The dental profession is calling for a registrant to be appointed as the next General Dental Council (GDC) chair. We share their thoughts on why better representation is needed within dentistry.
In an open letter to the regulator this week, associations and specialist societies urged that the next council chair ‘must be a registrant’.
Signed by bodies representing the full spectrum of the dental sector, it states: ‘We note that chair Lord Toby Harris is not seeking a second term of office. We can take some comfort that his term has not repeated the mistakes of his predecessor, Dr Bill Moyes, who left trust and confidence among registrants on the floor.’
It continues: ‘Lord Harris has left a long lead time to ensure the right process is in place for selection of a successor. We want the right person for this role, and so we are united that the next council chair must be a registrant. However, real gains made since 2021 cannot make up for lost ground.
‘Rebuilding trust is a journey, not a final destination. We want to ensure your next chair can bring knowledge, insight and empathy from the coalface to the task ahead.’
The British Dental Association is one of the signatories, and was joined by the British Association of Oral Surgeons, British Association of Dental Therapists, British Orthodontic Society, British Society of Prosthodontics, British Association of Private Dentistry, British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, British Society for Restorative Dentistry, The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, British Association of Dental Nurses and the British Society of Gerodontology.
We heard from a number of dental professionals on why better representation is needed within the regulator’s ranks:
Mohsan Ahmad, dentist
For dental registrants to start building trust in the GDC, the only sensible choice for the new GDC chair is a current registrant. We all know the stress and anxiety created by GDC investigations, even when they are frivolous. I feel someone who experiences this day to day challenge, could empathise with all registrants, and would be wholly supported for the position.
With patient safety at the forefront of the GDC’s remit, a registrant who has seen and treated patients on the coalface, would understand the unique tests patients present and therefore understand why registrants would make specific treatment decisions to manage their patient’s oral health. A GDC chair that is a registrant would be more likely to create an environment at the GDC that understands this and filter this through the professional body.
Sadly, the profession’s morale is very low at the moment due to many factors, with increasing costs in running dental practices, the wait for true NHS contract reform etc. The appointment of a registrant to GDC chair could be the first cog in bringing some optimism.
Alan Clarke, dentist
As a cosmetic dentist and dental thought-leader with a degree in medical law and ethics, I firmly believe that the next chair of the GDC should be a registrant who directly understand the challenges and nuances of our profession. Having worked at the coalface, with the public, and seeing the dental landscape through the lens as a team member, registrants bring a unique, invaluable perspective. This is one that combines the practical challenges faced by the wider profession paired with a deep understanding of the public’s needs and expectations.
The GDC has a critical role in upholding standards while maintaining fairness to registrants. Thus an environment of trust and collaboration between the regulator and the profession is wholly essential and could go a long way in mending wounds and anxieties grown in the young, and dispelling the culture of fear that has stained our industry.
Rebuilding trust is indeed a long-term process. I believe that someone who has been through the challenges and realities of being a dental professional can empathise with registrants so much more effectively than someone who has not. The next GDC chair must not only be well-versed in the regulatory aspects of the role but also have the insight and empathy to make decisions that are both fair and informed. In my opinion, really only a registrant can truly bring the depth of understanding required to foster a harmonious and productive relationship between the GDC and the dental profession as a whole.
I look forward to their choice and know this will share the direction of travel for our industry in the years to come!
Nilesh Parmar, dentist
The profession has spoken. It is imperative that the next chair of the GDC is an active dental registrant.
Dentistry has fast become one of the most demanding, stressful and draining professions in the country. We know that morale and the mental health of dental practitioners is at an all-time low. This is why we need somebody who clearly understands these pressures and is willing to make sensible, measured and progressive decisions as they steer the council forward.
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