BDA Indemnity and Dental Protection have both welcomed the GDC's decision to no longer publish determinations made by the Interim Orders Committee (IOC) prior to a review or hearing.

The move follows the case of a dentist who died by suicide while under investigation, prompting questions from the Coroner about the way the GDC publicly displays information before allegations have been determined one way or another. The Coroner directed the GDC to take action to prevent future tragedies, resulting in the regulator reviewing its IOC policy.

Head of BDA Indemnity, Dr Len D'Cruz, said: ‘BDA Indemnity raised the issue of the publication process of the GDC's Interim Orders (IOC) determinations over two years ago setting out in detail from leading Counsel why a change should be made. Other regulators like the General Medical Council (GMC) had already adopted this policy.

‘We therefore welcome the GDC's long overdue recognition of the damage caused to dental registrants by their former policy to publish determinations of the Interim Orders Committee (IOC) based on a risk assessment before any proper investigation of the allegations had been made which only comes subsequently from a substantive hearing. Together with other indemnity providers, the BDA has been vigorous in lobbying for a change to the GDC policy which has generated unnecessary levels of stress and reputational harm for those being investigated and others in close association with them like practice staff and family - a process that could in itself be less stressful if it did not take so long.

‘This step is a welcome one but since the default position for the GDC is to hold all hearings in public the risk remains that any interested parties including journalist can attend the IOC hearing and have no restrictions placed on them reporting the details, evidence and outcome online or in print. The GDC needs to consider what further steps are appropriate to protect registrants through these regulatory processes.'

Commenting, Dr George Wright, Deputy Director at Dental Protection, said: ‘This is a positive development and strikes the right balance between protecting the public, and ensuring the negative effects on dental professionals' wellbeing and reputation are reduced while matters are under consideration.

‘This, along with some other recent steps the GDC has taken to ensure communications to those facing an investigation are more compassionate, and close simple cases more swiftly, are welcome. There is however still more to be done to reduce the number of dental professionals needlessly dragged through the fitness to practise process, and resolve all cases more quickly.

‘The GDC also recently confirmed that it is working to build a framework to report the causes of death of dental professionals where there is an active Fitness to Practise case, guided by an evidence review and engaging with experts including the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group. A report covering the period 2019-2022, is due to be published in 2024.

‘This report is long overdue, and it is important that the GDC keeps to this commitment. When it is eventually published, it will likely make for difficult reading, but it will provide some much-needed transparency and will expose the full extent of this issue.'