No one likes the thought of being a victim of dental negligence, however, substandard levels of treatment can result in life-long consequences, and whilst your first port of call should be a dental negligence solicitor, you may also wish to raise a complaint with the General Dental Council.
Whilst most dentist carry out treatment to a high level, unfortunately, there are occasions where a dentist may fail to meet the strict standards that they must adhere to and a patient may become a victim of dental negligence.
In this blog post, we discuss the role of the General Dental Council (GDC), who they are, what role they play and we will also highlight some of the causes of dental negligence that may result in a patient seeking compensation, and also raising a complaint with the GDC.
What is the General Dental Council (GDC)?
The General Dental Council is the recognised body that is responsible for regulating dental professionals in the UK.
According to their website, the GDC “look into serious concerns about the ability, health or behaviour of a dental professional that suggest the professional could cause significant harm to patients, colleagues or the general public, or undermine public confidence in the dental profession.”
Whilst behaviour can include substandard dental treatment, the GDC also look into accusations of fraud, malpractice, discrimination and criminal offences.
Who can make a complaint to the General Dental Council (GDC)?
Anybody can make a complaint to the GDC if they believe they have been a victim of dental negligence or believe their dental professional has been committing a criminal offence.
The General Dental Council also accept complaints from patients who have received substandard care, whether that is in the private or public sector.
How does a complaint with the General Dental Council work?
If you are unhappy with the treatment you have received from a dental professional you should always ensure your health and wellbeing is the priority, this may mean seeking treatment from another dental professional first. However, once you have done this you should consult a solicitor that is a specialist in the area of dental negligence as soon as possible.
Dental negligence is a highly specialised area of law. Ensuring you have an expert in their field, such as our team here at Thorneycroft Solicitors is essential in order to safeguard your interests and ensure no stone relating to your case is left unturned.
However, should you make a complaint to the GDC, the complaints procedure will see the General Dental Council work alongside 28 other organisation from across the dental sector.
Both the GDC and their fellow organisations have developed a set of universal principles including six core principles for handling complaints.
These six core principles according to the General Dental Council are:
- All of your feedback is important to us.
- Make it easy for you to raise a concern or complain, if you need to.
- Follow a complaints procedure and keep you informed.
- Try to answer all your questions and any concerns you raise.
- Try to ensure you have a positive experience of making a complaint.
- Your feedback helps them to improve their service.
What do I need to do to make a complaint to the General Dental Council?
There is key information that you will need to have available when you are raising a complaint with the General Dental Council.
Firstly, you will need to provide your own contact details along with the contact details for the dental professional, practice or company that you wish to complain about.
You will also need to be able to accurately describe what happened, when it happened, and what steps you have taken so far.
You can learn more about the complaints procedure by clicking here.
Dental negligence solicitors
If you have believe you have been a victim of dental negligence, our team of specialist dental negligence solicitors are here to support you.
Our team have a wealth of experience in handling all types of dental negligence cases and will do all they can to secure the compensation you deserve.
We offer a free initial consultation, where we will discuss your case, assess the damage caused by the dental professional and ascertain what steps you should take next.
To arrange your free initial consultation, please call our dental negligence team today for free on 0800 1979 345 or complete our online enquiry form and we will contact you at a time that is more suitable for you.
