HCLP Flashcards
what are the 5 main issues with the GDC
- fear
- relationships with other bodies
- annual retention fee
- skill mix
- lengthy FTP processes
what has been the main driver of fear of the GDC within the dental community over the past 10 years
fitness to practice cases and how they are prosecuted
who is the overarching body of the GDC
professional standards authority
why has the annual retention fee being a problem with the GDC over the past 10 years
it was massively increased
why is skill mix an issue within the GDC
- regulates all of dentistry
- FTP hearings have a mixture of professionals
how long can a fitness to practice hearing last
up to 18 months
what happened in 2015 which was significant for the GDC
parliament UK GDC aaccountability hearing
how do you find out if there has been a complaint made to the GDC about you
letter from GDC caseworker
what should be the first thing you do when receiving a fitness to practice complaint
contact indemnity
what should you never do before contacting indemnity when facing fitness to practice with the GDC?
email caseworker back or give any information
why do hospital workers have to have private indemnity as well as their NHS indemnity?
doesnt cover GDC FTP hearings
what does hospital worker NHS indemnity cover
claims for compensation only
what is “initial triage” in terms of GDC Fitness to practice?
when a pt complains straight to the GDC they will throw it out and send it back to the dentist first to try and sort as “initial triage”
how many case examiners does a fitness to practice case have
2
who is the fitness to practice case initially considered by?
case examiners
who makes up the case examiners on a fitness to practice hearing?
- one registrant
- one lay person
if the complaint to the GDC for fitness to practice is against a dentist, then who will be the registrant case examiner?
a dentist
what is a fitness to practice case considered on initially
the papers alone
does the dentist or complainant attend the initial consideration of fitness to practice by case examiners?
no, neither
what possible outcomes can the case examiners come back with
- take no action
- letter of advice
- agree undertakings
- published warning
- send forward to practice committee
what must happen for the case examiners to come to a conclusive decision
they must agree on the same action
what if the case examiners cannot agree on the same outcome in a FTP hearing?
referred for full investigating committee
what does “take no action” mean in a FTP hearing
complaint is thrown out completely
what does “letter of advice mean” in a FTP hearing
letter advising dentist eg please improve your record keeping
what must you do if the case examiners agree to assign undertakings further to a FTP meeting?
must go through defence union
give an example of “agreed undertakings” post FTP hearing?
Tx specific restrictions, various courses until can carry out that Tx again
where is the “published warning” shown further to a FTP hearing
GDC website
what is significant about getting a published warning further to FTP hearing
stays on FTP hisotry like a police record
why would the case examiners send the complaint forward to a practice committee
to escalate further
when would a registrant by referred to the interim orders committee
if there are conditions or suspension
how long can restrictions be imposed by the interim order committee for
18 months
what are the three types of practice committees
- professional conduct committee
- professional performance committee
- health committee
when would the health committee be involved with a dentists FTP hearing
if issue is relating to a health issue eg BBV, addiction, suicide etc
how does the professional conduct committee determine whether the dentist is fit to practice
2 stage test
who makes up the panel of professional conduct committee
panel of 3 or 5 people - always odd no so that definite outcome
what is the 2 stage process used by the professional standards committee
- do the proven facts amount to misconduct
- is the FTP CURRENTLY impaired
name the different findings and sanctions that can be determined by the practice committees during FTP hearing
- no misconduct found
- no case to answer
- no impairment
- reprimand
- conditions on registration
- suspension from register
- erasure from register
when would ‘no case to answer’ be determined by the practice committees
- complaint is ridiculous
- GDC makes a mess of the case
what does ‘no impairment’ mean when determined by the practice committees
there has been misconduct but the registrant has remediated and theres now no impairment
what is significant about getting a reprimand from the practice committees
stays on fitness to practice record
how long can conditions on registration set by the GDC practice committees be?
up to 3 years
how long can someones be suspended from the register from the practice committees for - and what happens at the end of this time
12 months - reviewed and then extended or removed
what must you do if under conditions or suspension by the GDC practice committees
demonstrate
- continued personal development plan
- appropriate CPD
how long can someone be erased from the register for
5 years
how long does a registrant have to appeal any decision of the GDC
28 days
what are you compared against whenever you go to the GDC
GDC standards
what does the ‘real prospect test’ need to be proven against
the balance of probabilities
what is the real prospect test
- can the facts be proven
- do any facts being proven amount to current impairment
what is current impairment judged against for FTP
what remediation has been made since the charges came about
what does the GDC focus on during FTP hearings
CURRENT FTP
what does the GDC take into account during FTP hearings in order to judge impairment
past and current circumstances
what are the 3 factors the GDC take into account to decide whether fitness to practice is impaired
is it:
- easily remediable
- has been remedied
- highly unlikely to be repeated
what can actions since charges to the GDC came about do in terms of outcome of the hearing
minimise whatever you get
how can you show the GDC insight during a FTP hearing
- admission of deficiencies
- reflective learning
name 5 things you can do to show the GDC remediation during a FTP hearing
- proof of CPD
- audit of whats been done
- awareness of guidelines
- peer review and mentor
- PDP/ reflective log
what other issues and non-clinical issues might the GDC consider
- criminal charges
- illegal practice
- dishonesty
- operating out-with scope
- professional disputes
- behaviour on social media
what should you do if a pt contacts you over social media
- explain its not appropriate and direct them to professional profile
what should social media never be used for in dentistry
- discuss individual pts or their care to them or anyone else
when should you refer a pt
- dont know what to do
- something very worrying
- you mess something up
- second opinion
- guideline advice
how can a pt be referred
- standard form
- letter
- phone
- secure email
when would a pt be referred by phone-call
an urgent case
where does suspected cancer get referred in tayside
maxfax
what happens if you refer to the wrong place
delays management
what must you get before you copy in any other health professionals to a referral letter eg GMP
permission from pt
what should you do if there are complex treatment plans or options for a pt
write to them with all the details
when would you write to a pt
- if part of consent process
- complex Tx options
- they wont take your advice
- Oral health advice
what type of indemnity do defence unions make up
discretionary
what is the newer type of indemnity
insurance based
what type of indemnity is provided in NHS hospitals
crown indemnity
why is scotlands indemnity cheaper than england
less claims for compensation
what might indemnity cost vary with individually
- amount of claims
- what Tx you do
do you have to have indemnity, why?
GDC requirement
what type of indemnity covers what has been done in the past - before joining a new provider?
run-off cover
what is the most important thing that indemnity can help with
GDC FTP
what should you disclose accurately to your indemnity provider
- scope of practice
- hours of work
- where you work
- correct grade of indemnity
what else can indemnity help with
- complaints
- claim for compensation
- FTP
- ethical issues
- raising concerns
- child protection
- ombudsman complaints
- professional disputes
- reputation damage
- employment law advice
how long is the CPD cycle
5 years
what happens in you miss the annual CPD reporting deadline
your CPD doesnt count
what is cGDC?
mandatory reflection
what should you use for your reflection and CPD
SMART goals
what does SMART goals stand for
- specific
- measurable
- achievable
- realistic
- time based
how many hours or BLS are recommended within what time frame
10 hours in 2 years
what does all CPD have to link into?
GDC development outcomes
why are appraisals done
- positive feedback
- identify areas for improvement
- identify barriers
why are appraisals done in dentistry
- maintains public, employer and self confidence
who are appraisals in the NHS essential for?
PDS and hospital staff
who HAS to do appraisals working for the NHS?
- PDS
- hospital staff
who does appraisals in practice?
all staff
when should an appraisal be done
annually
who usually organises appraisals in practice
practice owner/manager
what happens in an appraisal?
evidence is gathered by staff and send to the appraiser
what must you stick to for appraisals to be successful
deadlines
name a quality improvement activity
audit
what happens if you miss appraisal deadlines
you can be in regulatory trouble
