Tag: GDC

GDC updates guidance on voluntary removal applications

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Registered dental professionals can ask to be removed from the register at any time and it is normally an administrative process, except where there is a public interest in concluding an investigation. The General Dental Council (GDC) today released updated guidance for use in situations where dental professionals under investigation for fitness to practise concerns seek to voluntarily remove themselves from the register.

Updated as part of the GDC’s review of its fitness to practise decision-making guidance and informed by engagement with stakeholders, the guidance is designed to assist the Registrar, or those delegated to make decisions on voluntary removal on the Registrar’s behalf.

The guidance aims to ensure that patient safety, public confidence and professional standards are maintained, improve transparency and consistency in the approach to applications for voluntary removal, and ensure proportionality in decision-making.

“We recognise that our investigations can take a long time, and can have significant negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of participants. We want to reduce these where we can and have added emphasis to this key consideration in the updated guidance” said Stefan Czerniawski, Executive Director, Strategy, at the GDC.

“We investigate serious concerns about the health, behaviour or clinical practice of dental professionals as a key part of our public protection role, but are working to reduce the impact of our investigations on the health and wellbeing of individuals.”

While voluntary removal may offer a swift and straightforward way to remove a dental professional from the register amidst fitness to practise concerns, it is not always a permanent solution and may not always align with the public interest.

Applications for voluntary removal are likely to be granted where allegations are at the lower level of seriousness, and the dental professional involved confirms that they want to leave the register permanently. However, in instances of serious public protection concerns, investigations are generally concluded before voluntary removal is granted, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Dental professionals can apply for restoration to the register 12 months after an application for voluntary removal has been granted. Any outstanding fitness to practise concerns will be assessed as part of any future restoration process.

GDC NEWS RELEASE: Total number of UK registered dental care professionals increases following renewal 

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The number of dental care professionals (DCPs) on the UK Register, following the recent annual renewal period, has risen when compared with the trajectory of previous years. On the morning after removals there were 71,769 DCPs on the Register, an increase of 2,093 on the equivalent figure for 2022.

For full details please visit the GDC website via the following link

GDC publishes research on experiences in fitness to practise

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Independent qualitative research, commissioned by the General Dental Council to understand and learn from the experiences of 70 individuals involved with fitness to practise, was published today. The research, which looked at historical cases dating from 2015 – 2021, found that although outcomes were seen as largely fair and effective, there were often significant negative impacts reported on the mental health and wellbeing of participants and, as a result, this could have unintended consequences for professional behaviour and practice.

The GDC’s primary purpose is patient safety and one of the ways it fulfils this is by investigating the concerns it receives about the practise, conduct, or health of dental professionals. Investigations are often complex and, as a result, can take a long time. By its nature, the process can be difficult.

Much of this process is set by outdated and rigid legislation and, although the government has made commitments to reform, there is little prospect of change to the legal framework taking effect for some years to come. In the absence of that reform, the GDC is continuing its work to make changes within its existing legislation, and to address some of the issues identified by this research.

GDC Executive Director, Fitness to Practise, John Cullinane, said:

“We know that fitness to practise investigations can be stressful and that many take too long to resolve, with some becoming complex and adversarial. Much in this report reinforces our view on where improvements are needed, and its findings have confirmed our thinking on the best way to go about effecting that change.

“This work will be challenging, but improvements have already been made. For instance, by always encouraging local complaint resolution, we’ve seen a reduction of almost 1,200 concerns being brought to us in the six years to 2021. We increased the capacity in our casework team at the beginning of the year and are now starting to see the benefits of that change, and earlier this year we launched the Dental Professionals Hearings Service to highlight the independence of panels and hearings from the GDC.

“Only reform of our legislation can bring the kind of wholesale change which is so clearly needed. But, in its absence, if we are to continue improving fitness to practise, we must go on making repeated incremental changes to improve the process and experiences of those involved, and this is very much our plan.”

The full research report, and further information from John Cullinane, are available on the GDC’s website.

Improving compliance with CPD requirements among DCPs

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Last year the GDC reported that around 3,000 (4.5%) dental care professionals did not manage to complete this step on time (for reasons unrelated to COVID-19). They looked into why compliance levels appeared to have worsened and found a need to improve understanding of the basic requirements of the Enhanced CPD scheme.

The GDC have been in touch with the BACDT and are asking for our support in the their efforts to boost CPD compliance because:

  • Failing to meet requirements can put GDC registration at risk.
  • Receiving a notice of removal can be stressful.
  • Restoration takes time and includes submitting a full CPD record.
  • Significant numbers of dental care professionals are doing enough CPD but not submitting their CPD statement in time.
  • Understanding the need to do 10 hours of CPD in every two year period continues to be lower than expected.
  • Keeping skills up to date is something patients expect.
  • CPD plays a vital role in patient safety and public confidence and is key to our preventative approach to regulation.

The GDC have recognised the need to improve the information they provided on their website and give clearer guidance on CPD and have made their online CPD guidance clearer and simpler (June 2022). For full details of the enhanced CPD scheme please visit https://www.gdc-uk.org/education-cpd/cpd/enhanced-cpd-scheme-2018/

If  you are unsure of what you need to do, get in touch with the GDC on 020 7167 6000 or alternatively as a a BACDT Member please email info@bacdt.org.uk 

 

3 key points from the GDC to help you meet your CPD requirements

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1.Make sure you know how much CPD you need to do:

  • at least 10 hours of CPD in every two-year period
  • the minimum number of CPD hours across your five-year cycle for your dental professional title – 75 hours for Clinical Dental Technicians

2. Make sure you know the key CPD dates and deadlines:

  • the CPD year for dental care professionals is 1 August to 31 July
  • you then have four weeks to make your CPD statement by 28 August
  • CPD done after 1 August counts towards the following year

3.Use your personal development plan to make best use of your time:

  • Ensure your learning is tailored to your skills and development goals.
  • Plan activities that meet the minimum CPD hour requirements.
  • Source quality CPD that’s right for you and your needs.

Call to action:

Check your CPD hours now to make sure you’re on track. Visit https://www.egdc-uk.org/

If you are a member of the BACDT and require nay assistance or have any questions please contact the membership team on info@bacdt.org.uk

New COVID-19 dental research indicates system being overstretched

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New research, published today by the General Dental Council (GDC), into the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the dental sector has found profound challenges persist for both professionals and patients. The reports highlight increased patient demand but that dental services were struggling to meet that demand with rising waiting lists reported by professionals. The evidence also showed a shift in patients and dental professionals moving away from NHS dental services to the private sector. There were some signs of resilience across dentistry however, with professionals remaining confident in their ability to operate safely and fewer patients reporting they had coronavirus concerns that would affect their decision to visit the dentist.

The research, which builds on work carried out in 2020, also found health inequalities continue to be made worse by the pandemic, with more young people and those from Asian and Black ethnic backgrounds reporting the greatest difficulties in accessing services. It also saw dental professionals reporting increased stress and mental health issues, as well as increasing impatience and aggression from patients.

GDC Executive Director, Strategy, Stefan Czerniawski, said:

“Dental professionals continue to rise to the extraordinary challenges posed by the pandemic, but these findings point towards a system being overstretched. Many of the most pressing and wide-reaching challenges highlighted in this research, such as access to services, health inequalities and pressure on professionals, will require attention and effort from everyone right across dentistry. While some of these are areas outside of the GDC’s direct control, we will use this evidence to inform all our work and share the insights with our partners to support those broader efforts to address these problems.”

The full reports are available to read on the GDC’s website.

Survey to understand on-going impacts of COVID-19 on dental professionals closes this Friday (12 Nov)

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All dental professionals are being invited to take part in an online survey, as part of independent research commissioned by the General Dental Council (GDC) to understand the continuing and changing impact of COVID-19 on dental professionals, and implications for the future. The research aims to understand impacts on dental professionals’ financial circumstances, mental health, and their ability to provide services to the public.

This project builds on the research carried out in 2020.

GDC Head of Regulatory Intelligence, David Teeman, said:

“COVID-19 restrictions in the UK had a profound effect on dental professionals and, while most restrictions have now been lifted, we know that the pandemic continues to impact upon dental provision in a number of different ways and is likely to do so for some time.

“This research will provide valuable insight, ensuring how we respond – both at the GDC and elsewhere – will be informed by evidence. The more responses we get from across the dental team, the better that insight will be and so, I encourage all professionals to take part.”

The survey is open until Friday 12 November and invitations to take part for have been emailed to all professionals.

GDC launches second round of research on the continuing and changing impact of COVID-19

Posted on by BACDT.Admin.19

All dental professionals are being invited to take part in an online survey, as part of independent research commissioned by the General Dental Council (GDC) to understand the continuing and changing impact of COVID-19 on dental professionals, and implications for the future. The research aims to understand impacts on dental professionals’ financial circumstances, mental health, and their ability to provide services to the public.

This project builds on the research carried out in 2020.

GDC Head of Regulatory Intelligence, David Teeman, said:

“COVID-19 restrictions in the UK had a profound effect on dental professionals and, while most restrictions have now been lifted, we know that the pandemic continues to impact upon dental provision in a number of different ways and is likely to do so for some time.

“This research will provide valuable insight, ensuring how we respond – both at the GDC and elsewhere – will be informed by evidence. The more responses we get from across the dental team, the better that insight will be and so, I encourage all professionals to take part.”

The survey is open until Friday 12 November and invitations to take part for have been emailed to all professionals.

Reminder – Dental care professional CPD statements due by 28 August

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Please see the reminder below from the General Dental Council regarding the deadline for Dental Care Professionals CPD Statements, which are due by 28th August.

The renewal period for dental care professionals closed on 31 July. Those who have not yet made a CPD statement are reminded to complete this important step to ensure continued registration. 

Dental care professionals who did not declare their CPD when they renewed will now need to login to their eGDC account and make an annual or end-of-cycle statement before 28 August 2021. Dental care professionals will need to make a CPD statement even if they have not met the requirements, for reasons relating to COVID-19.

CPD statements should be made in the normal way, even if there is a shortfall in hours (related to minimum hours in a cycle, or the 10 hours over two years rule) due to COVID-19. We will be getting in touch with those who have not met the requirements, after the deadline has passed, to advise them of what they need to do next. 

Those with questions or concerns should contact us though our website.  

DCP annual registration renewal now open Dental care professionals asked to double-check CPD compliance

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Annual registration renewal for UK registered dental care professionals (DCPs) is now open and the deadline for completion is 31 July 2021. To renew their registration, DCPs need to do three things:

  • Make their annual or end-of-cycle CPD statement.
  • Declare they have, or will have, appropriate indemnity in place.
  • Pay the Annual Retention Fee.

GDC Executive Director, Registration and Corporate Resources, Gurvinder Soomal, said:

“Keeping skills and knowledge up to date over the course of their career is an important commitment made by all dental professionals as this helps to keep patients safe and promote public confidence in the professions. I would encourage all DCPs to think about the different options for completing their required CPD, for example completing online courses when the number of face-to-face courses are restricted.

“Every year we see thousands of DCPs not meeting the requirements around CPD, which can lead to professionals being removed from the register. More often than not, these problems arise due to an oversight or misunderstanding about what is required, which is why we really want people to double-check and make sure they know what they need to do.”

The GDC’s CPD scheme is designed to provide flexibility to professional in how they manage their CPD, but the regulator recognises the challenges some may have experienced in accessing CPD due to COVID-19. If these exceptional circumstances have prevented individuals from completing enough CPD this year, the GDC has confirmed it will take this into account. Professionals must still make their declaration, however, and let the regulator know if this is the case.

Visit the GDC’s website for more information about annual renewal and CPD.