Life support training for dental professionals: joint statement from CQC and GDC

It is recommended that dental professionals undertake life support training every year. However, the GDC has recognised that access to accredited training may have been affected by Covid-19.

The GDC and CQC have published a joint statement on this matter which outlines what dental professionals should do. The statement reads:

Resuscitation Council (UK) recommends cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for dental teams. Their document Quality Standards: Primary Dental Care states:

“Dental practitioners and other dental healthcare staff should update their knowledge and skills in resuscitation at least annually.”

Together, we recognise that Covid-19 social distancing can make accessing accredited training difficult. This includes basic life support (BLS) and immediate life support (ILS).

Providers and individual dental professionals should continue to make every effort to complete accredited BLS/ILS training annually. However, if this training is unavailable due to current Covid-19 restrictions, appropriate alternative provisions, in accordance with relevant government guidance, should be made.

For example:

Records and evidence of efforts made to access training and to update CPR knowledge and skills should be maintained.