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Written question asked by Sarah Russell (Labour) on Friday, 10 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 April 2026 (named day). It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Monday, 20 April 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Dentistry: Complaints

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the General Dental Council on reducing the waiting time for fitness to practice cases to be heard.

Answer

The Department has regular discussions with the General Dental Council (GDC) on regulatory matters. While the GDC is an independent regulator responsible for managing its fitness to practise processes, the Government expects the GDC to take steps to improve the efficiency and timeliness of case handling.

The GDC recently published its strategy, Trusted and effective: A strategy for dental regulation 2026-2028, which sets out its vision and objectives, and the work it will do to achieve them. One of those objectives is to improve fitness to practise, maximising patient safety and reducing unintended impacts. The published strategy is available at the following link:

https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/about-us/corporate-strategy-2025/gdc_strategy_2026_2028_final.pdf?sfvrsn=3ec0b80f_1

In parallel, the Department is progressing wider, longer-term reforms to the regulatory frameworks of the healthcare professional regulators. These will enable them to be more responsive to changes in the health and care workforce and give them the flexibility to modernise their fitness to practise processes whilst maintaining public protection.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
125995
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Complaints Administrative delays Dentistry General Dental Council
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk