Male dentists accounted for 65% of fitness to practise (FtP) concerns raised in 2024, as shown by newly-released GDC statistics.
The General Dental Council’s (GDC) annual Fitness to Practise (FtP) Statistical Report for 2024 revealed that 1,401 new concerns were received last year year. This is an increase of 8% from 2023.
Of all concerns raised, 88% were were resolved at assessment and case examiner stages, with 12% progressing to a hearing.
A total of 18 dental professionals were removed from the register following practice committee hearings. This figure has stayed the same as the previous year but decreased from 25 since 2020.
Theresa Thorp, executive director of regulation at the GDC, said: ‘Our annual statistical report provides insights into our fitness to practise processes and outcomes. The data helps us understand trends and patterns in concerns raised about dental professionals, which in turn informs our regulatory approach.
‘This year’s report continues our commitment to transparency in presenting robust data that can benefit the wider dental sector. We’re focused on using this data to help us identify any issues of discrimination, bias or racism in the reporting or referral of concerns to us.’
Who is most likely to have fitness to practise concerns raised against them?
Six in 10 (61%) of cases were raised by patients and members of the public, making them the primary source of concerns. Concerns reported by members of the profession have consistently increased. In 2024, this accounted for 9% of referrals, up from 8% in 2023 and 6% in 2022.
Professionals in London and the south east of England were most likely to have concerns raised against them. While making up only 14% of the register, they were the subject of 22% of FtP concerns.
The 30% of Asian or Asian British dentists on the register also saw a disproportionately high number of concerns raised at 34%.
Younger dental professionals were found to be less likely to have concerns raised against them. One in five (21%) FtP concerns were raised against dentists aged 51 to 60.
Timeliness targets missed
Concerns have previously been raised about the timeliness of FtP proceedings. In 2024, GDC targets for timeliness were met in less than half of cases.
The median time for initial hearings to start after referral was 10 months and six days. The GDC’s target for this time period is nine months, which was met in 43% of cases.
The GDC also uses a target of nine months for the period between the start of a hearing and reaching an initial outcome. In 2024, this was met in 46% of cases.
By December 2024, there were 203 cases awaiting an initial hearing.
The full report can be found here.
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