GDC Fitness to Practise experiences survey report 2026

We commissioned research, led by the University of Manchester, to understand people’s experiences of the GDC’s Fitness to Practise (FtP) process. The research explores the experiences and perspectives of dental professionals who have been the subject of a fitness to practise concern and people who raised a concern with the GDC.

The research forms part of an ongoing programme of work to understand how our registrants (dental professionals) and people who raise concerns about dental professionals experience the FtP process, and to identify opportunities to improve the process and the support provided to those involved.

The GDC Fitness to Practise experiences survey report 2026 builds on research published in November 2025. It draws on seven rounds of survey data collected between 2023 and 2025, with responses from 570 dental professionals who had been the subject of a concern (registrants) and 645 people who had raised a concern (informants). The research covers cases that reached a decision between April 2022 and September 2025.

The aim of the research was to:

• provide baseline and follow-up measures to evaluate and inform ongoing activity to improve the outcomes and impact of the FtP process
• understand the experiences of registrants and informants involved in the FtP process, including how these differ across participant groups and characteristics
• understand experiences of support during the FtP process
• identify how the GDC can improve its processes and support to better meet the needs of registrants and informants, including in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion.

The research also examines satisfaction with the FtP process, perceptions of communication, fairness and trust, and views on the time taken to progress cases. It explores which aspects of the experience are associated with overall satisfaction, helping to identify areas for improvement and measures that can be used to monitor experience over time.

Key findings

The latest research indicates some modest improvement over time in satisfaction with the FtP process, aspects of communication and trust in the process. However, most respondents remained dissatisfied with the FtP process and with the outcome of their case. Less than half of registrants and informants said they trusted the process or felt that it was fair, appropriate and proportionate.

The research identified differences between registrants’ and informants’ experiences. Registrants were more likely than informants to feel that their case had been treated appropriately and proportionately, and were more likely to report that communication had been clear.

The time taken to complete a case and the support provided by the GDC were the areas most frequently identified as needing improvement. Communication also had a significant bearing on people’s experience of the process.

The analysis found that satisfaction was associated not only with the outcome of a case, but also with people’s experiences of the process itself. Clear communication and how people felt their case had been handled were associated with greater overall satisfaction.

Commenting on the report, Theresa Thorp, Executive Director of Regulation at the GDC, said:

“We know that fitness to practise investigations can cause real fear and distress, whether you are the professional under investigation or the person who raised the concern. Dental professionals tell us the wait is the hardest part, and people who raise concerns tell us they too often feel unheard. Our communications are now clearer than they were and more people trust the process, but fewer than half believe it is fair and proportionate, and that is not where we want to be.

“Reducing the negative impact of regulation is central to our strategy, Trusted and Effective, and it matters beyond the individual cases: fear of regulation shapes how dental professionals practise, and that reaches patients.

“We are focused on moving cases faster, keeping people informed, and making sure nobody feels they are facing this alone, while protecting patients. We will use this research alongside other evidence to keep improving the process, so that participants feel properly supported, and feel confident that they will be treated fairly."

You can read or download the full report below.