13 July 2010

Fresh push for dental care professionals to come forward

Dental care professionals are the focus of attention as the General Dental Council (GDC) recruits new Fitness to Practise panel members. They have until 3 September to apply for the roles, which are central to the GDC’s work in protecting patients.

Successful candidates for the Fitness to Practise roles will be expected to:

• sit on panels in public hearings
• hear applications for restoration to the registers 
• hear appeals against registration decisions

To work legally in the UK, dental professionals have to be registered with the GDC. Their registration can be restricted or removed completely if they fall short of the high standards expected by the GDC throughout their career.

GDC Chair Alison Lockyer says:

“If you’re a dental nurse, dental technician, clinical dental technician, dental hygienist, dental therapist or orthodontic therapist, please take a good look at this opportunity. Many of the skills we’re looking for are those which you use in your careers. Decision making, working in a team, respecting confidential information, being trustworthy and communicating clearly - these are just some of the qualities a panel member should have. Regular training will be provided and we’ll let you know well in advance of when we need you to sit. If you’re interested you can find out more online http://www.gdcpanellists.com”

The GDC is writing to professional bodies to ask them to encourage members to come forward and apply.

Ends

For media enquiries, please contact Elizabeth Curtis on 020 7009 2728 or ecurtis@gdc-uk.org

Notes to editors:

• The GDC plans to recruit 50 Fitness to Practise panel members in total, including lay and dentist members.
• The deadline for applications from dentists and lay members passed on 5 July 2010.
• Panels sit on the following kinds of Committees - Interim Orders Committee, Professional Conduct Committee, Professional Performance Committee, Health Committee and Registration Appeals Committee.
• The Fitness to Practise Committee is currently made up of 75 panel members: 38 dentists, 22 lay people and 15 dental care professionals (DCPs). They are paid £353 a day and are reimbursed their expenses. It is a part time role, with members sitting for around 20 days a year and members are allocated to a particular hearing well in advance. 
• The panel hears evidence and makes findings of fact. If any allegations are proved, the Committee then decides whether the registrant is unfit to practise and what action they should take. The Committee can take a number of steps. The most serious is to take the dental professional’s name off the Register. This means they are ’struck off’ and cannot practise. A dental professional has the right of appeal.