In 2011 the Law Commission was tasked with creating a single streamlined legal structure covering all nine healthcare regulators, in order to provide better protection for patients by enabling regulators to act more quickly and efficiently.
Chief executive and registrar of the GDC, Evlynne Gilvarry said:
"The General Dental Council welcomes the Draft Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions etc Bill today. The Bill offers the opportunity to make dental regulation much more responsive to the needs and expectations of both patients and the public. In particular, it will enable the GDC to modernise our fitness to practise processes.
We have seen a marked increase in fitness to practise complaints in the last three years and it is imperative that our systems are allowed to operate without delay to allow us to deal with these fairly and effectively. We urge the Government to make the necessary parliamentary time available for the passage of this crucial legislation."