NEWS DIGEST


Revalidation “starting to have an impact” says GMC


FOUR out of 10 doctors are changing the way they practise as a result of their last appraisal, according to a three-year study into the impact of revalidation. Among doctors aged under 50 around


half have changed their practice. These are findings from two separate


reports commissioned by the GMC and based on surveys completed by more than 26,000 licensed doctors (16 per cent response rate) and hundreds of responsible officers, along with feedback from patient and public representatives. The research found that 90 per cent of


surveyed doctors have had a medical appraisal in their career, 94 per cent of whom had had an appraisal in the previous 12 months. Around a third of doctors said revalidation has improved the appraisal process and over 40 per cent of doctors believe appraisals are effective in helping doctors to improve their clinical practice. But a majority of responding doctors


(57.6 per cent) said they had not made any changes to their clinical practice, professional behaviour or learning activities as a result of their most recent appraisal, compared to 42.4 per cent who said they had made such changes. Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the


General Medical Council, said: “We are pleased that the findings from both reports show that revalidation is starting to have an impact. This is encouraging for patients and doctors… But we cannot be complacent – both reports highlight issues which show the system can be improved.”


GPs overprescribing antibiotics for toothaches


MORE than half of patients visiting a GP with a dental problem in the last 10 years were prescribed antibiotics, often unnecessarily, according to a study published in the British Journal of General Practice. Researchers from the Cardiff University School of Dentistry examined 288,169 dental consultations in UK general


● ORTHODONTIC RESOURCE An online resource to help patients make treatment decisions has been launched by the British Orthodontic Society. Orthodontics for Adults offers information on “why, how, where and who”.


SUMMER 2016


Access at www.bos.org.uk/ adultorthodontics ● PRESCRIBING CONTROLLED DRUGS New NICE guidance on prescribing controlled drugs has been issued, drawing together up-to-date legislation and existing


advice including information to patients about how to store and dispose of controlled drugs safely. Access at www.nice.org.uk/ guidance/ng46 ● NEW GDC LANGUAGE CHECKS All dentists and dental


care professionals applying to join or return to the GDC register will now have their English language proficiency evaluated. This will apply to all dentists and DCPs including those from the European Economic Area (EAA).


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medical practice from 2004 to 2013. They found that a significant number of patients are visiting their GP practice rather than their dentist, and 57 per cent of these consultations resulted in antibiotic prescribing. Cardiff researcher Dr Anwen Cope said:


“Most dental problems cannot be comprehensively managed by a GP. This places an additional burden on already busy GPs when patients should be visiting a dentist. “More worryingly is the potential impact on the rates of antibacterial resistance. Antibiotics save lives, and therefore it’s important we use them carefully and only when they are really required.”


New standards for cosmetic procedures


DOCTORS who carry out cosmetic procedures must not use gimmicks such as two-for-one offers or prize giveaways to attract patients, according to new standards published by the General Medical Council. Patients must also be given sufficient time and information to think about any proposed procedures, and consent should be obtained by the doctor who will carry out the treatment.


The guidance comes into force from June and covers both surgical (such as breast augmentation) and non-surgical (such as Botox) procedures carried out by doctors anywhere in the UK. GMC Chair Professor Terence


Stephenson said patients considering whether to have a cosmetic procedure were often “extremely vulnerable” and that: “Above all, [they] need honest and straightforward advice which allows them to understand the risks as well as the possible benefits.” The GMC has been working closely with


the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) which has published its own set of professional standards for cosmetic surgery to supplement the regulator’s guidance. The RCS also plans to launch a new certification scheme later this year with the aim of allowing patients seeking cosmetic treatment to more easily search for an appropriate surgeon.


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