Of the 328 dental professionals who responded, less than a quarter (75) had experience of raising concerns, such as about the conduct of a colleague or inadequate resources.
Of those who had raised concerns, 49 reported that the matter was dealt with to their satisfaction (65 per cent) although 20 felt they had been ignored or the problem was still being investigated and of these respondents, five said they had since left the practice.
Just eight per cent of respondents (26/328) reported that they had encountered barriers to reporting concerns such as pressure from colleagues and management or anxiety that their career might be adversely affected. A handful (9 respondents) felt that raising concerns had resulted in them being subject to unfair criticism or discrimination at work, such as being made to feel like a trouble-maker.
By contrast, 40 of those who had actually raised concerns said they had done so with colleagues rather than as an individual, and most respondents (217) said they would seek advice from a colleague if they were considering taking action or from their dental defence organisation (220). This suggests that in many cases, members of the dental team felt supported in speaking out on matters of patient safety.
Leo Briggs, DDU dento-legal adviser said:
"The high-profile problems highlighted at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust concerned the medical care and treatment provided to patients but the repercussions have been felt more widely, including within dental practices.
"It is encouraging that the majority of dental professionals in our survey have been able to raise concerns when they encounter a threat to their patients' safety. From the many calls the DDU receives to our advice line from dental professionals at all stages of their career, we know they take this responsibility very seriously and understand that this overrides any professional loyalty to colleagues.
"It is vital that, when they do raise concerns, dental professionals feel supported and that they will not suffer personally or professionally as a result. The challenge for practice owners and senior managers is to create a culture of openness in which all members of the dental team are able to raise concerns openly and without fear of reprisal, in line with the latest GDC standards."
The DDU's advice to dental professionals on raising concerns includes:
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Report a concern immediately; don't sit on it until it reaches a critical point.
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Raise concerns locally in the first instance, with a senior colleague, practice owner or manager, following your employer’s or practice policy.
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Put your concerns in writing and ask for a written reply.
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Keep a record of the steps you have taken to resolve concerns.
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If colleagues share your concern, consider sending a joint letter, which may have more impact.
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If no action is taken and patients may be harmed as a result, you may need to escalate your concern, if necessary informing the GDC or the Care Quality Commission in England, Health Inspectorate Wales, Healthcare Improvement Scotland or Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in Northern Ireland.
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Get advice from your dental defence organisation or professional organisation. Other sources of help include the NHS whistleblowing helpline, or the charity Public Concern at Work.
Further results from the survey included:
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47 per cent of respondents were GDPs, 37 per cent were dental care professionals and 9 per cent were newly qualified dentists. The remainder were hospital dentists, community dentists or consultants. 70 per cent of respondents (231) were female.
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Common reasons for raising concerns were conduct or performance of a colleague (68 per cent); problems with policies or systems (35 per cent); lack of resources, including staff (28 per cent); and inadequate premises or equipment (26 per cent).
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203 respondents (62 per cent) said they were aware of the GDC’s new advice on raising concerns (Principle 8 of Standards for the Dental Team).
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220 respondents (67 per cent) would seek advice from the DDU if they were considering raising concerns.
Further information
The MDU's survey of 328 DDU members about their experiences of raising concerns was carried out in August 2013 and had a 7.5 per cent response rate.