HOW TO JOIN AN HA LIST

A dentist who works within the GDS as either a principal or an associate is enrolled on a HA dental list. The site of the practice premises determines with which HA the dentist is listed. Since the introduction of mandatory vocational training on 1 October 1993 (ref. The National Health Service [General Dental Services] Amendment Regulations 1993) all dentists wishing to join a HA dental list are required to have a VT number to show that they have either completed VT, are exempt from the requirement to do so or have experience equivalent to having completed VT.The application to be admitted to the dental list is undertaken in two parts and two forms, both obtainable from HAs, are involved:

• form FP21 is the application to join the dental list and should be sent to the appropriate HA

• form FP21A is the application for a VT number and should be sent to the Dental Vocational Training Authority (DVTA), The Master's House, Dental Practice Board, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex.BN20 8AD

The application to the HA using form FP21 can be made as soon as the dentist is aware of which HA list he/she would like to join. Form FP21A should be completed and sent to the DVTA as soon as the dentist has his/her certificate showing completion of VT.

Ideally applications for HA and VT numbers should be submitted simultaneously:

• an HA can not issue a list number until it is in receipt of the dentist’s VTnumber

• the DVTA can not process and issue a VT number if an HA is not in receipt of form FP21 from the dentist.

The VT number

The DVTA issues the VT number on behalf of the HA, and must ensure that the dentist has either:

• completed VT

• the original certificate of completion of VT should accompany form FP21A

• is exempt from completing VT because he/she falls into one of the categories described in Regulations

• their previous experience is equivalent to having completed VT

in this case a detailed CV, with original references as appropriate, should accompany the application describing how the experience and/or training acquired should be regarded as equivalent to vocational training. It is important to emphasise the most recent areas of experience in primary dental care, describe any NHS/GDS administrative and business skills/knowledge, and give details of relevant postgraduate dental education and courses attended.

Dentists need a VT number when they are:

• being admitted to the dental list for the first time

• moving practice from one HA area to another for the first time after 30 September 1993

• moving practice for the first time after 30 September 1993 within an HA area and have had to cease practising for a period of time, i.e. longer than from Friday evening to Monday morning.

The majority of dentists currently practising in the GDS will be exempt from having to complete VT because they have had list numbers within the last five years. Most GDPs at present, including most trainers, will not have a VT number, unless they have had to apply for a new list number since 30 September 1993 because of one of the reasons described above. If they remain in their current practice they may never need to have a VT number. Trainees and other assistants do not need and can not acquire a VT number. They only need one when they seek to be admitted onto the dental list as a principal or associate.

The VTnumber is:

• a 6 digit number (except in Northern Ireland, see below)

• prefixed by either E (if issued in England), W (for Wales), or S (for Scotland)

• in Northern Ireland the prefix given to the numbers issued consecutively starting from 1 is N00000

• personal to the individual

• issued once (if the dentist moves he/she keeps the same number and prefix indicating the country of issue, the numbers are entered on a central register for the countries in question).

When the DVTAissues a VT number it will be returned by recorded delivery with the VT certificate as appropriate. A copy will be sent by first class post to the HA. Frequently, but not always, the HA receives the VT number by telephone. It is at this point that the HA may complete the process of accepting the dentist onto the dental list by informing him/her of his/her list number.

HA list number

The HA is responsible for issuing the list number and must ensure that:

• the applicant is a registered dentist

• the original registration certificate and the annual practising certificate should accompany the application

• the applicant is who he/she claims to be

• original birth certificate is required

• the premises in which the applicant intends to practice are suitable for dental procedures

• the HA dental adviser will normally visit every new applicant

• new premises, including new surgeries added on to existing dental premises, are always subject to HA inspection

• the applicant has a VT number (or does not require one because he/she is not ceasing to practice within the HA area for longer than the weekend period and is effectively not leaving the HA list).

The HA list number is made up as follows:

• three digits comprising the HA code number

• code changes if the dentist moves to a practice situated in another HA area

• six digits comprising the dentist’s personal number

• issued to the dentist upon entry into the GDS

• unique to the individual

• remains with the dentist when he/she moves from one HA area to another

• not used by a dentist employed as an assistant, i.e. an assistant works on the principal’s list number with an appropriate suffix and his/her personal number is ‘inactive’ for the purposes of processing payments until he/she becomes a principal or associate

• 2 digit suffixes, used only where appropriate