SDPC to investigate establishing a Scottish based regulator
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- Published: Monday, 07 September 2015 07:25
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A Scottish Dental Practice Committee (SDPC) survey has revealed a crisis of confidence amongst Scottish GDPs in the General Dental Council (GDC) and has called for a Scottish based regulatory body. SDPC Chair Robert Donald said : “Scottish GDP's have given an emphatic vote of no confidence in the GDC. They know that they are being regulated by the worst health regulator in the UK.”
A Scottish Dental Practice Committee survey has revealed a crisis of confidence amongst Scottish GDPs in their professional regulator- with nearly nine in ten respondents believing that the GDC is not fit for purpose to regulate the dental team and protect patients. Furthermore over 92 % of respondents have called on SDPC to investigate establishing a Scotland based regulatory body which is fit for purpose.
These findings come on the back of a number of serious failings raised about the GDC in the last few weeks. These include the Professional Standard Authority's (PSA) assessment of the performance of the GDC in its most recent annual report*. The GDC failed to meet a total of seven of its standards of good regulation and only fully met one of the 10 standards on fitness to practice . In its assessment of nine healthcare regulators, the GDC came bottom of the league.
Other serious concerns have been raised regarding the Professional Conduct Committee's condemnation of the GDC for its cavalier disregard for fairness and due legal process in a hearing against a GDP.
Commenting on the survey results, SDPC Chair Robert Donald said : “Scottish GDP's have given an emphatic vote of no confidence in the GDC. They know that they are being regulated by the worst health regulator in the UK . The GDC is responsible for regulating over 100,000 registrants including dentists and other dental care professionals .
“Those organisations representing patients should be concerned about the survey results and the implications of the PSA's annual report. My colleagues are fed up waiting for improvements to be made to address these serious failings and have given their representative committee a mandate to investigate establishing a Scottish based regulatory body which is fit for purpose.
“We have today asked for an urgent meeting with the chief executive of the GDC and the Scottish Health Minister to discuss the survey's findings "
Between 21st July and 21st August 2015. Scottish GDP's were surveyed about their views on the GDC and whether SDPC should investigate establishing a Scotland based regulatory body. 541 GDP's responded , or 46 per cent of those invited to take part.
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