Probably the only thing you can say for certain about the drama that has unfolded at the General Dental Council is that none of the cast of characters has yet applied for a super-injunction. Well, not at the time of writing, but whether when The Dentist is published, this will still be true remains to be seen. Just as we never really found out the full story of what happened at the British Dental Association when it dramatically ran out of money some years ago, so we may never find out what has been happening on the other side of Wimpole Street over the past 18 months.
Even those who will normally give an opinion at the drop of a hat (or the click of a mouse) have shut up like a bivalve mollusc. The GDC communications team has issued a press release that makes the Chinese People's Daily look positively voluble. Dental organisations have expressed regret over Alison Lockyer's departure from the GDC chair. Dental Protection went so far as to express 'continued deep concern' at recent events at the GDC which culminated in her resignation.
Alison Lockyer herself said in a statement that it was with regret that she had decided to stand down, but said it was not an appropriate moment for her to go into the detail of her reasons for leaving. She added that over the last few months, there had been issues that had caused her concern. So what were these issues? Will we ever learn? Even though we are paying the piper, will we be able to call the tune?
What is apparent are the serious problems that afflict the GDC. Kevin Lewis has commented that certain aspects of the GDC's work leave a lot to be desired. The body that oversees the GDC, the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, itself under the Government's axe published a critical report of the former's fitness to practise procedures. He continued by saying that the departure of Alison Lockyer 'should set alarm bells ringing that something profoundly disturbing has been happening at the GDC'.
Add to this the inexperience of both council members and staff, including four different chief executives during the past 18 months, and you have a recipe for serious problems. It has become apparent through nods and winks that there were tensions between Alison Lockyer and senior staff. There have been rumours, since denied, that she may have gone before she was pushed.
Another thread of the tale appears to be that Alison was seen by the powers that be as championing the cause of dentists, it is also rumoured that she might well have been seen by ministers as representing the profession rather than the public. The view of both this Government and its predecessor is that self-regulation by healthcare professions has not worked. What is needed, they believe, is outside regulators, such as the Care Quality Commission.
By contrast, Alison Lockyer, in her public statement, said: 'I remain passionate about the importance of protecting the public through professional self-regulation.' She appears to believe that the profession, both dentists and dental care professionals, has lost confidence in the GDC as a regulator.
If this is true then it has profound consequences for how we are regulated, which go way beyond the personal tragedy of her resignation. If we, the profession, have no confidence in the GDC, then why should the public feel secure? In coming to see us, our patients show their trust in us; what faith do they have in a Government appointed quango?