THE way dental care standards are interpreted in the General Dental Council’s fitness to practise processes is causing “a great deal of concern”, the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners UK have said.
The FGDP UK issued a statement to members saying they had witnessed the “huge” increase in fitness to practice (FtP) cases “with a growing sense of alarm” and also called into question the fairness of judgements made following patient complaints.
The Faculty said they had raised their concerns directly with the GDC and are now “seeking clarity on the way that the standards are being applied as part of the FtP process.”
A review of FGDP guidance and standards was launched in September with calls for input from dental practitioners.
They said: “The review of Faculty standards represents an important body of work that seeks to determine how the standards are being interpreted, both by regulators and the profession. We are also assessing our standards to ensure that they continue to assist practitioners in making sound clinical judgements and consistency in patient care.”
They are asking members with knowledge of where Faculty standards guidance has been referenced in an FtP investigation to email a summary and key evidence to fgdp@rcseng.ac.uk with the subject line: ‘FtP AND FGDP(UK) STANDARDS’.
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.
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