The General Dental Council (GDC) has welcomed the independent review of whistleblowing in the NHS, ‘Freedom to Speak Up’, led by Sir Robert Francis QC.
The review provides advice and recommendations to ensure that NHS staff feel that it is safe to raise concerns.
It highlights the GDC’s 2013 annual survey of registrants, which asked dental professionals about their experiences of raising concerns.
The GDC is also undertaking research to get a better understanding of the barriers that dental professionals may experience when raising concerns in the work place.
Fndings from the research will be used to develop guidance that will support dental professionals in raising concerns.
Chief executive and registrar at the GDC, Evlynne Gilvarry, said: ‘It’s vital that dental professionals feel able to raise concerns in order to ensure patients and colleagues are safe.
‘We will carefully review the findings of the report and its recommendations.
‘The GDC is committed to providing appropriate help and advice so that dental professionals feel able to raise concerns and the guidance we plan to issue will support this.’