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Anthony Townsend |
Chief Executive and Registrar - GDC |
Message A summary report, in a Q & A format, of BIDST representatives meeting with Antony Townsend at the GDC offices (The Questions and & Answers are therefore paraphrased and not direct quotes)
Q. Can the title of LBIDST be listed as a Qualification within the register
for PCDs?
A. Yes, as the facility exists.
Q. Can list of BIDST members with Licentiate or better be automatically
registered without reference to the original qualification?
A. Probably, providing the other criteria of fitness to practice etc are
met.
Q. In consideration of the requirements on Dentists to limit their operation
to their sphere of training and competency, will Dentists have assumed
competence in areas of Dental Technology?
A. No, they will be self limited to their areas of training and competence.
Q. Shade taking and aspects of denture repairs for example that involve
patient contact that are not specified in the GDC curriculum for Dental
Technicians despite these roles progressively or conventionally being
performed by Dental Technicians; will all Dental Technicians be able to
continue performing such roles?
A. This will depend upon their training and experience. Dentists will be
required to determine the competency of a Dental Technician before referring
such roles.
Q. Will PCDs be able to offer services directly to patients within their
sphere of competency, without a referral from a Dentist?
A. Yet to be decided. There are opposing views within the GDC as to whether
patients must be referred to PCDs by a Dentist, or whether PCDs will be able
to independently treat patients within their sphere of competency and
determine when to refer patients to a Dentist or another PCD for matters
outside their competency.
Q. How will PCDs be able to extend their sphere of competency into areas
outside the curriculum of their qualifications?
A. PCDs will be able to:
a) Take courses to qualify in other recognised registerable
qualifications.
b) Take additional training to extend their competency through
courses approved by the GDC.
c) Develop their competencies through courses and study within the
structure of their own CPD.
Q. Will extended competencies through CPD have to be referred to the GDC for
approval before offering the services?
A. No, it is the responsibility of the individual PCD and of the Dentist in
referring, through mutual consent, to limit the sphere of operation of the
PCD to within areas of competency.
Q. Will previous illicit activities, for example shade taking or denturism,
contribute towards a PCDs sphere of competency?
A. Such activities cannot contribute towards a GDC recognised qualification
but a Dentist may take into account the experience of the individual in
determining competency prior to referring a patient.
Q. Will BIDST be able to offer CPD courses in the areas of extending the
sphere of competency beyond the curriculum for dental Technicians?
A. Yes, BIDST may wish to cooperate with other bodies to help facilitate
such CPD for members, e.g. the Royal College of Surgeons Faculty of
Dentistry.
Q. Does the Section 60 legislation change or improve the existing situation
where it appears that a patient compliant is required for action by the GDC
against those practising dentistry illegally to be successful?
A. No, however, it is incorrect that a patient complaint is required. It is
the case that information leading to evidence of illegal practice is all
that is required, this of course can be supported by patient evidence.
Q. Will it be the case therefore that those practicing illegally will
continue to avoid action as it appears those practicing denturism do now?
A. No, the GDC policy is likely to change after registration of PCDs to one
of proactively ensuring compliance by all. After registration is introduced
there will effectively be no excuse for not establishing the appropriate
qualifications.
Q. Will the overseas qualifications in denturism be registerable?
A. Those with EU qualifications can apply for an equivalence determination,
which may lead to a supplementary examination if not equivalent.
Non-EU qualifications can facilitate entry to a statutory exam which on
passing could lead to registration.
Q. It has been claimed that those practicing denturism illegally will be
able to continue to practice in the same way as those practising
conveyancing could after legislation introduced conveyancers, by recognition
of there prior practise, is that correct?
A. No, that will not be an option.
Q. In consideration of the fact that the act does not differentiate between
dentistry and dental technology, will dental laboratories that are limited
companies be subject to the dental corporate body regulations when they are
revised?
A. I do not know the answer to that, and will have to look into it.
Q. Can you clarify yet whether dental laboratories that are limited
companies will be viewed as dental corporate bodies following the
implementation of the section 60 Order, or indicate the scenario whereby a
dental laboratory might be subject to the corporate body regulations?
A. The section 60 order does not change the definition of DBC.
Q. Can you advise on the timescale for implementation of the revised dental
corporate body regulations and whether they would coincide with the
implementation of PCD registration?
A. I think the revised DBC regulations will probably follow within about 12
months of the order being made. The speed depends upon the priority given to
them over other regulations under the order. Broadly speaking, I would not
expect them to be much later than the registration of PCDs, but cannot be
more specific at the moment.
Q.There are currently restrictions on training in extended duties for
hygienists and therapists, which can only be provided in Dental Schools and
hospitals or postgraduate centres and should be provided by:
a) suitably trained dental hygiene or dental therapy tutors
b) dentally qualified tutors with experience of teaching dental hygiene or
dental therapy students
c) registered dentists with experience of teaching these duties to dental
undergraduate or postgraduate students'.
Can you clarify whether restrictions may apply after the new regulations
e.g.might it be the case that ethical guidance will require PCDs
training/studies in areas that are extensions to the curriculum to be
provided by/sourced through those qualified to tutor in the specific field,
or will such requirements be repealed, thereby leaving the judgement of
appropriateness of studies to the PCD and referring dentist.
A. I think the GDC will issue some broad guidelines about the limits of
extending training (e.g. a nurse cannot be taught to use a drill), but there
will be quite a bit of flexibility within those guidelines.