The General Dental Council (GDC) has refused to express any contrition over losing the argument over the ARF in court. It recognises that it made a ‘procedural error’, but will be faced with both its and the BDA’s legal costs. It ends its statement by threatening those who don’t pay the £890 fee with removal from the register.
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Today at 10am in Court 3, Hon Justice Cranston announced his ruling on the Judicial Review of the consultation on retention fees for dentists carried out by General Dental Council [GDC], the case being brought by the British Dental Association [BDA].
The judge ruled that the consultation was unlawful and the GDC to pay the costs of the case. However the Annual Retention Fee (ARF) will remain at £890, as set by GDC, and is payable by dentists by 31st December.
An Open Letter to The CEO & Registrar, Chair of the GDC, and the Council Members.
Dear Ms Gilvarry and Mr Moyes, and the General Dental Council members.
Today has been a landmark day for the UK dental profession.
It is now apparent that it is not only the Dental Profession that had doubts over the veracity and legality of the case presented for the increase in the Annual Retention Fee, but our legal system has also condemned the process.
GDPUK has heard from a reliable source that Henry Schein has today (Dec 17) purchased Claudius Ash/Planmeca in the UK. Although it has not been possible to confirm this, we understand that the deal will be announced tomorrow.
Dental Protection has announced the appointment of Professor John Gibson from Glasgow, as the new Chairman of the Board of Dental Protection Ltd. He succeeds Professor Trevor Burke who retired from the Board in October having completed his term of office on the Board. He is joined on the Board by Professor Callum Youngson who is Dean of Liverpool Dental School.
The BDA’s Judicial Review was held at the Royal Courts of Justice, London on Dec 15. Both sides put their cases, but the judge the Hon. Mr Justice Cranston said he would be considering his verdict. He will then give his judgement to both parties, perhaps later this week. Mr Havers QC for the BDA spent over two hours outlining the profession’s case with lucidity and precision.
The judge for the Judicial Review of the GDC's ARF consultation on December 15, will be the Hon. Mr Justice Cranston. The case will be heard from 10am at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. GDPUK news will report on any verdict delivered that day, together with any reaction from BDA or GDC.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has announced the results of elections to its Principal Executive Committee (PEC). Eddie Crouch, Stephen Shimberg and Tim Harker were re-elected. With new members Jason Stokes for Eastern and Len D’Cruz gaining the UK-wide seat. They will each serve for three years.
According to The Herald some dentists in Scotland had gross earnings of more than £500,000 from the NHS last year and two dental practitioners ‘clawed back more than £1 million in taxpayers' money for services provided to the public’. A spokesperson for the BDA said: "These figures include the money practitioners need to set aside for staffing, premises and equipment. They don't reflect the reality of life on frontline of dentistry in Scotland”.