eGDCFitness to practise
If there are concerns that shortcomings in a dental professional’s conduct or competence that are so great as to put patients at serious risk, or seriously damage public confidence in dentistry, we will investigate. When appropriate we will take action to mitigate that risk. Concerns may arise directly, for example, from a patient, by referral from another body (for example, a police notification of a criminal caution or conviction), or from other sources.
When we say that someone is 'fit to practise' we mean that they have the appropriate skills, knowledge, character and health to practise their profession safely and effectively. However, fitness to practise is not just about a practitioner’s clinical performance or health.
A practitioner’s fitness to practise also includes any actions which they may have taken which affect public confidence in dental professionals and their regulation. This may include matters not directly related to professional practice, for example, committing a criminal act.
We investigate:
- serious or repeated mistakes in clinical care, for example mistakes in diagnosis or dental procedure.
- failure to examine a patient properly, to secure a patient’s informed consent before treatment, keep satisfactory records, or to respond reasonably to a patient’s needs
- not having professional indemnity insurance
- cross infection issues (for example, using dirty clinical equipment during treatment)
- serious breaches of a patient’s confidentiality
- indications of a criminal offence including fraud, theft or dishonesty by a dental professional
- poor health or a medical condition that significantly affects a dental professional’s ability to treat patients safely.
The Covert surveillance in practice: Guidance on conducting surveillance in fitness to practise and illegal practice investigations sets out the stringent legal and ethical framework applied to covert surveillance in fitness to practise and illegal practice investigations. Such techniques will be used in very limited circumstances, and in accordance with this guidance.
We have a robust process in place to assess risks to public health, safety and wellbeing, and this updated guidance is designed to balance public protection with the rights and interests of the individuals concerned. Any covert investigation method will receive proper prior consideration at an appropriately senior level, by someone outside the investigation team.
If a registrant’s fitness to practise is found to be impaired, we may decide to:
- take no action
- issue a reprimand
- place conditions on registration
- suspend registration
- remove an individual from the register.
There is also an appeals process.
Find out more about how we investigate public protection issues or concerns.