Latest updates from the GDC

A view from the Chair

Our Chair reminds everyone that the Council will agree the budget and therefore the Annual Retention Fee (ARF) for 2025 in their meeting in October, and he talks about the value of consultation and feedback in his October update.   

Join us at the Dentistry Show London: 4 – 5 October 2024

Join us at the Dentistry Show London 2024 on Friday and Saturday this week. Our team will be on hand to answer your questions, or just stop by to share your thoughts on the latest developments in dentistry.

Find us at stand K30 at the ExCel London, Halls N11 – N14. 

Whistleblowing disclosures report 2024 published 

The joint UK healthcare regulators Whistleblowing disclosures report 2024 has now been published. Speaking up to protect others is important, and we encourage you to take action if you think patients or colleagues may be at serious risk.  

We received 79 whistleblowing disclosures in the 12 months to 31 March 2024, compared with 82 in the previous year. We are also making sure whistleblowers are identified earlier in the process so that the right protection and support is in place from the outset.

Find out more about raising concerns if you work in dentistry.

Consultation open on revised guidance for practice committees

We are proposing revisions to the current guidance for practice committees, and would like to hear your views. Practice committees are independent panels who make decisions on impairment at the Dental Professionals Hearings Service.

The consultation is open until 26 November. 

Informing routes to registration for overseas dental professionals

We invited stakeholders to submit evidence to support the development of a comprehensive framework for international registration last year. Rules were introduced in March, and we have increased capacity in the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) as the first steps towards modernising the registration process.

We are now considering ways in which the process can be made more flexible for applicants and candidates, including potential rule changes. However, we have no immediate plans to change the structure of the ORE or to introduce a practical assessment for dental hygienists and dental therapists, as there was no consensus on the need for us to do so.  

See the outcome of our call for evidence on our website.

UK National Screening Committee consultation closes 29 October

The UK National Screening Committee has opened a consultation on screening for dental disease in children aged six to nine years. It is proposing to remove its screening recommendation due to a lack of evidence that screening could help reduce levels of the disease. The consultation is open until 29 October.