DDU welcomes GDC plans to improve timeliness of fitness to practise investigations
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 11th November 2024
The Dental Defence Union (DDU) has welcomed the introduction of a change to GDC processes aimed at speeding up the initial inquiries made to assess fitness to practise cases. After a successful pilot, which saw the time taken to assess cases in the scheme average 13 weeks, the GDC has announced it is rolling out the change on a permanent basis.
John Makin, head of the DDU, said: “The enormous strain placed on the health and wellbeing of dental professionals and their families undergoing investigations is well documented. So we welcome the introduction of the initial inquiries process after the successful completion of the pilot. Anything that reduces the time taken to carry out and conclude an investigation is a welcome development and will help to reduce delays and improve the proportionality of investigations.
“We are also pleased to see that the GDC plans to pilot the same approach to cases that include minor conduct concerns. These improvements in the process are welcome, but do not alter our long-held view about unnecessary delays in the fitness to practise process.”
