FTP Annual Report from GDC: Risks Vary For All
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- Published: Thursday, 08 September 2022 06:38
- Written by Peter Ingle
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The newly published GDC Fitness to Practice report 2021, makes alarming reading, particularly for ethnic minority registrants.
The GDC works hard to appear inclusive. Illustrations on the Councils website and other communications are tailored to ensure that the GDC can project an image of a profession that is diverse and inclusive. Whether the same can be said about GDC itself, has been called into question once again.
In his monthly blog the GDC Chair, Lord Harris writes under the heading “Ensuring our regulatory activity is fair.” For the first time the annual Fitness to Practice (FTP) report includes what he describes as a “reliable” breakdown by Ethnicity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) characteristics.
The report starts with the concerning admission that in 2021 the number of cases closed at the initial assessment stage dropped sharply, from 19% to 13%. Meanwhile the percentage of cases that proceeded to a hearing moved in the opposite direction from 15% to 19%. There was also an increase in new concerns notified to the GDC from 1134 in 2020, to 1349 in 2021, representing an increase of 19%.
The report repeatedly refers to investigations being delayed due to “resourcing issues”, this despite the GDC’s substantial financial surplus and the stress that delays can cause both complainants, and registrants.
Further evidence of delays was revealed in a chart showing that in early 2019, 68% of FTP cases received an initial hearing within 9 months of referral by the case examiners. By the end of 2021 this had declined to 46%
When it came to the sources of complaints, there was no significant change. 45% came from patients and 10% from the GDC. There was a small decline in those from other registrants and whistle blowers.
Figures looking at registrants and the region they worked in, showed that proportionately those in London and the South East stood a greater chance of being reported to the GDC. Dentists in the North East and Northern Ireland were at the lowest risk.
The report ranks “considerations”, that is details of the type of allegation made. The commonest by far is “failure to provide good quality care.” The GDC point out that more than one consideration may apply in a particular case.
The GDC currently hold EDI data on 90% of registrants and their analysis is based upon this. Despite recent reports that young dentists feel particularly vulnerable to GDC action, those aged under 30 were least likely to find themselves involved in the FTP process. As dentists age they appear more likely to be the subject of a complaint to the GDC. Those over 65 represented only 3% of the register, but 6% of those with a concern raised in 2021. The equivalent figures for those up to 30 years old were 18% and 6%. The age and risk profile for DCP’s showed a similar trend.
There was a major difference between the sexes, in risk. The female 52% of registered dentists account for just 32% of the claims raised in 2021.
There were also differences in risk when related to ethnicity. Asian and Asian/British dentists account for 24% of the register but represented 28% of FTP concerns. In contrast dentists with White ethnicity represent 50% of the register, but only 43% of concerns raised.
In the case of DCP’s, percentages of the register and percentages of concerns raised were quite similar across all ethnic groups.
When it came to marital status single dentists were less likely to be the subject of a concern, but this may be a reflection of an age difference.
In his blog Lord Harris comments that, “While we’re in the early stages of understanding what the data is telling us, we are clear that discrimination has no place in regulation and sharing this data for the first time is a sign of our commitment to that.”
Registrants hoping for fair treatment when a concern is raised remain at the mercy of the GDC, an organisation with a fondness for consultations. Indeed, Lord Harris also refers to the recently closed one about Council plans for the next three years. It was open to registrants, stakeholder groups and the public. He was pleased to report that there had been a total of 275 responses, and that this was more than three times as many as in a previous consultation about corporate strategy. The GDC has around 114,000 registrants.
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