Radio 4 on the GDC – just one big secret?

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Last July, I wrote on this blog: ‘The General Dental Council (GDC) is falling apart at the seams.' I concluded that the GDC had lost not only the confidence of the profession, but also of its own regulator, the CHRE.

The Radio 4 programme: Face the Facts, Fit to Practise, made similar points in a broadcast today (11 January).

CHRE chief executive, Harry Cayton, outlined many of his concerns about the GDC, but said that overall they are protecting the public.

'There has been enough evidence in healthcare generally that such secrecy is rife and damaging to the public. Until whistleblowers can express their fears publicly, and the press including the dental press, can report these concerns, such abuses will continue'

One case dealt with in some detail was that of Rotherham dentist, Mr Siddiqui who was suspended by the PCT following allegations of poor infection control practice at his surgery.

One patient told the programme that it was like a teenager's bedroom. He was not struck off but allowed to continue in practice, albeit with 21 strict conditions.

GDC chief executive, Evlynne Gilvarry, told the programme that the period of instability that was evident when she took post a year ago was over. The GDC had turned a corner and was making significant progress which would continue.

Harry Cayton has been told by the government to investigate the complaints made by former GDC chair, Alison Lockyer.

This is likely to mean more change for the GDC and probably higher retention fees for dentists as a result.

The GDC is already looking at proposals to reduce its numbers to around eight, in line with the thoughts of the CHRE.

At the same time the role of the chief executive and senior management is being enhanced.

A second point that I took from the programme is one made by Gilvarry. It was the job of the GDC, she said, to protect patients, not punish dentists.

In other words if the 21 conditions imposed allow Siddiqui to continue to see patients safely, then the GDC has fulfilled its role. It is not there to punish him for past misdeeds.

Whether dentists suspended for a few months for ‘bringing the profession into disrepute' would see that as anything other than a punishment is a moot point.

A dentist removed from the Register for not paying up at the end of last year by mistake probably does not see this as ‘protecting the public'.

My last thought was the secrecy that still surrounds the topic. The programme mentioned Alison Lockyer but could not interview her; two people who had worked on GDC committees had pseudonyms and their words spoken by actors.

Yet there has been enough evidence in healthcare generally that such secrecy is rife and damaging to the public.

Until whistleblowers can express their fears publicly, and the press including the dental press, can report these concerns, such abuses will continue.

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'probably higher retention fees as a result'.....
The GMC is REDUCING medical doctor's (and, yes, that is a 'dig' with regard to use of the title Dr) fees next year. If Dr Watson is correct in his prediction in this article, combined with the CQC nonsense, and NHS chaos ('Denplan on the cheap', anyone?), in the words of the 'Kaiser Chiefs' - 'I predict a riot'...... or at the minimum a retention fee strike. The party's over for the GDC. We've been pushed just that bit too far!

Posted by docholliday 11/1/12 at 14:21

--This post was last edited on 11/1/12 at 14:34--

Posted by docholliday 11/1/12 at 14:21

The elephant in the room is why are there an increased number of fitness to practice cases?
1. The introduction of a NHS system that was untried, unfair and unworkable, actively promoting neglect, and simple treatments where complex treatment is needed.
2 Massive influx of foreign trained dentists with a poor understanding of communication and systems and standards- thses were actively recruited to the UK to replace the dentists that left the NHS on the introduction of the UDA.
3 Removal of any sort of regulation of clinical standards by PCT's. DRO's no longer instucted to look at clinical standards, but more interested in trying to stop gaming.
4 Undergrads in the UK have little or no clinical experience when they leave university.

The issue with the GDC is that politicians want complete control over healthcare, and out of the political arena as it is and will never be a vote winner.
The GDC failed to envisage and cope\budget with a tremendous increase in complaints due to the fall in clinical standards associated with the UDA.
Possibly because the DOH did not want this fact to be known

Posted by richard8466 11/1/12 at 19:39

Excellent analysis richard8466. I take my hat of to you (see avatar!). The doc is one of those who saw the pile of 'dung' that the UDA system has proven to be, and so is one of those you mention in para 2 whom was 'replaced' by the influx. Oddly, most (72%) of my adults stayed with me. I have worries for the other 28%....... coming up to 6 years of Nectar point neglect, their mouths are probably in a right old state.......

Posted by docholliday 11/1/12 at 20:04

Sadly government and their civil servants in the DOH have little understanding of dentistry and cannot grasp the fact that to do it well and to last needs time. If you are to educate a professional for 5 years and expect them to spend time you need to pay them accordingly. For years governments priority has never been dentistry and funding has reduced or controlled to such an extend that it is now impossible to treat a moderate to high need patient properly. But as always a government will never admit incompetence or failure they will always pass blame. How can any government state that the UDA is a complete failure when it has been running for 5 years with no major political opposition. As always a governments failure only leads to a populations suffering

Posted by richard8466 11/1/12 at 20:21

Indeed. But those dentists partaking of the poison chalice of the Nectar Point UDA must take some of the blame. They are complicit in the pretence that NHS/GDS offers a comprehensive, decent, system of oral care. This is akin to proclaming that the Emperor's Robes are absolutely fine and dandy, instead of remarking upon the fact that the Emperor is bound to catch a nasty chill.

Posted by docholliday 11/1/12 at 20:41

To a certain extent the profession has brought this on themselves, there is a certain percentage of any population that will take advantage of a system to increase profit- GREED. These were the dentists with massive NHS turnovers pre UDA. Government wanted to control a spiraling NHS dentistry budget, so decided to introduce a system that introduced perverse incentives. Sadly the same people that abused the system before the UDA are abusing it now but in a different way. There are still a lot of dentists making a lot of money from NHS dentistry, and until this changes NHS dentistry will survive. Pre UDA it was possible to make a reasonable income ETHICALLY, post UDA it is harder to do so.

Posted by richard8466 12/1/12 at 08:08

agree with most of that richard but I think you'll find the"making a lot of money from nhs dentistry"is actually making their profit off the back of the nhs lure by selling/gaming/conning the public with the old"not available" on the nhs trick. Personally I have no sympathy for them when the disciplinary hearings start after the patient moans to the gdc "my dentist told me I'd have to have that done privately". And make no mistake the govt knows exactly whats going on and will be looking for a few martyrs to roast after its ombudsman reports about the greedy dentists.....again.

Posted by gordie 12/1/12 at 09:00

Good point gordie. Much better to just say 'nothing is available here from the NHS'. Takes a bit of 'bottle' and a period of desk-thumping from the 'I've paid my stamp'-brigade. But that's long ago in the past for us now. Sunnier uplands......

Posted by docholliday 12/1/12 at 09:11

my associate works part time in the nhs in another practice-its great to play devils(gdc) advocate and play patient role play and watch her squirm when trying to persuade me to have a private rt/crown without breaking the rules..its impossible. The govt stitched the profession up like a kipper when it introduced the 2006 contract.

Posted by gordie 12/1/12 at 09:17

But with a private crown I will earn more money?
A private crown will not drop off
It will look better
it wont be made in china from lead
it will fit
i dont have to declare it to the revenue

any other excuses?

Posted by richard8466 12/1/12 at 09:34