Dental Defence Union Calls On Government To Prioritise Regulatory Reform, As Dental Protection Reveals High Proportion Of Dentists From Overseas Faced GDC With No Legal Representation
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- Published: Monday, 10 October 2022 07:51
- Written by Chris Tapper
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The Dental Defence Union is calling on Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey to make regulatory reform and support for dental professionals “A top healthcare priority for the Government.”
As Conservatives congregated in Birmingham for their annual party conference, last week, the DDU released its dento-legal Government agenda which outlines three key priorities.
At the top of its list, the DDU is calling on the Government to “Support an exhausted workforce.”
The indemnity organisation says that “Morale among dental professionals is at a low ebb caused by dento-legal issues such as increasing complaints about treatment delays.”
“This is causing increasing stress levels, which is not good for clinicians or patients. The Government must do more to support dental professionals and stop fatigue setting in.”
The DDU is also calling on the Government to ‘Deliver modern healthcare professional regulation.’
The DDU wants to see “Top to bottom reform of GDC regulation.” It says the current system is “Too rigid and governed by outdated legislation.”
The indemnifier also wants the Government to “Get to grips with runaway clinical negligence costs.”
A DDU spokesperson said “The costs of meeting future claims liabilities for the NHS in England now stands at £128 billion.”
“The total budget for the NHS in 2022/23 is expected to be £155 billion. This is not a sustainable situation and legal reform is desperately needed to rebalance the system.”
Dr John Makin, Head of the DDU said “Dental professionals are working flat out to care for their patients, in many cases to the detriment of their own health and wellbeing. They deserve the support and resources needed to enable them to care for patients safely.”
“The current situation is causing stress levels to rise among dental professionals and this is being added to by delays for the minority of cases reaching a fitness to practise investigation. The legislation needed to modernise regulation was due to be introduced this year and was then delayed – it needs to be a top priority again.”
“Meanwhile, much needed funds could be retained in the NHS through legal reform of the system under which billions of pounds are leaving the NHS in clinical negligence claims.”
“If the government wants to prove its commitment to the dental profession and to boost morale, we urge them to seriously consider our package of priorities.”
Dental Protection Reveals Shocking Statistic
Meanwhile, Dental Protection has revealed the shocking statistic that nearly two in five dentists who graduated from overseas institutions faced fitness to practice hearings without legal support.
Through a Freedom of Information request, Dental Protection found that 38% of the dentists who graduated overseas and faced Fitness to Practise hearings between 2018 and 2021 went through the FTP process with no legal representation.
DP also discovered that those “Overseas graduates without legal representation were more likely to receive a harsher sanction, compared to overseas graduates with representation.”
The indemnity organisation said that “81% were either suspended or erased from the dentists register, and only 10% received a ‘no impairment’ judgment.”
“In comparison, 19% of overseas dental graduates with legal representation were either suspended or erased from the dentists register, and 29% received a no impairment judgment.”
Dental Protection said it has been working with education and training providers to stress the importance of professional protection that goes beyond claims to all dentists but particularly to those who are new to the country and trying to decipher the guidelines.
Dental Protection said It is also calling on the GDC to make it a requirement for all dentists to have protection which includes support with fitness to practise proceedings.
“Currently it is only a requirement to have protection against claims.”
Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said “These figures serve as a powerful reminder for all dentists of how important it is to obtain professional protection which includes the ability to request assistance with GDC investigations.”
“Dental Protection supports dentists from the moment a GDC complaint is received, to its conclusion at a hearing, providing the very best legal defence and a team of professionals committed to achieving the best possible outcome for members. I cannot imagine facing this lengthy and complex process alone, without someone fighting my corner. Sadly though, 38% of dentists who graduated overseas do, along with 31% of dentists who graduated in the UK.”
“I will continue to work with key stakeholders across the UK to help them understand the importance and value of comprehensive professional protection to dentists who graduated in the UK and those who join the workforce from other countries.”
Dr Rattan continued “The GDC may also be able to do more to help. It is clear in its indemnity guidance that dental professionals must have appropriate indemnity arrangements in place for clinical negligence claims so patients can seek compensation if they are harmed, and this must be declared before they are able to register or renew registration.”
“We welcome this but would like the GDC to consider extending this requirement to include wider protection beyond just claims in the next review of its standards,” Dr Rattan said.
“GDC investigations impact on a dentists’ mental health and reputation, and for some have career ending implications. A requirement to have protection and support with regulatory proceedings would be helpful to all dental professionals but particularly for those who are new to the UK, are trying to decipher the various requirements and may be focussing solely on obtaining protection against claims.”
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