so nothing is lost.
In countries that use list numbers, a dentist cannot claim NHS or HSC activity until the list number is in place. Tracking it protects:
Provide your practice and contract details, and approve the dentist.
Prepares and tracks the list number process with the relevant body and reports when claimable activity can begin.
A list number is rarely the only step. Depending on the country and role, a placement can also involve assistant list number applications, mandatory training and competency or examination stages before a dentist can claim activity. Dentello tracks each of these so they do not quietly delay a start date.
Where exam preparation or mandatory training is required, Dentello also works with its candidate network to prepare cohorts of dentists for those stages. That keeps our pipeline of activation-ready dentists strong and gives your practice a clearer, faster route to first claimable activity.
They are the same idea under different names in different countries. In England a dentist works under a performer number on the performers list. In Scotland a dentist works under a list number on a Health Board dental list. We manage whichever applies to where your practice is based.
A dentist joining a Scottish dental list for the first time, or returning after twelve months or more, must complete mandatory training and pass a test of knowledge run by NHS Education for Scotland. That certification lets a Health Board issue the list number. We book the training, prepare the dentist for the test and submit the application.
Yes. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each report and claim NHS activity differently. We manage the correct process for your country.
Because a gap here means a dentist who is ready to work cannot generate claimable NHS activity. We coordinate it alongside registration so the two line up.
We do not consider activation complete until NHS activity can actually be delivered and claimed at your practice.
Talk to Dentello about NHS delivery at your practice. We will coordinate the practice-level requirements alongside your dentist’s registration.
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