Principles of raising concerns is to help and encourage dental professionals to raise any concerns they have that patients might be at risk, for example because of a colleague’s health, behaviour or professional performance, or because of any aspect of the clinical environment.

The duty of dental professionals to put patients’ interests first and act to protect them must override personal and professional loyalties. Dental professionals have a responsibility to act on concerns as early as possible, whether or not they pose an immediate risk to patients. This may allow poor practice to be identified and tackled before there is a serious risk to patient safety. And it offers the best chance of helping colleagues to put things right without the need for intervention by the GDC or other authorities.

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Principles of raising concerns