Error found in BDS Cardiff qualification
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- Published: Monday, 20 April 2015 07:21
- Written by News Editor
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The General Dental Council (GDC) and Cardiff University have identified a technical issue with the award of the BDS qualification and the registration with the GDC of Cardiff students who graduated between 2010 and 2014. They have assured those involved that their registration remains (and will remain) in place while the error is rectified and that all graduates are able to practise dentistry lawfully.
The issue arises from the legal status of Cardiff University at the time of graduation. All BDS awarding bodies, including Cardiff University, must have the legal status of medical authority for the purposes of the Dentists Act in order for their awards of BDS qualifications to be registerable under the Dentists Act 1984. Due to an oversight Cardiff University did not acquire the relevant status until July 2014. However, the GDC did quality assure the course.
The result is that for the graduates affected, their entry in the dentists register is erroneous and steps need to be taken in order to regularise the position. Whilst the GDC needs to take action to rectify this so that continued registration is unaffected, registration remains (and will remain) in place during this process and that all graduates are able to practise dentistry lawfully.
The GDC has agreed a set of measures to regularise the position with minimum disruption to dentists and patients.
These measures are as follows:
- Cardiff University will issue affected dentists with a new BDS award on 1 May 2015;
- Four weeks later, at midnight on 29 May 2015, the GDC will remove the erroneous registrations and immediately restore the affected individuals to the dentists register on the basis of their new award with effect from 00:01 on 30 May 2015.
There will be no break in registration or changes to date of initial registration. The GDC and Cardiff University have written to the graduates concerned to explain this process.
Commenting on the situation, BDA Chief Executive, Peter Ward, said: “This situation is highly regrettable. It is clear that there is no question of the fitness to practise of the dentists involved and no suggestion of risk to patients. But the combination of errors beyond the control of the graduates must be causing unnecessary anxiety and stress. I hope the matter is resolved very quickly and there are no residual detriments to anyone concerned.”
The BDA advises those affected to contact their indemnity provider or insurer with details of the GDC’s information to ensure continuity of cover.
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