Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) ‘controlled’ second-degree places in the UK – there are sufficient numbers (with high application ratios) to meet current and future OMFS recruitment needs in the UK

In 2008 the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) Review of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) recommended that OMFS specialty training should start with second-degree studies. This recommendation has not yet happened. Currently, no OMFS controlled places at medical/dental schools are directly linked to OMFS Specialty Training (ST) posts. ‘OMFS controlled’ in this paper refers to dedicated places on shortened second degree courses to which OMFS specialists/trainers have the key role in selection. Freedom of Information requests were sent to 14 medical schools known to have OMFS ‘controlled’ second-degree MB places: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, London–Kings, London–QMUL, Newcastle, Plymouth and York/Hull. Information was also requested from the London-Kings BDS Dental Programme for Medical Graduates (DPMG). These data were supplemented by information from consultants and trainees with experience of the processes. Replies were received from six medical schools in Birmingham, Cambridge, Glasgow, Liverpool, London-Kings, and London-QMUL, plus the dental school of London - Kings DPMG. These seven programmes provide approximately 30 OMFS controlled places per year. The application ratios, between 5:1 and 29:1, are significantly more competitive than selection to ST1 and ST3 places. There are more OMFS controlled second degree places than presented in this paper which only details universities from whom replies were received. If all students in OMFS controlled second-degree places progressed to ST without loss, there are more than sufficient to fill all available OMFS ST places. Linking OMFS controlled second degree places through to OMFS ST posts would deliver the key PMETB recommendation in a process which would be more competitive than current ST selection. For OMFS trainees whose first degree was medicine, OMFS selected places at shortened dental courses are needed outside London.