Findings from the development and implementation of a survey of registrant and informant experiences of Fitness to Practise at the GDC

We commissioned research, led by the University of Manchester, to understand participants’ experiences of fitness to practise. As part of the research, a survey of registrant and informant experiences was developed and evaluated up to the Case Examiner decision. 

The survey was sent to registrants and informants over a three-year period for cases reaching a decision between 1 April 2022 and 31 January 2025. This is an ongoing survey and will provide the General Dental Council (GDC) with evidence-based research which will help us improve the fitness to practise process.

Some of the key findings from the research are:

• A quarter of informants felt their case had been taken seriously by the GDC. 
• Most of those that responded to the survey were dissatisfied with the fitness to practise process, and with the outcome of their case. A higher proportion of registrants than informants were satisfied with the outcome.
• Satisfaction with the process was linked in part to satisfaction with the outcome of their case.
• The research shows that there are aspects of the process which could be changed which may help improve satisfaction regardless of the outcome of the case.
• The key areas that were seen as open to improvement include the length of time of the investigation, the support received, the speed of response to informants’ queries and the tone of communications.
• Few respondents felt the process was trustworthy or fair, or that their case was treated appropriately or proportionately. However, more registrants than informants felt that their case was treated appropriately and proportionately.
• More registrants than informants felt communication was clear. 

We are committed to improving how we do things on fitness to practise but also how quickly we can resolve cases without compromising patient safety. Over the past few years, we have made some key changes. Whilst these changes have improved the fitness to practise process, we know there is more we can do.

Based on this research, we are improving the information we provide to ensure we are communicating in a clear way so participants understand the process and providing realistic timelines on how long it will take. We are also improving the practical support we provide for participants and looking at opportunities for earlier interventions around remediation and learning, so reducing some of the negative impacts of the process.

For the full findings of the report please download below.