Healthcare Law & Professionalism

Question 1

How would you first know you have had a complaint from the GDC and what action would you take?

Answer 1

You will get a letter from a GDC caseworker advising there is a fitness to practice. Do not respond to this and contact your indemnity.

Question 2

How many case examiners are assigned to a complaint and what kind of examiners are these?

Answer 2

2 examiners per complaint - 1 non registrant and 1 registrant e.g dentist

Question 3

What are the possible actions that case examiners can do in response to a complaint?

Answer 3

1. Take no action
2. Send a letter of advice
3. Agree undertakings
4. Issue a published warning, posted on GDC register on website
5. Send forward to practice committee

Question 4

What is the interim orders commitee? (IOC)

Answer 4

A commitee running separate to the GDC where a registrant can be referred to if they’ve had a GDC complaint. They cannot erase you however they can give suspensions of up to 18 months if public interest is of concern.

Question 5

Name 3 practice committees.

Answer 5

1. Professional conduct committee
2. Professional performance committee
3. Health committee

Question 6

What test do the “Professional performance commitee” use to conclude there is impaired fitness to practice.

Answer 6

Two stage test:
1. Do the proven facts amount to misconduct?
2. Is the registrant’s fitness to practice currently impaired?

Question 7

Name findings and sanctions that can apply after a GDC complaint.

Answer 7

• No misconduct found
• No case to answer
• No impairment
• Reprimand
• Conditions for up to 3 years
• Suspension from register of up to 12 months
• Erasure (cannot apply for restoration for 5 years)

Question 8

How many days must you appeal within after GDC decision.

Answer 8

28 days

Question 9

In what type of cases is misconduct often found in

Answer 9

Periodontal cases

Question 10

If you can show that the current fitness to practice is; easily remediable, has been remedied and highly unlikely to be repeated then the registrants outcome could be less severe. True or false?

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Give a definition of insight

Answer 11

Insight: the capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of something.​

Question 12

Give a definition of remediation

Answer 12

Remediation: The act or process of remedying something that is undesirable or deficient.​

Question 13

Give examples of how a registrant can show insight to the GDC

Answer 13

• Admission of deficiencies
• Reflective learning

Question 14

Give examples of how a registrant can show remediation to the GDC

Answer 14

• Proof of CPD
• Audit
• Awareness of guidelines
• Peer review & mentor
• PDP/ reflective log improvements in records

Question 15

Give examples of non-clinical and other issues considered by the GDC.

Answer 15

1. Criminal charges
2. Illegal practice
3. Dishonesty
4. Operating out with scope
5. Professional disputes
6. Behaviour on social media

Question 15

Give examples of non-clinical and other issues considered by the GDC.

Answer 15

1. Criminal charges
2. Illegal practice
3. Dishonesty
4. Operating without of scope
5. Professional disputes
6. Behaviour on social media

Question 16

Give examples of different ways you can refer a patient

Answer 16

• Electronically by standard form
• Letter
• Phone
• Secured emails
• Combination (phoning you don’t have evidence therefore follow up with email/letter)
• Dialling 999

Question 17

Give examples for when you would provide an urgent referral

Answer 17

1. Cancer is suspected
2. Potentially airway threatening swelling
3. Life-threatening sepsis
4. Medical emergency in surgery
5. Major child/ adult protection issue
6. Suicide risk

Question 18

You should find out about local referral pathways & criteria at your practice. Give examples of who you can refer to when referring a patient.

Answer 18

• Dental Hospital
• District general hospital
• Another GDP
• Private dental specialist
• General Medical Practitioner
• Other health professional
• Medical specialist (cardiology or haematology)

Question 19

Name key features of a referral letter, what kind of information is essential to include?

Answer 19

1. Contact details of patient
2. State whether you are looking for advice or treatment?
3. State priority - routine or urgent?
4. Compact summary of major issues & history
5. RELEVANT social/medical history
6. Any other concerns you may have
7. Relevant enclosures (Radiographs etc)
8. Copying others in e.g GP

Question 20

Describe when it would be useful to write to a patient using plain language rather than just verbally at their appointments.

Answer 20

• Useful for complex options
• When they wont take your advice
• Good for giving oral health advice
• Good part of the consent process (costs, risks etc)

Question 21

Name different types of indemnity providers

Answer 21

1. Discretionary (MDDUS, DPL, DDU)
2. Insurance based (BDA, TDS)
3. Crown indemnity (NHS hospitals)
4. Corporate schemes (Oasis)

Question 22

When changing indemnity, you must get indemnity which not only covers you for the treatment you are going to carry out but also the treatment you have carried out in the past. True or false?

Answer 22

True

Question 23

In what situations would you contact indemnity for support?

Answer 23

• Complaints
• Claims for compensation
• Ethical issues
• Raising concerns
• Child protection issues
• CQC, NHS, Ombudsman
• Some professional disputes
• Reputational damage
• Employment Law advice (if owning a practice)
• GDC fitness to practice

Question 24

What kind of information do you need to disclose to the indemnity provider to ensure you are fully covered for your treatment.

Answer 24

Where you work The hours you work Your scope of practice Your grade: e.g implants have an additional cost

Question 25

What must a CPD certificate have to ensure this is valid to count towards your CPD hours?

Answer 25

Must have a development outcome e.g Outcome A,B,C or D.

Question 26

What kind of information should you be writing down when filling out a personal development plan (PDP)?

Answer 26

1. What skills or knowledge have you identified that need developing? 2. Why have you identified this? 3. What GDC outcome does this come under: A,B,C,D? 4. What activities you can do to develop this? 5. What are your target dates for review and completion?

Question 27

What is the purpose of appraisals?

Answer 27

Used for motivation, it highlights positive feedback as well as areas to improve. It gives the opportunity to create a PDP.

Question 28

Why is appraisals important in healthcare

Answer 28

Its essential to maintain the public, employer, self and other healthcare workers confidence in the safety & effectiveness of the dental profession

Question 29

Appraisals are a contractual obligation for all dental staff employed in PDS and hospital dental services however they are also expected to be used in dental practices. True or false?

Answer 29

True

Question 30

Who should get appraisals in a dental practice and how often should these be carried out?

Answer 30

Who: All staff e.g dentists, therapists, nurses, receptionists, practice manager etc When: Annually

Question 31

Who should carry out appraisals in the dental practice?

Answer 31

Varies but usually practice owners/managers.

Question 32

What sort of evidence should you bring or discuss at an appraisal?

Answer 32

- Complaints/compliments - PDP - Job role - Additional roles - Probity - Health - Significant event analysis (SEA) - Quality improvement activities e.g audit.

Question 33

What do the abbreviations HIS and CQC stand for and what are their roles?

Answer 33

HIS : Health Improvement Scotland (Scotland) CQC: Care Quality Commission (England) Role: Healthcare body that does practice inspections, sets standards

Question 34

What do the abbreviations NES and COPDEND stand for and what are their roles?

Answer 34

NES: National Education Scotland COPDEND: Confederation of post graduate deanery. Role: Responsible for training e.g VT training

Question 35

What do the abbreviations NHSBSA and NHSNSS stand for and what are their roles?

Answer 35

NHSBSA: National Health Service Business Service Authority NHSNSS: National Health Service National Services Scotland Role: Pay NHS primary dental care dentists (associates).

Question 36

What do the abbreviations SPPA and BDA stand for and what are their roles?

Answer 36

SPPA: Scottish Public Pensions Agency BDA: British Dental Association Role: Trades union

Question 37

What do the abbreviations SDR and UDA stand for and what are their roles?

Answer 37

SDR: Statement dental remuneration UDA: Units of dental activity Role: Item of service, paid for what you do in Scotland however banded in England.

Question 38

What do the abbreviations NICE and SDCEP stand for and what are their roles?

Answer 38

NICE: National Institute Care Excellence SDCEP: Scottish dental clinical effectiveness programmes Role: Develop guidelines

Question 39

What do the abbreviations TPD and ES stand for and what are their roles?

Answer 39

TPD: Training Programme Director ES: Educational Supervisor Role: ES- VT trainer TPD- overlooks VT trainers

Question 40

Give examples of local authorities that would be useful to know that are near the practice you work in.

Answer 40

- Practice specialists in your area - Safeguarding- child/adult - Cardiologist - Local interpretors - Doctors - INR clinic/Haematology - Pharmacy - Mental Health organisation etc