Parliament to debate on the performance of the GDC

GDCMPs are set to debate the performance of the General Dental Council (GDC), the regulator for dentists and dental care professionals, on Tuesday 9 December, just days before it is due to defend itself in the High Court.

The British Dental Association (BDA), which has initiated judicial review proceedings against the GDC, has welcomed the news.

Its hearing is scheduled for Monday 15 December.

Mick Armstrong, chair of the British Dental Association said: ‘The General Dental Council has failed patients and practitioners alike.

‘We’ve seen people left in limbo for over 18 months waiting for their cases to be dealt with, and hearings that cost up to £78,000.

‘The GDC has lost sight of its principle task to protect patients, and lost the trust of the dental profession.

‘It’s only right that MPs are giving this matter proper scrutiny.

‘Britain has over a million regulated healthcare practitioners, serving tens of millions of patients.

‘And frankly they all deserve better.

‘David Cameron called for action on the “outdated and inflexible” laws applied by our regulators.

‘We are calling on government to honour that pledge.’

The BDA has been fighting to prevent the regulator implementing a £45 million pound increase to the fees levied on the dental profession.

The regulator has been criticised by the Parliament and the Professional Standards Authority.

The BDA has called on the Government to recognise the scale of the crisis in healthcare regulation and honour pledges for reform.

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