Health regulator’s failure

The British Dental Association (BDA), which has initiated Judicial Review proceedings against the GDC, has welcomed the news.

The BDA has been fighting to prevent the regulator implementing a staggering £45m increase to the fees levied on the dental profession. The regulator has been criticised by Parliament and the Professional Standards Authority.

The BDA has called on government to recognise the scale of the crisis in healthcare regulation and honour pledges for reform.

Mick Armstrong, chair of the British Dental Association said “The General Dental Council has failed patients and practitioners alike. We’ve seen people left in limbo for over 18 months waiting for their cases to be dealt with, and hearings that cost up to £78,000. The GDC has lost sight of its principle task to protect patients, and lost the trust of the dental profession. It’s only right that MPs are giving this matter proper scrutiny.

“Britain has over a million regulated healthcare practitioners, serving tens of millions of patients. And frankly they all deserve better. David Cameron called for action on the ‘outdated andinflexible’ laws applied by our regulators. We are calling on government to honour that pledge.”