Shift the balance, but fitness to practise must come first

Of the nearly 2,300 dentists who took part in a wide-ranging BDA survey, 71 per cent said they wanted to see making fitness to practise fit for purpose the GDC’s number one priority, with ideas for expansion of the regulator’s remit and activities all scoring poorly. Nineteen per cent put the GDC’s signature concept of ‘upstreaming’ – focusing on reducing the likelihood of harm arising in the first place – as a top priority.

The survey also revealed the profession appears open-minded about ministerial plans to merge health regulators. Two-thirds of respondents said they would support a dedicated dental regulator, but a similar proportion would back amalgamation if greater efficiencies could be achieved.

Despite official claims that the Dental Complaints Service (DCS) is well regarded among the profession, the survey has also pointed to significant concerns from those with direct experience of the service, and support for moving complaint handling away from the regulator – with only 13 per cent of respondents supporting the GDC’s continuing role in this area.