More clarity is needed on timeframes for GDC reform, say legal advisors

The comments follow a Department of Health and Social Care update on its reform programme – in particular on the draft legislation to bring physician associates and anaesthesia associates into regulation. This is the first part of the reform programme, and it is intended to form a blueprint for reforming how other health professions are regulated – eventually including dentists and dental care professionals.

Raj Rattan, dental director at Dental Protection, said, “The Dentists Act is now nearly 40 years old. It is outdated, and reform is seriously overdue. The GDC needs more flexibility to streamline its processes, improve efficiency, reduce the number of investigations into less serious allegations and to ensure that investigations conclude more quickly.