The GDC is seeking views on whether it is of benefit to patients to record dental professionals’ additional skills or qualifications on the registers. 

The Council is asking:

• Do you think there would be clear benefits to patients of recording dental professionals’ additional skills or qualifications on our registers?
• Do you think it would be more helpful to patients to list skills or qualifications?
• How could we ensure that any qualifications we listed were quality-assured and demonstrated ongoing competence in the skill area?

The consultation document is available on this website. The closing date for responses is 9 May 2008. The results of this consultation will aide the decision on the next steps.

Ends

For media enquiries, please contact Rachel Lea on 020 7009 2782 or email rlea@gdc-uk.org.

Notes to editors:

1. The consultation document ‘What do patients need and want to know about dental professionals’ additional skills and qualifications?’ is available on this website. For a hard copy of the consultation document, or more information on the consultation, please email us at AdditionalSkills@gdc-uk.org.
   
2. The GDC agreed to abolish its current policy on recording additional qualifications in the register in December 2007 and is not adding additional qualifications to the register at this time. This consultation is about whether or not it should have a policy at all and if so what that policy should be.