Dental Regulator Responds To Government Consultation On Healthcare Regulation, UK

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 07 Nov 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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The UK dental regulator, the General Dental Council (GDC), has today welcomed Government plans for UK healthcare regulation. In its response to a Department of Health consultation, the GDC highlights significant changes it has already made to strengthen its role in protecting the public - measures which are in line with recommendations for all healthcare regulators.

As part of the GDC's ongoing programme of modernisation it has:

-- applied the civil standard of proof for decision-making in inquiries into the fitness to practise of dental professionals;
-- introduced an independent panel to make fitness to practise decisions;
-- extended regulation to the whole dental team, including dental nurses and dental technicians; and
-- put in place a compulsory continuing professional development scheme for dentists.

In addition, the GDC has made significant progress on:

-- developing a system for the revalidation of all dental professionals (which will mean that they have to demonstrate on a regular basis that they are fit to practise);
-- revising how Council members are selected and the make-up of the Council (on which it is currently consulting);
-- working collaboratively with other regulators and the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE); and
-- developing effective partnership working between the GDC and other bodies.

The GDC's response to the consultation also emphasises the need for professional regulation to take account of the significant number of healthcare professionals working outside the NHS and the importance of healthcare regulators retaining responsibility for:

-- keeping and maintaining registers of qualified professionals;
-- setting standards for healthcare professionals throughout their career, to ensure the integrity of registers;
-- quality-assuring education and training; and
-- ensuring professionals' continuing fitness to practise.

GDC President, Hew Mathewson, said:

"We are very pleased that the General Dental Council is leading the way in reforming healthcare regulation and that our crucial role in patient protection is recognised. It is important that the responsibility of all healthcare regulators in setting and monitoring professional standards continues to be strengthened and developed."

The GDC's response to the Department of Health consultation on healthcare professional regulation is available on its website here.

http://www.gdc-uk.org

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