About the Act
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act came fully into force on 1 January 2005. It was introduced to promote a culture of openness and accountability amongst public authorities by giving people rights of access to the information authorities hold. These rights should help better public understanding of how authorities carry out their duties, why they make the decisions they do and how they spend public money.
How to search for information
The GDC Publication Scheme gives information about the organisation, and includes the definition document which sets out the seven classes of information we make available.
Alternatively, you can go straight to our definition document to start your search. This is a copy of the model approved for health regulators such as the GDC by the Information Commissioner. We have added links to our version to help find the material we have available on our web pages.
If you cannot find the information you seek here, or elsewhere on our website, please write to us at the address below.
How to make a request
The public right to make access requests under the Act is effective from 1 January 2005. From this date, unless there are any legal exemptions under the Act, applicants have had the right to be told whether the GDC holds the information asked for, and, if so, to be given it. Under the Act, you must write, email or fax in a legible form, give your name and an address that we can reply to and describe the information you are asking for.
You may find it helpful to use our Freedom of Information Request Form not already found by searching our definition document.
You can write by:
email to: foirequests@gdc-uk.org;
post to: GDC Information Controller, General Dental Council, 37 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8DQ;
fax to: +44 (0) 20 7224 3294.
Our reply
We will:
- give the information within 20 working days as long as no exemption applies (in which case we will write to you);
- give advice and help, within reason, to identify what you are asking for;
- reply in the format you have asked for, if reasonably practical, or suggest a suitable alternative.
How to complain
If you are not happy with either our reply or the way that we have dealt with your request you can complain, within 60 days, to our Chief Executive at the above address.
If you are not happy with his reply, you can write to the Information Commissioner, The Office of the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 6AF.