The Professional Standards Authority (the Authority) has published its annual performance review of the General Dental Council. The GDC’s register covers over 113,000 dental professionals practising in the UK.
We have assessed the GDC’s performance against our Standards of Good Regulation. For this review period, the GDC has met 22 out of 24 of the Standards. The Standards that have not been met have both been in respect of its performance of its fitness to practise function.
The first Standard (Standard 6 for Fitness to Practise) relates to the timeliness of dealing with these cases. The GDC also failed to meet this Standard last year. Whilst the GDC has made some improvements, its performance in this area as a whole has been mixed and its overall timeframe for concluding cases remains at the high end of the regulators that we oversee.
The second (Standard 10 for Fitness to Practise) is in respect of protecting confidential information. The GDC has not met this Standard since 2012. While we are aware that it has taken a number of steps to address these issues recently, we were concerned by the number and type of breaches that we saw in this performance period.
More information about how we reached our decision is set out in our Performance Review - GDC 2018/19 or read a summary in our snapshot.
ENDS
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Contact:
Christine Braithwaite
Director, Policy and Standards
Email: Christine.Braithwaite@professionalstandards.org.uk
Reception: 020 7389 8030
Email: info@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
- We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
- The General Dental Council (the GDC) regulates the dental professions (dentists, dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental therapists, orthodontic therapists and clinical dental technicians) in the United Kingdom. Its work includes: setting and maintaining standards of practice and conduct; Maintaining a register of qualified professionals. Only those appropriately registered with the GDC may practise dentistry in the UK; assuring the quality of dental pre-registration education and training; requiring dental professionals to keep up their skills up to date through continuing professional development; and taking action to restrict or remove from practice registrants who are not considered to be fit to practise. As at 30 June 2019, the GDC was responsible for a register of 113, 931 dental professionals. Its Annual Retention Fee for registrants is £890 for dentists and £116 for dental care professionals
- Our values are at the heart of who we are and what we do. We are committed to working with integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and as part of a team.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk