NEWS DIGEST


Concerns over tooth whitening THE GDC has published a leaflet


warning patients to take a cautious approach to tooth whitening as concerns are raised within the dental profession over a clampdown on the practice. Considering tooth whitening?advises patients to visit their dentist before undergoing whitening and suggests a list of questions to ask practitioners. The leaflet also urges patients to inform the General Dental Council if whitening is carried out by someone who is not a registered dental professional. The regulator has made it clear that it


believes only registered dental professionals should carry out whitening. Earlier this year the GDC successfully prosecuted a non-registrant for performing whitening and he was ordered to pay a fine and costs of £13,000. A poll by the GDC in December found that eight out of 10 people choose to have tooth whitening done at a dental surgery and think it should only be carried out by registered, trained and qualified dental professionals. And 75 per cent of the people who took part in the survey also said they thought the GDC should prosecute anyone carrying out tooth whitening illegally.


Antipsychotic overuse in dementia care


THE Dementia Action Alliance has called for a clinical review of all UK dementia patients being administered antipsychotic drugs to ensure care is compliant with current guidelines and that alternative medications have been considered. The alliance of some 50 health and


IN BRIEF


l NICE GUIDANCE ON MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS New guidance to help GPs treat patients with common mental health disorders has been launched by NICE. Common mental health disorders: identification and pathways to caremakes


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social care organisations is calling for the review to be carried out by 31 March 2012. Antipsychotics are often prescribed as a first response to behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, such as distress or agitation, even though in an estimated two-thirds of cases use of these agents is considered inappropriate. Antipsychotic drugs are linked to serious side-effects in dementia patients, including mobility problems, sedation and sometimes death, particularly when used for longer than 12 weeks. See page 12 of this issue for more details. To achieve a reduction in the use of these drugs, people with dementia and carers, GPs, leaders in care homes and pharmacists are being asked to sign up to commitments outlining how they can play their part in ensuring reviews take place. To support the initiative, Dementia


Broad support for fitness to practise reforms THE GMC is claiming broad support from doctors and


patients for many of the proposals detailed in its recent consultation on fitness to practise procedures, including plans that would see doctors able to accept a sanction without going to hearing. The fitness to practise reforms consultation was launched in


January this year and the GMC received 217 written responses from patient groups and individuals, as well as the BMA, Royal Colleges, CHRE, NHS Employers, individual doctors and medical defence organisations, including MDDUS. Among the proposals is a mechanism by which doctors can accept a sanction


without going to a full hearing, thus providing a quicker resolution to cases. Other proposals would see doctors with convictions for certain crimes, such as murder and rape and possibly fraud, automatically struck off the medical register. However, plans for doctors to be able to share information with the regulator on a ‘without prejudice’ basis will not be pursued after respondents voiced concerns. Feedback from the written responses and from consultation events also helped the


GMC identify areas where the plans should change or further work is needed, such as how to ensure the public and media have the opportunity to scrutinise decisions. It will also consider ways in which potentially vulnerable doctors can be supported during the process, including the provision of basic legal advice for unrepresented doctors in certain circumstances. Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the General Medical Council, said: “We will


now develop the plans in detail, working closely with doctors and patients to make sure the changes continue to ensure there is widespread confidence in our fitness- to-practise procedures.”


recommendations on how to identify and care for patients with depression, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder. Access at http://tinyurl.com/6xujzab


l NEW END-OF-LIFE CARE GUIDANCE New guidance for healthcare professionals on end-of- life care has been published online. Guidance for staff responsible for care after death, produced by the NHS National End of Life Care Programme, offers best practice


advice to ensure care is given in a safe and respectful way before death, at the time of death and after death. Issues covered include respecting people’s wishes on organ and tissue donation and honouring the spiritual or cultural wishes of the deceased while also meeting legal


SUMMONS


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