General Dental Council to consider findings of OFT
The General Dental Council will be considering and responding to the OFT report on its Market Investigation into Private Dentistry.
GDC President Nairn Wilson said:
"Making sure that patients - both private and NHS - are not put at risk, and that they have the information they need to make decisions about their dental care, are principal concerns of the GDC.
We have asked the Government for legislation to help us establish a new complaints scheme for non-NHS dentistry. This will be an important step in strengthening public confidence in private dentistry. We are also working with the Government on legislation to register all members of the dental team, enabling each member to play a full part in caring for patients - this will increase the flexibility of dental working practices, offering a better deal for patients and professionals alike.
Giving patients information about the kinds of dental care available, and the cost of different treatments, is essential if patients are to make the best choices. The Council is reviewing its guidance to dentists, and will be taking the OFT's findings into account to promote the best possible communication between dental practices and patients."
The Council has met with the OFT on several occasions during their investigation, to explain its role and its plans for modernisation and reform.
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Background
General Dental Council
As the regulatory body of the dental profession, the GDC's purpose is to protect the public by regulating dental professionals in the United Kingdom. We:
- register qualified professionals
- set standards of dental practice and conduct
- quality assure dental education
- ensure professionals keep up-to-date
- can help patients with complaints about a dental professional
- are working to strengthen and improve patient protection.
These powers are given to us by Parliament.
Guidance to Dentists
As part of this work, we issue guidance on the standards of practice and conduct required of dentists. The guidance emphasises the importance of:
- making sure patients understand the costs implications of the options available to them
- clarity about whether treatment is being provided privately or through the NHS or some other arrangement (eg. an insurance or capitation scheme)
- making clear to patients at the outset what the charge for an initial consultation and the probable cost of subsequent treatment will be - written treatment plans and estimates
- keeping treatment plans and estimates updated as a course of treatment progresses
- providing patients with an itemised account
- resolving complaints at practice level.
Giving clear and up to date information about these issues is an important part of obtaining appropriate consent to treatment - patients need information to be able to make informed choices about their health care. Dentists are under an ethical obligation to advise patients on the basis on which they are being treated (see Maintaining Standards, paragraph 3.6). Dentists falling short of the standards in Maintaining Standards could be liable to a charge of serious professional misconduct.
The GDC and non-NHS Complaints
The General Dental Council, the body established by Parliament to protect dental patients and promote high standards of dental care, is pressing for a change in the law to allow it to establish a new complaints system for patients receiving non-NHS dental care.
The GDC has developed proposals, in consultation with consumer and professional groups, for a fair and effective complaints system for non-NHS dental care. Currently, the law does not allow the Council to consider complaints except for those which are so serious that they might lead to the removal or restriction of a dentist's registration. This leaves many patients with no option other than costly and slow legal action. The GDC believes this position to be totally unsatisfactory.
A key feature of our proposals is a telephone service providing information and helping patients and dentists to resolve complaints swiftly and informally. This helpline will consider any complaints queries, and advise patients on how best to take matters forward including, where appropriate, referring the complaint to the NHS complaints procedures.
Setting up this scheme requires changes to the Dentists Act 1984 and the precise timing of the necessary changes has not been announced yet by the Government, though we expect that, following public consultation, the changes will be made this year. More information about our proposals can be found on our website. These proposals form part of a wider reform programme, (details of which are also available on our website).
Regulating the Dental Team
To provide better standards of care for patients and a better career pathway for Professionals Complementary to Dentistry (PCDs), the GDC has agreed that all groups of PCDs should be trained, qualified and statutorily registered with the Council.
The GDC already registers dental hygienists and dental therapists and is working towards registering dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, maxillofacial prosthetists and technologists and orthodontic therapists in 2004. New legislation is required to make this happen and the Council is working closely with the Departments of Health on this.
Statutory registration of PCDs will increase confidence in the whole dental team by raising standards through education and ethical guidance. This approach will be backed by robust procedures to deal with those who, for whatever reason, cannot or do not meet the high standards required. It also aims to promote cohesion among the team and encourage the personal and professional development of all team members.