The GDC this month published a new strategy detailing how they plan to go about changing attitudes towards the regulator. Having faced widespread criticisms in recent years for everything from its patient marketing campaigns to its handling of complaints, the organisation is seemingly looking to make changes.
In a press release from 18 November, the GDC stated that they will “champion a model of regulation that supports professionalism, enables learning, and resolves issues quickly and proportionately”. The goal is to significantly alter its interactions with professionals in order to better promote their mental health and wellbeing, while maintaining strict safeguards to protect patients.
Five strategic objectives have been published:
Chief Executive and Registrar at the GDC, Tom Whiting, was quoted as saying:
“We want to regulate in a way that promotes learning over fear – supporting the dental team to demonstrate professionalism… We want people to feel that we are easy to deal with, approachable and ready to listen and support. We will be transparent about our progress and performance, reporting regularly and keeping an open dialogue about what we are doing to build trust and effectiveness.”
The nearly 40-page document – entitled “Trusted and effective: A strategy for dental regulation 2026-2028” – brings its core values of being respectful, transparent, inclusive, and purposeful to the forefront. It also acknowledges the strain that Fitness to Practise cases can have on individuals, as well as the negative general impact that a litigious landscape has on the whole profession. Clear aims are set out to be achieved by 2030, with support for dental professionals featuring heavily.
For many in the industry, the report says all the right things, but only time will tell how this translates to reality in the coming months and years…
> Since you’re here, why not read about Prenatal stress may accelerate baby teething?
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