Scrutiny of regulator

Professional regulators including the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council have been subject to regular accountability hearings since 2010. The troubled dental regulator has thus far avoided a formal hearing despite being repeatedly taken to task by the Professional Standards Authority.

The GDC was the subject of an adjournment debate in parliament on December 9, 2014. The BDA wrote to Health Ministers and the Health Select Committee after the regulator was found to have acted unlawfully in the High Court in its consultation on the setting of professional fees.

Mick Armstrong, Chair of the BDA’s Principal Executive Committee said:

“We’ve told MPs and Ministers that patients and practitioners are best served by a regulator that is subject to real scrutiny. So we are delighted that the Health Select Committee has decided to call its first accountability hearing on the General Dental Council.

“For far too long our regulator has appeared to be operating in a consequence free environment. As a result we have not seen the efficient and effective regulation our profession deserves. From 18 month fitness to practise cases to unlawful consultations, it’s finally time to look at the impact of the GDC’s decision making in the cold light of day.”