Investigations being resolved earlier with defence union support

Following the newly released Medical Defence Union Annual Report for 2016, the parent company of the DDU, John Makin, head of the DDU, said, “2016 was another extremely busy year for the DDU. We saw an increasing number of dental professionals turning to us for support with dento-legal issues like patient complaints and GDC investigations. We opened over 3,200 case files and answered 7,700 calls to the DDU advice line from members.

“Although we are supporting more members with GDC investigations, changes introduced to the regulatory procedures are starting to have a positive impact on the number of cases reaching a fitness to practise hearing. Our influence has contributed to improvements in the fairness and proportionality of the GDC’s regulatory process and we will continue to constructively engage with the GDC to help them identify ways to better inform patients and the public that its powers only relate to serious concerns.”

“Dental professionals are undoubtedly under increasing financial, professional and personal pressures. At the same time, taking the GDC’s fitness to practise findings as a marker, it is clear that clinical standards remain very high and that dental professionals continue to provide excellent care to their patients.