Personal Injury Solicitors

The General Dental Council (GDC) is to be given new powers to streamline investigations into dental complaints.

The Department of Health (DoH) has announced new powers enabling long-awaited changes to the way the General Dental Council (GDC) carries out its Fitness to Practise (FtP) proceedings.

The new powers set out in legislation are designed to improve the efficiency of the fitness to practise processes – enabling swifter investigation of complaints, which will improve the system for both patients and dental professionals, says the GDC.

Under the new arrangements – due to come into effect in April 2016 – the GDC will be able to appoint case examiners with powers to decide cases at an earlier stage than at present.

Case examiners will also be able to agree undertakings with dental professionals under investigation, to effectively impose conditions on practice where it is both proportionate and consistent with public protection.

The GDC says other measures include a power to review a closed case where it is in the public interest, or where the decision may be flawed, or where new information comes to light – making the system fairer and more transparent.

The Section 60 order that will come into force in April 2016 amends the Dentists’ Act 1984, which governs the current Fitness to Practise process.

Once it is in force and the Act is amended, it will give the GDC the power to amend the FtP rules, such as the introduction of case examiners – this will be introduced via the new FtP process next summer and the order has also been laid before the Scottish parliament.

Chief executive and registrar of the GDC, Evlynne Gilvarry, said:

“This is a milestone for the GDC.

“These long sought new powers will lead to a more streamlined complaints system with timelier decisions – and with appropriate safeguards for both patients and dental professionals.

“We welcome these new powers as a first, important step in modernising our fitness to practise processes – and we will continue to make the case for more fundamental reforms in the interests of patients and professionals.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Dental Negligence Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who have suffered injury as a result of dental negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims relating to:

• Anaesthetic errors
• Bridgework
• Caries and missed decay
• Cosmetic surgery
• Crowns
• Dental surgery
• Failure to take X-rays and scans
• Fillings
• Implants
• Mouth injuries
• Oral cancer (missed diagnosis)
• Oral hygiene
• Orthodontist’s errors
• Unnecessary dental treatment.

Dental negligence claims have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury – children can make a dental negligence claim up to the age of 21.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Dental Negligence Claims, call Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors on 0333 772 0409.