GDC wants to hear your views on Case Examiners
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- Published: Wednesday, 03 February 2016 07:36
- Written by News Editor
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The General Dental Council (GDC) is consulting on its plans to introduce Case Examiners, to speed the Fitness to practise process. Complaints will be dealt with, they say, more quickly and efficiently making it safer for patients and a less stressful experience for dentists or dental care professionals. Case Examiners will agree undertakings with dentists where this is proportionate. The consultation is now open and will run until March 14.
Through the use of undertakings, Case Examiners, will be able to make an agreement with the dental professional to help them to meet the required standards. This could involve training, allowing the person to practise under supervision of another registered dental professional or by allowing them to work if they meet certain conditions. This means the number of cases heard by one of GDC's Practice Committees should reduce with estimated savings of £1.8 million per year. Applicable cases will continue be heard in front of one of the independent Practice Committees, which decide on a person's fitness to practise dentistry and any appropriate sanction.
Commenting on the plans, Director of Fitness to Practise at the General Dental Council Jonathan Green, (GDC) said: "The consultation is a further step to modernise the way we run our fitness to practise caseload. "When someone is being investigated by the GDC, we recognise this places the person under considerable stress and anxiety. While we absolutely have a duty to protect patients by taking swift action against those who should not be practicing dentistry, we must make the entire process as efficient, seamless and timely as possible by providing the necessary support. Introducing Case Examiners will help to further streamline the FtP process.”
It is expected Case Examiners will start making decisions in late summer 2016. The consultation can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/hhvqnfk
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