News
Poll reveals lack of trust in GDC
Nearly 80 per cent of BDA survey respondents doubt the General Dental Council’s ability to perform its regulatory function
SURVEY RESULTS
A survey of nearly 6,000 members of the British Dental Association (BDA) has highlighted the profession’s current lack of trust in the General Dental Council (GDC). Nearly eight in ten (79 per cent) respondents
to the survey, carried out between 11 and 21 July, said that they were not confident that the GDC is regulating dentists effectively. Unsurprisingly, 98 per cent either
disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposal to increase the annual retention fee (ARF) by 64 per cent, with 25 per cent in favour of no change to the ARF level and 54 per cent stating that a rise in line with inflation would be appropriate. The survey also asked whether
they thought the GDC was fair in the way it treats registrants with only 9 per cent agreeing and 12 per cent believing the GDC is transparent in its dealings with regis- trants. Fewer than 8 per cent of respondents answered that they thought the regulator was proportionate in its dealings with registrants. Of the 5,985 responses, 16 per cent revealed that they had experience of the GDC’s Fitness
to Practise function, with 66 per cent of those rating their experience as fairly poor or very poor. And, when asked to give their overall rating
of the regulator, only 7.5 per cent rated their experience as fairly good to very good. Dr Mick Armstrong, Chair of the BDA’s
Principal Executive Committee (pictured), said: “Sound regulation depends on fairness, proportionality and transparency. And fundamentally it requires trust. The GDC is failing on all these counts. “Dentists demand effective
regulation. But what we are getting from the GDC is heavy handedness, inefficiency and the expectation we will pick up the tab for their mismanagement. “This outrageous fee increase has only served to confirm what many had long suspected about the GDC. There is a real crisis of confidence
between dentists and their regulator, and it must now be resolved. “The GDC can start by shutting down
this flawed consultation, and thinking again. Because today there is one question on the minds of the vast majority of dentists: is the GDC fit to regulate?”
Dental Protection advises caution over ARF protests
FEES WARNING
Dental professionals are being advised to tread carefully when making public their reaction to the proposed annual retention fee (ARF) increases and also to think before considering withholding their fees. Indemnity organisation Dental Protec-
tion (DPL) is warning that both actions could threaten their registration and ability to practise lawfully. A press statement advised: “It would
be unwise to follow the ‘can’t pay – won’t pay’ protest groups because a failure to pay in full will result in automatic
de-registration and a delay (plus a loss of income) until one could be restored to the register.” DPL plans to respond to the GDC’s
consultation on the ARF level and encourages all registrants to do the same, either as an individual or part of a wider group. Public remarks, say DPL, should be measured and directed through normal professional channels, avoiding any personal allegations of bringing the profession into disrepute. The indemnity provider also suggests that the GDC could contain spiralling
costs by more effective and proportionate Fitness to Practise procedures, which account for around 80 per cent of this year’s budget and are therefore the main reason for the ARF increase being necessary.
Scottish Dental magazine 7
Smoking rates drop down under
HEALTH UPDATE
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson has welcomed a significant drop in smoking rates in Australia as evidence that tobacco plain packaging is working. Plain packaging for tobacco was introduced in Australia in 2011 and figures published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show the number of daily smokers dropped from 15.1 per cent to 12.8 per cent between 2010 and 2013. This represents a 15.5 per cent drop – the biggest decrease since 1991. The average age at which smokers have their first cigarette has also increased – from 15.6 in 2010 to 16 in 2013. A UK-wide consultation into standardised packaging was launched in June, but the Scottish Government has indicated that, if Westminster fails to introduce it on a UK-wide basis, Holyrood will aim to legislate in Scotland accordingly.
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