Latest updates from the GDC
Latest news and updates
View from the Chair: Looking ahead to 2025
Lord Toby Harris, looks at our priorities for the year ahead, including the focus on continuing to improve our processes, guidance and support for registrants, and seeking your views on our plans and priorities for 2026 and beyond. Over the next few months, we will be looking for new Council members and reviewing responses to our consultation on proposed revisions to the Standards for Education, which closes on 6 February.
The Chair concludes with a thank you to our stakeholders.
Guidance on Reporting Matters to the GDC
As announced in December, new Guidance on Reporting Matters to the GDC will come into effect on 1 February 2025.
Covering health, criminal and regulatory matters, the Guidance sets out all of your reporting requirements in a single document, making them quick and easy to find. It provides you with clear expectations to support you in maintaining patient safety and public confidence in the dental team.
If you have any questions, contact us or your indemnity provider.
Review the Guidance on Reporting Matters to the GDC
PSA review of performance recognises GDC progress and challenges
We met 16 out of 18 Professional Standards Authority (PSA) Standards of Good Regulation in 2023/24. While we made significant improvements to achieve all standards in registration over the period, we did not meet the new PSA standard for equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) or the standard for fitness to practise timeliness.
Tom Whiting, Chief Executive and Registrar, said:
"We welcome the PSA's recognition of our progress across multiple areas, particularly in registration, while acknowledging there is more work to do. We remain firmly committed to improving fitness to practise processes and implementing our EDI strategy. Our priority is ensuring we deliver effective regulation that protects patients and supports dental professionals. We welcome close working with partners and stakeholder organisations to build trust in effective regulation and achieve a goal that we all share, which is patient safety and public confidence in the dental professions.”
The review identified ongoing challenges in fitness to practise timeliness. We have recently revised our processes to reduce the time it takes to deal with certain types of clinical cases, which alongside efforts to reduce the number of older cases, support improved timeliness.
We know we need to make our work set out in our current EDI strategy more visible and have published an update on the strategy to show where we have made progress and where we have plans to do more.
Find out more about the 2023/24 PSA performance review.
Changes to the specialist list assessed application routes come into effect
The new specialist list regulations, designed to ensure that applicants demonstrate knowledge, skills and experience equivalent to those completing a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training, came into effect on 1 January 2025.
The outcomes of the recent consultation to improve pathways for dentists who want to join a specialist list showed strong support for the changes, which aim to enhance clarity and consistency in application routes while maintaining rigorous standards.
The updated specialist list assessed application forms and guidance for assessors are now available.
Other recent news
GDC launches consultation on revisions to Standards for Education
Dental Leadership Network – What should dental leaders do?
GDC publishes analysis of dentists’ working patterns
Information and guidance
Direct access to other members of the dental team
Supporting members of the dental team: A guide for managers and employers
Information for patients: Going abroad for dental treatment
Useful links