Time and support remain areas for improvement in new fitness to practise research

Experiences of our fitness to practise (FtP) process have improved modestly since 2023, but how long cases take and the overall support provided remain the areas most often identified as needing improvement. 

We have today published research drawing on seven rounds of survey data collected between 2023 and 2025 from 570 dental professionals who had been the subject of a concern (registrants) and from 645 people who had raised one (informants). The research covers cases decided between April 2022 and September 2025. 

Satisfaction, several aspects of communication and trust that the right outcome will be reached have all improved across the period. However, most respondents remain dissatisfied, and less than half of all respondents described the process as fair, appropriate or proportionate.

The analysis found that satisfaction with the FtP process was influenced not only by the outcome of a case, but also by people’s experiences of the process itself. Clear communication and how people felt their case had been handled were associated with greater overall satisfaction. This suggests that improving the experience of the FtP process could make a positive difference, regardless of the outcome of an individual case.

The research also showed that registrants and informants experience the process differently: registrants were consistently more likely than informants to feel their case had been treated fairly, appropriately and proportionately.

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."

We will continue to run the surveys to understand experiences of FtP, track trends and use the findings to inform ongoing improvements to the process where possible. 

The full report, GDC Fitness to Practise Experience Survey Report 2026, which builds on findings published in November 2025, is available here.