The Health Select Committee put Dental Protection’s concerns directly to the GDC at the accountability hearing yesterday. The GDC’s Chief Executive Evlynne Gilvarry and Chair Bill Moyes were asked to address our questions about the fairness of the GDC’s Fitness to Practise procedures.

Kevin Lewis, Director at Dental Protection said: "The GDC’s investigations are often slow and disproportionate. It is our belief that those handling complaints for the GDC are not always applying correct statutory tests, which means that too many dentists are being investigated, a point the Committee raised directly with the GDC. We remain unconvinced that the statutory tests are being properly applied at the early stages of proceedings, and about the large number of dentists unnecessarily being referred to the Interim Orders Committee.

“Having heard what the GDC said about the process/system changes proposed in the now delayed Section 60 Order, we were not reassured about the true independence of case examiners.

“While it is appropriate that the GDC investigates and sanctions unacceptable conduct, they must encourage the profession to be accountable and deal with concerns inside the practice first, rather than simply holding them to account. Good regulation is not necessarily more regulation, nor is the perception of greater levels of regulatory activity an inherently desirable goal.”

For further information or to arrange an interview please contact Rajiv Pattni, Press Officer on 0207 399 1409 or email [email protected]