Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
1. 1) We said we would provide a clear account of our resource needs for 2015, do you agree we have?
100%
90%
80%
66.4%
70%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
33.6%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1
1
2
Name
Yes
No
N
2
Name
Yes
No
Percent
33.6%
66.4%
4408
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
2. 2) Is there any other information that you think would be useful?
TEST RESPONSE
TEST RESPONSE
Any sectors of dentistry where most complaints occur?
Not all registrants work in a clinical settings, and some work part-time. This should be reflected in the ARF. Those working in academia with no
clinical commitments are less likely to be sued. Thosw working part-time to maiantain their skills and knowledge should not be paying the full
ARF.
Therefore, a breakdown of registrants would be helpful.
Clearer indication of % cause of increased hearings. Ie private, cosmetic, overseas practitioner
Why our fee is MUCH higher than other similar groups
What do you do to regulate the quality and standards of the registrants BEFORE you add them to the register. Maybe you would save money by
reviewing who you admit to the register rather than adding people and spending millions regulating their activities
full detailed accounts:
As you no longer represent the profession and have scant regard for dentists and our DCP colleagues being professional, no longer have the
support of the profession. Hence GDC should be a government funded body.
An explanation of how and why you let a patient go straight to the GDC without going via an in house complaint procedure, and the GDC start an
investigatory process, please tell me how this as is efficient of time and money.
An increase of 64 percent is rather shocking!!
Can the dental profession have a lift in their private fees of 64 percent due to the lack of legal support towards practitioners and the constant risk
of being prosecuted.
What can a dental professional do to get reimbursement for false claims?
Number of complaints against dentists v DCPs
yes- IF THE arf IS TO BE SO SIGNIFICANTLY RAISED THEN THE ABILITY TO PAY IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL- WHY CAN
WE NOT PAY BY MONTHLY DIRECT DEBIT?
Yes- what the complaints procedure actually achieves.
In my experience it is inefficient, heavily biased in favour of the patient and not good value for money. It actually assists in encouraging often
frivolous complaints by patients who are getting to know that dentists will almost always be advised to settle, however weak the case. This is why
complaints are increasing.
What about protecting the dentists?
Who in terms of types of dentists are the costs associated with? Is private work more likely to result in GDC complaint? Are trainees a group of
concern?
I strongly feel that junior dentists and trainees should be charged less, as their income is far less, and I think it likely that there are fewer
complaints about them. They effectively pay MORE than high earning dentists due to the reduced tax break they receive. This is not fair.
Why we have to pay more than general nurses and why dental nurse fee is the same as hygienist and therapist when there is such a large
difference in salaries
It would be useful to show the amount of claims made against dentists in England and Wales compared to Scotland, as I believe one of the
reasons for the raise in the number of complaints is the UDA system that exists in England and Wales. It is unfair to charge dentists in Scotland a
higher fee if the claims from patients in this region have remained more or less the same over the years.
How you plan to collect it. Being that amount of money it surely has to be collected monthly. It would be absurd to think you can collect £945 in
one go, that is nearly half my month's salary and it is at Christmas time.
Yes- the GDCs role is in protecting the public and regulating the dental team.
With running costs rising year on year within dental practices, lack of NHS contract uplifts and CQC fees- how can the GDC justify a 64% increase in
dentist ARF fees. Surely if the public are to benefit from a regulated dental team, then the increased costs should be recovered from the NHSpossibly through increased patient charge revenue. We employ some 9 dental associates and some 20 DCPs and not a single member of staff feels
their increased ARF is justified. We feel we are funding an evermore expensive system that ultimately is for the sole benefit of the public, and of
very little direct benefit to the profession.
I completely agree that investigations have to be made into allegations of malpractice- and there are costs associated with this- but there must be
a way of funding this system from other sources. I also feel such a large jump in dentist ARF fees may result in more dentists practising illegally to
avoid such high GDC fees.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I have always wondered as a registrant why the ARF for a hygienist or therapist is the same as a nurse. Perhaps by putting up their ARF the
amount the dentists would have to pay wouldn't need to be raised by so much. Hygienists and Therapists treat patients too and earn up to three
times an hour more than nurses in some practices.
I would like to comment that it seems very unfare that the majority of dentists are being asked to accept such a high increase in ARF ( 64% rise) to
pay for the minority who have to go through disciplinary proceedings. We are essentially paying for those who do not perform to appropriate
standards. I do not accept that my fee should be raised by 64%. I feel this is totally unacceptable.
A consultation on reduced fees for semi retired / part time dentists, such a huge increase in the ARF with no regard to circumstances is very hard
to accept. If there is such an increase in complaints and yet loading the fee for those found guilty would raise an insignificant amount, there must
be a mass of unfounded complaints that waste resources, surely this problem should be addressed.
DCPs salaried service salary is over 50% of the dentist salary, why is the DCP ARF so low?
Expected drop in claims following cessation of "No win, no fee" claims by lawyers.
Details of council members' level of remuneration.
Details of reserves.
I am appalled that you expect us to pay nearly £1000 in December and there are no options to pay monthly! This is usually a very expensive time
of year, and consider the fact also that there is only a 6% increase for the DCP's, and that for the same thing in Australia you pay $560 (£300).
Need to address the burden of complaints caused by foreign dentists
According to your fees each member of the panel receives £3800 for a four day hearing. This is excessive. Your £8000 for venue cost is ridiculous
for a 4 day hearing. There is no information on the staff cost of £14000 for a four day hearing
Breakdown of salaries of employees of GDC
I think it would be useful to actually know the spending on legal costs instead of just saying the additional funding you need. Also looking at your
facts and figures it is worrying the simple maths that can be inferred. As of June 2014 you have 39447 dentists on the register. If they paid the
proposed ARF it would mean a income of £37.27 million. Now, I understand there are costs to run the business which you do not disclose but if
you are only passing the cost to us then, under your predictions of 4000 complains in 2015 it means you have operational costs (including legal
fees) of over £9 million per complaint. This sounds at least inefficient and instead of taxing the dentists more maybe it is time to fully address the
council problems. I understand I may be oversimplifying the issues but this is your opportunity to be transparent regarding your real costs. 68%
increase is, frankly,unacceptable.
Why is it that those dentists who have claims raised and use the service are not paying more of an increase. 64% rise in ARF is madness but as
dentists we have no choice but to pay it or find an alternative career.
The increase in fee is not justified. Patients who are unsuccessful or make malicious complaints should bear part of the cost. Central government
should also bear part of the cost as they underfund the NHS dental service leading to greater stress for dentists and unrealistic expectations from
patients.
The dentist remuneration has not increased for several years and therefore the GDC should not expect them to be able to fund the increase.
Type of complaint, where the money is being spent, which type of registrant is most costly.
I still think that the ARF should be related to 'risk'. I think this should approached like car insurance. Look at age range - older dentists may be
more of a risk as could younger dentists. The range of services the dentist offers (we pay more indemnity for implants). Also, if the dentist has
'sinned' they should pay more. I work in general practice and I see the rubbish work and service provided by some practices and do not feel I
should have to pay more of a fee so that the GDC can take action against these people. Not fare - I am ethical and treat my patients correctly.
How many fitness to practise cases are there because of poor/lack of management by NHS employers for salaried dentists and hospital dentists? I
understand that in many cases, instead of investigating themselves, NHS Trusts are referring to the GDC immediately. I would imagine many of
the so-called fitness to practise cases could be dealt with by proper and sympathethic management instead of the need to send them to the GDC.
I am shocked at the increase. Payment should be on a tiered on a risk system. This has been very poorly thought out, perhaps one of the
measures that could adopted could be dentists who haven't done vocational training following GDC registration after a set date should be
charged more
I am absolutely disgusted at the 67 % increase. This should have been staggered since 2010 and should have anticipated this prior if you had got a
clear business directive!!
Due to the level of increase, I really do believe that for 2015 ARF the fees shoold be divided to pay half yearly.
Also why the heck are we supporting the complaints funds when we are being complained against? we are paying for every tom dick and harry to
complain AND the GDC ACTIVELY encourage it...its a joke.....
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Info relating to the following:
If an individual is found guilty of FTP why can't the cost be re-couperated from the individuals indemnity insurance or personally if they don't hold
it.
Those that remain within professional practice laws and guidelines should not be financially penalised because of those who do not via GDC
registration cost increases.
Yes.
Who is up for fitness to practice - is it a specific type of dentist eg implant specialist, private practice.
For a part time teacher it would no longer make sense to work
Perhaps fees like MDU, based on risk
As a phd student, working for a university and training tomorrow's dentists, all whilst completing post-ccst training in Paediatric Dentistry I can
categorically say that I could not afford the suggested raised ARF. It is hard enough to cover the costs as it is - particularly with an MPaed Dent ARF
to maintain and annual MFDS and MPaed Dent maintenance fees to two Royal Colleges too.
I am actively striving to better my skills, complete endless CPD and provide high quality care to a very needful child population on a relatively
meagre salary. I love my work and am not concerned that my colleagues in practice earn 3-4 times my salary whilst working fewer days - that is no
concern to me at all. But I refuse to believe that university and hospital employed dentists (in particular trainees) cost the GDC the same as those
GDPs. Hence the difference recognised by indemnity companies.
Salary aside - it costs me far more to strive to be a Paediatric Dentist and to care for the oral health and the unmet needs of the UK's child
population, purely within the NHS, than it would for me to forget about improving my skills and ignore those children whilst I produce aesthetic
dental care privately. It is simply not fair.
NO
Why people who put themselves forward to be on panels should be paid. They've volunteered for it. Maybe look into how much they are being
paid
Why is there nowhere to leave further comments?
To raise the fee by 67% in one year is rather harsh considering the further reduction in our real world pay.
At the very least we should be able to pay in monthly installments like virtually every other bills.
The break down of who the complaints are against. e.g. 90% Dentist, 10% DCP to justify the difference in ARF increases.
More detail on the claims being investigated by the fitness to practice committee.eg
What % of claims are against dentists as opposed to dcp's
What % of each group does that represent as a total of the number in each group.
What are the age breakdowns in each group
What number of claims relate to work of a specific nature eg impant related or related to cosmetic dental treatment
What is the breakdown of claims by region eg scotland vs England
What is the ethnicity of the persons being claimed against as a% in each group
Has consideration been given to having different levels of ARF for registrants doing different kinds of work eg a higher ARF for dentists carrying
out implant work
A "no claim bonus system" for dentists who have paid the ARF continuously for a number of years and not been the subject of fitness to practice
hearings
Consideration to having different levels of ARF for registrants working in different geographical areas of the country eg lower rates for people
working in Scotland vs England.
Making registrants pay towards the costs of investigations where they have been found guilty of serious professional misconduct.
How much is government funded
More detailed description of future cost saving measures
In my view more cases could be dealt with by the DCS rather than FTP panels
Why the dentists are hit so hard and the DCPs less so. Everyone should have an equal % increase.
Move your offices away from London to reduce your expenses. I'm sure most dentist are paying for the dcp's who are employed by them so this is
a double whammy for the dentists to pay.
I read you hearings online and Im shocked at some of the trival things that are brought to hearing. I feel the GDC needs to sort of better guidelines
like record keeping and educate care professionals more as to what is expected so less hearings will be needed. Often the guidelines seem vague
and open to a range of interpretation. The GDC doesn't seem to support dentists and promote dentistry it only acts to punish and penalise. How
does this promote public confidence?
Why do you not work at reducing fitness to practice hearings. I am sure many could be less formal and delt with in a different manner.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Is there any indication that, in varying the level of the annual fee that the timing of collection could change?
I still do not understand how you can justify charging the same for hygienists & dental nurses.
I think it is grossly unfair that the majority should be made to pay for the minority who attract complaints.surely if they have a complaint upheld
they should be liable for all costs incurred.I only work 24 hours a week in general practice and cannot afford this hike in fees,especially as it is due
at christmas and I am a working mum with three children. It doesn't help that I am not allowed to pay this monthly.
Why is there not a sliding scale for fees like there is for fees to Dental Protection. Why should I as a practitioner who is retired from practice but
mentors dentists for exams pay the same as someone who treats patients full time. I do not come into contact with any patient so can cause no
harm.
Astronomical increase in fees. Further must be done to reduce this, such an increase is ridiculous.
Our nhs contracts have had no significant uplift for the last few years despite our costs going up, so we gave in effect had a pay cut. To increase
our arf by 64% is extremely unfair as it is going to hit us again especially as the government has levied a huge increase in our superannuation bas
well. I feel we are being unfairly squeezed from all corners!
an explanation as to why you don't recover costs of hearings from dentists/dcps found guilty don't punish the innocent majority, especially those
working part time for whom nearly £1000 is a significant portion of income. I am disgusted by this potential ARF rise
How much additional income does the GDC earn through fines and disciplinary hearing fees/charges?
I do not feel dental professionals should be paying gdc fees at all as it does not protect them. The increase of claims are due to unillateral patients
decisions to contact gdc directly with a large number of unnecessary claims which are frequently because most patients do not understand
medical condition in spite of dental professional trying to educate people. Having CQC and NHS England controlling whole practices including staff
I feel GDC is just a spare body that should be ceased.
Please give details to public how much you spend on staff income in details, benefits, what number of staff work for GDC nowadays etc.
This is unacceptable rise for new graduates. The fee is not affordable to those who have recently qualified, with increasing debt and a pay cut for
DF1. If this fee were to be charged, a single annual payment would be unacceptable and a monthly direct debit option should be offered.
Running costs and current value of the GDC's Wimpole Street premises.
The argument for the necessity of maintaining a central London address is becoming increasingly weak. Significant cost savings could me made
year-on-year by relocating operations to a less expensive part of the UK.
In addition, the remuneration rate for legal fees and costs associated with hearings is grossly excessive; the Ministry of Justice has achieved
significant savings, there is no reason why the GDC couldn't do the same.
The GDC needs to make deep cuts in its core spending, not superficial savings combined with shooting fish in a barrel.
identify specific groups of clinicians who appear to be missing the GDC/professional standards. For example those trained outside of the UK vs
those trained internally. In other words consider stratification of the fee scale based upon risk group.
Individuals under investigation, who after investigation, are considered to be failing with regard thier Fitness to Practise, are responcible for thier
actions/inactions.
In these instances it is not unreasonable that they should be held responcible for the resulting costs. How much are the GDC presently
recovering?
Less bureaucracy and protect more.
If the ARF is to increase 64% I feel no extra fee should be payable for specialist list entry
68% increase is just plain crazy. crazy.
Yes staffing levels and costs associated
whether certain individuals are high risk
.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Perhaps how you can justify nearly doubling the dentists ARF when economic times are hard and dentist have seen hardly any up lift in their NHS
fees!
Having had a minor case put before the GDC by a disgruntaled patient I found the whole thing to be bureacratic, petty, puniative and a total waste
of funds. It has also turned into a witch hunt in which you "look for problems" rather than addressing what the complainant is actually
complaining about! Minor cases should be handled locally by mentors, not in London, to help correct behaviour rather than punish minor
discrepancies eg note writing, safety googles, taking BW at correct intervals. Also I would like to see my peers ie dentists in GDC rather than
expensive solicitors.
Also have you considered moving to offices outside of London which would reduce overheads.
I feel that the GDC has become a threat to all Dental professionals rather than protecting the public you are punishing the dental professional!
Also the way you have phrased this questionaire makes it hard for anyone to give you proper feedback!
Why have the number of complaints risen by so much. What extra savings could the GDC make before extorting money from registrants? Why
does it cost so much to process complaints?
As a part time Dental Nurse I don't see why I should be paying the same ARF as a full time therapist or lab technician who earn £20,000 - £30,000
pa more than me.
You have NOT explained how a 17% increase in costs equates to a 64% increase in fees! This is exceptionally unbalanced. Where exactly will this
huge amount of extra revenue go? Does the GDC ever consider the financial situation of it's members? Or are they just seen as an endless
financial reserve? How about actually consulting and LISTENING to your members views, considering and protecting their interests, and setting a
realistic ARF. When faced with such ludicrous increases in fees as this I am sure I am not alone in asking why the GDC is not able to levy it's fees
proportianely, bases on members income, or even fairly, by placing the financial burden on those that fall short of our professional standards. As
the current situation stands the cost of being fair and honest when dealing with our patients is becoming less and less affordable.
No
Since the GDC oversees the role / function of dental schools etc...what contribution do these institutions make ???
It seems grossly disproportional for individual dentists to fund the majority of the GDC activity
No
Absolutely not appropriate to raise the ARF for dentists
I think this is an extortionate amount for a young dentist to pay especially when the date has been set back to September to commence dft
training plus a decrease In salary. so overall I think this would be very unfair. However if this is what it takes to protect dentists to this extent then
so be it but i think that this is extremely disappointing and should only affect dentists who have been qualified longer,
although I am sure there is a better way. We must question why dentists are being targeted more now than ever by patients and perhaps that
would solve the underlying problem.
The costs have increased because of the increased proceedings related to Fitness to Practice (110% increase is what you said). So why don't the
dentists that fall short of the Standards pay for the expense of the proceedings, or if the patient was wrong to complain in the first place then it
should be the patient who pays for some or all of the cost of the proceedings. Why do all the dentists, who make an effort to work in line with the
standards have to pay for all those other dentists who are found not to be fit to practice and are costing the GDC all this extra money. I work only
part time and you are increasing my fee by 64%. It's shameful! You say that 67% of registrants are confident in the GDC as a regulator - but 67% is
not a very good percentage really. You shouldn't take that as good just because it is more than 50%. A good result would be if 90% of us thought
you were fulfilling your role!
People making the complaints, do they contribute anything?
Is there a discount for people who have never been complained about? No claims discount if you will.
68% increase is just plain crazy. crazy.
I am only able to work part time as I am a parent. Surely what you pay should be reduced if you are part time?
Why should some people bear the brunt of increase in costs of regulating those who are being complained about.
In any case, a 64% increase is way too much especially for salaried dentists whose income has not increased in the last 3 years despite inflation
catching up with them as well.
If the GDC is passing on their costs to these salaried dentists, who do the salaried dentists pass theirs to ?
Yes. I would like to know how many of the huge increase in GDC complaints are about dentists who trained in the UK, and whether this is being
audited. The standard of clinical dentistry that I have seen locally from dentists who did not qualify in the UK is often very poor.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I would like to know how many cases that are complained about are actually investigated formally in a specialist committee (i.e. Fitness to
practice) and how many of these complaints are not appropriate for the GDC. Also, what these form as proportions of the total number of
complaints.
I also think it is absolutely outrageous for the GDC to raise retention fees by 64% for dentists. This is such a massive financial burden at a time
when finances are tight (December). Yes, I agree that if the GDC are having to investigate more cases then perhaps an increase in the annual
retention fee is a way to improve funds, but to increase it by such a huge amount is irresponsible.
detailed amounts, payments, fees, how much comitee members were paid, the result of the complains' comittee
Why such a steep increase in fees is required, considering the GDC has been able to carry out its duties with the current ARF.
I fail to see how this increased amount of money is necessary. The GDC have a monopoly on registration, which is unfair. Why does the GMC
charge less for doctors than GDC for dentists? Why is there no facility to allow dentists to pay their fees monthly? Why is it not possible to gauge
payments according to earnings? Private dentists who make millions per year pay the same as myself & my colleagues in the salaried services, for
whom this amount of money is a large slice off their income. What about my part-time colleagues? I feel very strongly that this is a very unfair
move to almost double the registration fees for those who have had little to no pay rise this year, and are expected to foot the bill despite this. I
would like to see clear information about how much salaried dentist need to be 'regulated' as opposed to our higher earning colleagues.
No
details of the expenditure including what is the costing for each staff and whether they get a pay rise in these tough times when the dentists pay
has steadily declined
You do not give any details of the costs of being London based. Your efforts to cut costs seem to be paltry. A 64% increase is outrageous,
combined with indemnity insurance for those committed to the NHS or university teaching with no private involvement. How can we sustain
these increases? There will be no dentists left to work in the NHS if we are pushed out by losing months of income on these fees.
over priced over vindictive petty regulation
It would be useful to know why you are charging ONLY the dentist for the patient's complaints when clearly you are protecting the patient's and
not the dentists interests
It would also be useful to know why the GDC registration fee is not based on the number of complaints per dentists ? Why dentists that haven't
got a single complaint to the GDC will have to pay for the increase of GDC costs related to the increasing number of complaints ? By increasing
only the registration fee for the dentists and not charging the patients for every single complaint submitted you only encourage patients to
complaint straight to the GDC rather than try to resolve the problem locally !
P.S. Just FYI- I am completely disappointed with your approach to the regulations of this profession .
How much do you spend on employees and administrative people?
How do you justify your legal cost, hiring the most expensive London w1 firms?
If the complaints number increases it means you register dentist with little qualifications and this is your fault
This rise is disgusting! We already pay for indemnity. If the fees increase is due to litigation then that is the responsibility of the indemnity not
yours.
It is way too much
Information as to how this trend wasn't forseen so the increase in cost could have been spread out over the four year period. Perhaps a move to
cheaper offices instead of marques offices in central london would help reduce costs?
Very hard for many young associates to swallow this when the amount we are being paid per UDA is falling, student loan repayments are high and
the cost of everyday life keeps increasing.
I understand a raise in ARF is necessary but this increase needs to be gradual. Trying to squeeze an extra £400 into my budget will be tough with
just 6 months notice!
Why are Therapists paying so little? They do not have the huge burden of debt a dentist has due to not paying student fee's. They now have direct
assess (and so are very likely to get FAR more legal cases against them - why should dentists subside them?) I do not understand how a therapist
what according to the scope of practice can do 70+% of what a dentist can do; pay so much less. This seems deeply unfair to newly qualified
dentists who have far more debt and have a lower wage than a newly qualified therapist.
Possible further savings
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
A rise of this magnitude is completely unjustified,I adopt best practice yet I am continually penalised by the GDC to pay for the malpractice of
others.
Why is it so difficult to claim back all expenses from those who are at fault.
As for your claim that you only charge the amount it cost you to regulate,this is blatant rubbish.
I pay £576 for the "privilege" of having my name in the register,
Please explain why it costs me so much and I get nothing in return.
Claim the expenses back from errant dentists directly,NOT from me.
I object in the strongest terms to the imposition of what can only be described as a grossly disproportionate increase.
A response would be appreciated,but not expected,I doubt that any correspondence will be forthcoming as a result of this message.
Given the very large increase it would be useful to investigate different payment options. If the GDC would consider monthly direct debit in the
same way as the BDA has done then I am sure there will be greater acceptance of the proposed fee increase.
This %age rise is a blatant rip off.When I first qualified it was £22 a year.This is unreasonable
Clearly, coupled with the pay cut for dental foundation trainees, you need to think about what this group of dentists can realistically afford.
Alongside the £288 application fee we pay in our first year, a £945 annual retention fee would equate to almost a full month's wage just in GDC
fees. This is completely unaffordable and you should consider adding another tier to your fees for foundation trainees or those on a low income.
You do not expect DCPs to pay a month's wage so why so it to trainees.
No info provided on cost of running GDC from London. Relocating to either northern England, northern Ireland, Wales, or Scotland would
significantly decrease your running costs and prevent such hugely disproportionate increases.
Your proposal is disgraceful.
There is a huge difference between your cost increase estimate and the ARF increase. 64%is unreasonable. Many of us are salaried and have had
1% pay rises. Also many people work part time and this increase will potentially cause difficulty in paying.
How much are you charging (or proposing to charge) maxillofacial surgeons already registered with the GMC.
How much are you proposing to charge dentally qualified surgeons who are only practising as medicolegal experts and are not treating patients?
What other strategies do you have to obtain resources?
GDC collects fees from members to function. That is surely not enough. It is an organisation to protect the public. So why taxpayers do not
contribute? It simply does not make sense. There are too many dentists competing for one post and I have not been able to find a full time job in
the last 5 years. Costs of being a dentist has become very high. I think it is unfair to increase the fee by 67% whilst DCPs fee increases by only
6.7%. How do you justify this discrepancy of 60% whilst some dentists earn less than some DCPs. I think it should be calibrated to individual
practitioner and DCP considering their annual income. I think we also should be allowed discounts on ARF for the periods when we are
unemployed. I completed university with £28000 student loan. After years of training I thought I would have a normal life. Unfortunately it has
been a great struggle. Cost of rent (not to mention starting a mortgage) and living has increased. If the fees of practicing as a dentist is not
sustainable and job availability is scarce we can only be forced to change our career from dentistry to something else. How is it really cost efficient
for the government? I think taxpayers should contribute, both government and GDC should campaign for public donations and find further
strategies to reduce the cost.
That is a massive increase right before Christmas. For the non greedy dentist who doesn't generate many complaints, how is this deemed fair?
You should have increased by a little each year to cover your costs. Not massive increases. Therefore minimising uproar.
You will need to start monthly instalments as not everyone will be able to afford that in one go, at any time. Let alone Christmas.
The breakdown of complaints by registered group, i.e. Dentists, Nurses, Therapists.
Now there is direct access to therapists, and they have potential to earn significantly more than other DCPs (and approaching the same as
associates in some places), the combination of higher earnings with increased clinical responsibility should be reflected in an intermediate fee
level between Dentists and DCPs for this group of people. This would allow you to reduce your charge on Dentists; a 64% increase took my breath
away. £4/working day ARF, coupled with ever rising indemnity fees is punishing to us young dentists.
Why patients can't pay
A more thorough breakdown of costs, GDC hearing costs in particular seem extremely expensive at £20,000 per day. A cost of £700,000 is
unreasonable for a single hearing, therefore a thorough breakdown of costs for this case would be very helpful. This can be greatly reduced by
current technological advancements such as online hearings. Furthermore competition has always been the best option to keep costs down,
therefore the creation of alternative organization(s) to compete with the GDC this would certainly improve the situation.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why an organisation that is there to protect PATIENTS is funded by healthcare professionals.
Why it is the high quality members of the dental team who are being penalised financially for an increase in claims.
Has any other way been sought to fund the GDC? Patients (taxpayers) or a fine for the dental team member proven to be on the wrong/a wrongly
claiming patient?
Perhaps head offices that are not based on one of the most expensive streets in the world would bring the costs down a little.
Further breakdowns. Why does the panel cost £18,000 a day!!! Why can this not be voluntary. Isn't the GMC panels voluntary/expenses only?why
are central London barristers used?
What amount of fitness to practice hearing where not seen locally first. All complaints should be seen locally first and then referred up! Why are
there hearings for occasions of criminal convictions? Somethings should result in automatic erasure...a hearing is not required.
How much is the central London location costing? Can the GDC not move out or London?
How do you spend all this money collected ? (for example % spend on hearing, assessments, wages etc.)
information on how many of these complaints were valid along with how the dentist/ DCP was disciplined
Explain how the GMC regulates its DRs and how they are able to do this for a much reduced fee
You have not released the exact salary that this years DF1 dentist's will be paid and the job starts in a few weeks
Reduce cases getting to GDC
The 2 properties that you own in london. Details of their worth should be included along with GDC assets
Why medics pay considerably less but claims are the same? New claim legislation us increased.
Why we subside patients, etc., through the ARF, who make a complaint about a professional/our profession? If they want to complain, let them
pay for it through normal legal processes.
Where the £18 million will be spent in terms of breakdown. Costs and expenditures should be unambiguously documented.
This is a crippling figure for newly qualified dentists, I honestly have no idea how I can afford it in December apart from more debt. Dental
students have over £500 of costs when graduating: gdc, crb, performers list, gp screens, occupational health screens, indemnity etc.
We receive no salary until the end of September. Then in 4 months you have to find just short of a thousand pounds
pounds.
Newly qualified dentists should pay a reduced rate subsidised by the established dental workforce who have enjoyed long periods of stable
financial security.
Full breakdown of the costs.
This would also mean that the public would lose confidence in dental professionals, the justification for this sentence.
Whether there can be different rates for full or part time, high or low risk, as with dental protection etc.
Information on why these complaints keep rising.How can it be predicted that they will keep rising at the same level?? What is causing this rise??
Can the number of complaints be reduced? A breakdown of which dentists are receiving complaints. Why should the whole profession be forced
to pay for a relatively small number of dentists who are breaking rules? You can't keep demanding money from dentists who now only have an
'ever depleting' pot! Dentists are literally 'going under' because they cannot afford these massive overheads which are constantly being piled
on,year on year. The CQC is already charging almost £1000. How on earth can a 67% rise by anyone's standards be fair. I feel let down and
completely disillusioned with dentistry.
How can the gdc help nurses as we have not had a pay rise for 5 years?
The fee hike is ridiculous ! The GDC needs to have a filtering mechanism to weed out silly complaints rather than waste the money collected
through ARF. 64 % hike !
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
This is outrageous. Are you really asking me if I am happy with me having to pay double to you next year for you to keep doing absolutely nothing
for me?
As a dentist I will have to pay this organism 1000£ every year for it to threaten me daily to take me out of te register... And what else do I get
back?
If this organism is going to keep focusing only on defending patients, they should charge the patients not the dental providers that we already pay
our indemnity fees.
If patients complaints are absolutely free they will keep increasing, no matter what. The organism to regulate this claims should depend from the
government and be payed by everybody's taxes.
I think GDC should be dismanteled right now. I do not know in what you are spending all that money that you say you need. But you are not
asking for it in the right place.
As a dentist I spend long and stressful hours working to earn money but at some point it will stop being profitable and I will just decide to stop
working and live from benefits, that life would be so much easier. Or I could always work for the GDC, their employees wedges must be so high!
I still feel very strongly that fees for dentists should be charged pro rata accordingly to how many hours/sessions per week are worked. I earn £45
000 a year as a part time community dentist, some of the dental nurses earn £35 000 per year. Why should I pay 5 x more ARP than a dental nurse
when I am not earning 5 x more!!!
Salaries of staff, costs of premises, etc.How can a 'fitness to practice hearing' cost £19,500 PER DAY!!!! I work in Africa and can run dental clinics
for an entire region for £3000 a year.
Detailed itemised breakdown of projected and current running costs of the gdc.
Please take in to consideration new graduates, who are already faced with a likely reduction in starting wage of £2000 when the full 8% is
deducted. We are already faced with large debts, especially those who are self funded or are mature students with additional financial
commitments. I would like to suggest a new graduate tier to this fee, as pushing DF1s and indeed DF2s to their financial limit is dangerous in itself
as will cause high stress levels and temptation to undertake additional work whether permitted by their DF1 contract or not. This is itself could
lead to GDC disciplinary procedures.
Why a 64% increase in the Dentists ARF and only 6.4% for Dental nurses??
The amount of waste.
Why at fitness to practice cases have 15 minute break very hour.
Why do gdc solicitors repeat Same comments at fitness to practice.
Why do gdc waste time with allegations and then withdraw them.
Gdc has a policy of guilty until proven otherwise.
You need to adopt similar behaviour as other world governing body. Resolve issues
Yes your duty is to protect patient but not to waste our money.
We are accountable for our actions. However I very much doubt that GDC is accountable
Whether the anticipated extra hearings will relieve the excess claims and whether it is anticipated that eventually the ARF will be reduced once
the backlog is cleared
More information/detail to be given regarding exactly what the average costs of a fitness to practice case cover.
What about dental postgraduate students. I am a postgraduate dentist struggling to pay fees of £11000 a year only able to work 1 day per week.
This sort of fee doesn't support dentists who are trying to improve to offer a better service to patients a reduced rate should be made for full time
postgraduate student dentists. A 60 percent increase for dentists and only 6 percent for everyone else is discrimination. The same percentage
increase should be made for everyone.
I have to admit, I think the ARF for DCP's is ridiculous and why the GDC have decided to raise it is beyond me. I know I am not the only person
who thinks strongly about this. The fact that registered nurses who register with the NMC pay LESS and majority are on much higher wage than
dental nurses absolutely puzzles me. Surely registered nurses have more patient contact than what dental nurses do. I think that the GDC have a
cheek to increase the ARF and I hope other fellows GDC registrants raise their concern over this matter.
I think that you need to base your fees according to number of clinical working hours. I am only part time as I have a young family and it is
ridiculous that I have to pay the same as a clinician working full time.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
How much is spent on premesis for hearings, how much is pent for those overseeing the hearings. Would it be more cost effective outside of the
capital. is there any recompense from those bringing a complaint which is then investigated and found to have no case or is cleared of all charges?
Is the weighting of charges brought spread evenly across the age range and experience of professional involved or should ARF depend on the
demographic which is more likely to have a complaint made against them? Can the ARF be weighted in a similar way to car or home insurance and
look at the relative risk of an individual? Could those in a training programme, overseen by specialist colleagues and therefore supervised, have a
reduced rate compared to the unsupervised GDP out in practice?
Can you explain how your costs have become so high that I almost 3 doctors (GMP's) can be registered for your proposed cost of 1 dentist (GDP)?
You have asked that the weighting depend on the amount spent between dentists vs DCPs. Is this in the last tax year or is this a rolling amount, as
DCP's have only recently been required to register and if you are only looking at cumulative amounts then obviously, the amount spent on DCP's
will be less.
What will you do to actually reduce costs? Will you introduce a dental practice board similar to the medical practice board rather than have every
case referred to you?
Will you reduce the ARF once you start to make savings?Will all members see an appropriate saving?
There is no free text box for thoughts on the proposed rise in ARF. I think that to increase this above the rate of inflation, above the 1% pay
increase that members of the NHS do not get, to increase it so much above the ARF of our medical colleagues and at the same time have no other
alternative other than to pay this for the very benefit of practicing my passion, my livelihood, my career in a system which is at the moment
unforgiving, is deeply unfair. To those especially at the start of their careers, whereby they may be at a lower risk of complaints. I'd much rather
be registered with the GMC, they seem to be more transparent and at least I'd feel like I got value for money. But I can't, because I decided to be
a dentist. You wonder why dentists have hard feelings about you-protecting patients is great but you are not looking out for or protecting us. We
are accountable to you, but you need to be accountable to us too!
Please explain why fitness to practice cases are taking so long and are so inefficiently run. Please also explain why the GDC registration is 3 times
that of the GMC.
I think that since direct access for DCPs has been allowed that it would be pertinent to have some info regarding future predictions and
anticipated workload for cases for hygienists/therapists.
Level of salaries paid to all GDC employees should be made clear.
Also details of expenditure on all non-mandatory activity should be given.
Although you say that there has been no ARF increase since 2010, the fact is that at that time the fee rose by 31.5% compared with the previous
year. The proposed fee rise of 64% in 2015 for dentists is nothing less than staggering. The GDC should focus only on it's mandated core functions
and should be prepared to throw out at a very early stage many of the utterly frivolous accusations that are made against some registered dental
professionals. The actions of the GDC in recent years seems to be utterly demoralizing the profession.
Provide information about how Many of these complaints are about foreign dentists.
Justify this cost to dentists in training, spr, SHO level ie those of us who don't earn very much.
I find it disgusting we have yet to face another rise in registration fees just so we can work and cover other peoples admin costs! Our wage barely
covers our bills let alone an increasing fee just so we can go to work. I think it only fair you allow a direct debit each month not a lump sum to pay.
I think it is absurd. You have heavily advertised, encouraging patients to complain, only for you to realise that complaints have gone up.
You then expect us to pay for the privilege of being complained about
Somewhere here, I'm sure you can see the disconnect
I would like to know why, if the GDC was created by an Act of Parliament to protect patients and the public, it is purely the members, dentists and
DCP who are paying a fee. In my opinion, the government and the public should contribute to regulation of professionals as it appears that the
registrants are paying a retention fee which funds investigations (often unwarranted) against them, The registrants pay their indemnity provider
and therefore the patients should pay the GDC in part.
Information on how it could be kept low. Also how funds could be gained from parliament since it is their laws that place these stipulations.
Why the DCPs have only received a 6.7% increase and the practitioners have received a 64% increase
present proportions of complaints for dentists DCPs.
proportions for complaints for dentists qualified in UK v rest of Europe
No
The fact that dental nurses are not well paid!!!
We pay more than general nurses who earn a lot more!!
The fee should all be worked out pro rota.
How can you justify a 64% increase?
The cost is extremely high for newly qualified dentists like myself. Thankfully I am in Scotland and have not received a pay cut, but for an English
graduate this will be a complete nightmare.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
An explanation of why there is such a vast difference between the GDC and GMC ARF?
This is based on projected costs that are spurious at best. You state in your new aims that the registration fee will be based on what it costs to
deliver your statutory functions, not what you think it might cost.
I have been working as a dentist for 3 years and still earn under 32k a year. This is not far off a months wages for me. You should take into account
dentists working in a hospital setting who not only earn far less that GDP's, but also get brought up in front of the fitness to practice committee
less.
How many cases are associated with foreign qualified dentists. If there is a disproportionate number of complaints from foreign qualified dentists
then maybe they need to pay more per capita than uk qualified dentists. > 60% increase in retention fee = ridiculous. A) do you know we re in a
recession? B) do you know how much money hospital based practitioners earn?...... I'm off to my MP to complain
N/A
yes
What areas of dentistry the complaints are in, including speciality, region and the number which involve DCPs
Deduct annual retention fees
I believe that regardless of the increase in ARF, it should be made possible to pay in instalments as an outlay of almost £1000 at the end of the
calendar year where normally earnings are less is unfair. Also, has it been taken into consideration that the most recent pay rise has been in the
region of 1% and that this is 64%? This also seems one sided.
A percentage breakdown of complaints between dentists and DCP,s
I want to know how many cases needing investigation are dentists trained out with uk? If majority are we need more stringent testing before
foreign dentists can work in uk. Why should I pick up the cost
This is completely ridiculous price hike, I understand the GDC requires funding but increasing the ARF to this amount is unbelievable. With the
idea of staying in the profession for another 30 years and given inflation further increasing costs over the next 30 years etc the GDC will be taking
upto and over £30000. Thanks for this
This response proforma is fundamentally faulted as it does not offer respondents to opportunity to comment beyond the questions posed. I am
using this box as the only place where free text can be used.
If ARFs are to rise to the substantial amount of £945 for dentists the GDC must also now address the issue of paying by monthly installments, like
other healthcare regulators such as the GMC.
You cannot justify a 64% increase. I am registered with the GMC also they have not increased their fees at the rate the GDC have in the last few
years and the fee is far above the GMC fee. This can only reflect how totally inefficient the GDC is
What have you done, to reduce the amount of cases being brought before you? How much of the money you spent is in frivalous cases ... Let's be
honest these days people can go to the top for ANYTHING..
I work in a hospital, I dont think I can afford this
Percentage of complaints against groupings i.e non UK registrants, salary sectors, GDP.
The amount of active time utilised by panels
Are days used fully - 8.30 - 5.30 for example/
could hearing days be longer and more intense
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Details as to the cost of chasing those illegally practicing dentistry should be reported. Including any costs recovered from doing so? These are
clearly people not contributing to GDC costs and as a service user really ought to be.
In terms of dental education do the Universities contribute funds to the GDC in terms of paying for inspections and reports? How much do these
establishments contribute? Should they contribute more?
Every dentist currently pays the same ARF fee regardless of their level of training and type of practice. It does not take into consideration dentists
who may be working part time, pursuing further training; dentists who by working reduced hours are likely to be at a reduced likely hood of
receiving a complaint.
The number of fitness to practice cases has risen by 110% - What is the likelyhood of this increasing in the future and how can this increase be
dealt with other than by increasing ARF fees. The implication could be that if 8000 complaints were received a year we could end up with an ARF
in the region of £2000.
I understand that there has been use of some reserves over recent years to buffer when the number of complaints increases. What would be the
plan if these reserves were used before increasing the ARF? is a reserve of 10million pounds ontop of assets of 50million pounds not seem
excessive for a public body?
Why was the increase not gradually introduced as the number of complaints increased?
What would be the impact on the finances of dental workers in current climate where wages are not increasing?
This is a total waste of time for nurses to read as you state you are NOT taking into account salaries so it is pointless asking for our opinions as we
are speaking out but NOT listened to a total waste of time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes how many unnecessary inappropriate fitness to practice hearings that have been heard where there is clearly not a patient interest issue.
How much additional costs registrants have endured as a result of the increased number of registrants in terms of dcps. Surely the more people
you regulate the more the costs? Why should the costs of running the GDc not be shared equally amongst all registrants? Why should
Dentists pay a greater share? Especially if the costs of managing more registrants is not due to an increase in dentists
/
It is appalling you feel you can charge that much. Where are we supposed to get that sort of money and just before christmas. But of course you
can do what you like and you know it. We are squeezed by the nhs as it is and now this its ridiculous and makes me want to get put the profession
Why full time post graduate students should have to pay such a large amount of money despite not practicing at all in general dental practice
(NHS or private). As a student I struggle to pay my tuition fees and loving expenses let alone such a large amount of money for ARF
Why aren't DCP's split regarding their profession?
For example why are Dentists increased by 64% and DCP's 6.7%. You should charge nurses, hygienists and therapists different tiers of fees instead
of a flat rate. They have different responsibilities.
Stop just piling all the costs onto the Dentists!
Why hearing cases is so costly. And how the cost of the increased complaints is planned to be reduced. I think a almost 70% increase is ridiculous
with our indemnity costs being so high- Il be bled dry before I retire. I think your taking advantage of the fact we have to pay the fee. Why get
feedback when we all know we have to pay it to practice?
How many nuisance claims the GDC wasted time and money investigating last year. As the GDC protects patients and does very little to represent
dentists perhaps taxpayer money should fund the organisation.
Would be useful if you could provide a clearer table of GDC expenditures in total. From your present explanations it is not evident that the raise of
the ARF you propose is justifiable.
Stop letting non uk graduates register so easily and also take action against the shocking standard of dentistry seen throughout the uk. You may
then find there are less complaints and the Arf is lower.
Why is there such a big increase in complaints? Is there a more stringent registration process that needs to be out into place? Maybe general
dentists placing implants or quick fix orthodontics needs to be looked at. What is the root cause analysis???? We can't just continue to accept
increases in complaints - what is this saying about the British dental profession?
Why you cannot recover costs from those "illegally practising" instead of punishing hardworking, law abiding clinicians who just want to provide a
public service.
Have you seen how much an NHS associate gets paid? Why should they pay the same as a principal dentist? Do you know how much indemnity
costs? Should you not consider moving from your expensive London home like the BBC did? Why not take a look at the insurance sector and
charge those who cost the GDC more a higher premium? Have you seen the level of debt of a newly qualified dentist? What have you done with
all the extra money from all the DCPs?
Exact breakdown via an Independamt body that looks into your accounts in depth
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Dentists working in practice should receive a higher ARF given their increase in salary and greater number of complaints against them
Why your costs are so high "An average hearing lasts 4 days and costs £78,000 (£19,500 per day)." For one hearing this is an extortionate amount
of money. We are expected to work under the same NHS contract with no increase where we are told there is no more money in the budget yet
all our expenses go up year on year. A 64% increase is outrageous.
If you are there to solely protect patients then why is it not government and patient funded in any way.
We are held to ransom to continue to pay the fee. This really hinders the profession to continue to progress and allow us to be proud of the
quality work the majority do.
No
However, you have not taken into account that some people work in hospital and are paid a lot less than GDP's. I am a part time hospital
practioner and I would be unable to afford this retention fee
You have been very vague on the costs incurred from the different distinct groups making up DCPs. Stating that you 'estimate' costs to be the
same amongst the differing DCPs is not very transparent.
Proves everyone can speculate. What happens if the predictions are not correct. Will you return money back?
How a more gradual increase in ARF would impact on deficit - this sudden huge leap is hard to budget for.
Any other measures which have been considered to reduce the overall expenditures, other than those already put in place.
Why the amount of complaints have gone up, what number are frivolous, how they have been considered before reaching the GDC. What criteria
has led to it being considered for a FTP trial and spend the money.
Why does it cost so much for the venues, why is a venue not sourced elsewhere in the country which could be cheaper in the long term. Why is a
property not purchased to deal with these trials instead of paying for venues all the time
The percentage of cases that go to trial, in how many does the dentist get prosecuted? Think we need to do more to prevent cases getting this
far. The number has risen dramatically because of the compensation culture and patients need to be aware that dentists aren't an easy target but
if they do have a genuine complaint they will get treated fairly. It's not fair to be passing the cost on to dentists for those that think they can
make a quick buck complaining about nothing.
I think the risk of a dentist should be worked out in the same way that dental protection work their subscription fees. So is it private/ Community
service/ emergency dental service/ nhs practice. Type of work Botox, oral surgery etc
I think consideration needs to be taken in terms of work done by individuals and the situation of the work. As a dentally qualified medical student
this increase will be crippling and will do no favours to the relationship with oral and maxillofacial surgery. Working in hospital part time I earn far
far less than the average GDP and am much less at risk of a GDC case. Surely this should be taken into consideration?? And in addition this is
nearly twice the GMC rates!!
The proportion of cases brought against each category of registrant. I also propose that the fee be proportionate to each group taking into
account their level of responsibility and number of cases brought against each group. Obviously dentists would pay the lions share but the more
the GDC allows therapists/hygienists/technicians to do then obviously we will see an increase in cases against these groups. I would like to know
why dental nurses have to pay more to the GDC to be "regulated" than general nurses pay their regulatory body? Surely nurses are more likely to
have cases brought against them than dental nurses?
What the detail of the savings would be if the Government reformed regulation as the GDC would wish and how this would affect the long term
costs of regulation. i.e. is it £2m per year every year? Would savings increase or decrease as a proportion of spending each year? it would be
useful to know how the proposed increase would affect the registration fees for specialists too.
How the government is going to pay to protect patients rather than dentists themselves. Almost doubling fees is a joke.
To increase the retention fee for all dentists is totally unjustified. Not all dentists can afford a lump payment of almost £1000 a year. This
combined with indemnity and information commissioners fees, CRB checks and CPD requirements makes being a dentist an expensive profession
to be part of.
For part time dentists these costs are becoming unaffordable and as such making the choice of returning to work or not after maternity leave a
tough decision.
It appears there is an assumption that all dentists are high earners and therefore can afford whatever price you put on the ARF. We are held over
a barrel, we pay the fee or we don't work.
In my opinion the fees just be scaled on earnings and also representative of the risks some dentists undertake in their day to day work. Perhaps
dentists who have had previous gdc hearings and found "guilty" should be penalised with a higher retention few rather than every other dentist
paying the price for this.
Better explanation as to why the DCP ARF percentage increase is so much smaller than the dentist increase. The wage of a hygienist or therapist is
significantly higher than that of a dental nurse and in some cases higher than that of a dentist.
Each individual gdc employee's income and how much of a pay cut they are planning to take in their noble quest to protect the public
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
As a dentist I do not need any more regulation than I had previously. I have never had any fitness to practice concerns. Apart from having to pay
the ARF in order to be able to practice, I have never had any benefit from paying my fee. There is no reason why dentists cannot pay the fee by
Direct debit. That is prejudice.
Why are you prosecuting so many dentists when these issues could be sorted out on a more local process??
Yes reduce fees
Why so many trivial cases are being heard by the Fitness to Practice panel
Why are GDC ARFs the same for every type of dentist?
Why are fees not adjusted for new graduates and those undertaking further training who areliky to be on lower salaries?
Why are the fees still taken in one payment and not smaller instalments?
Why are the fees still taken in December?
64% increase is insane. If that's going to be the case, you need to at least let the cost be spread throughout the year.
Why do you not take individual circumstances into consideration?
I understand the increase in costs but is a 64% increase really fair or reasonable?
- exactly what cases are involved?? ie a breakdown of them by type - as i feel a lot of the cases are pointless
- i know a colleague who had the most pointless fitness to practice case bought on him for being 10mph over the speed limit - if extra funds are
needed for pointless cases like this and if this is the tip of the iceberg then i strongly object to the increase
- the GDC are meant to protect us dentist also and in the case above they caused my colleague to get depressed and demoralised about even
carrying on working - we felt the GDC was against us rather than trying to protect us- the job is stressful enough as it is!
Far too much of a tax on dentists
How dentists, especially young dentists are supposed fund a retention fee of almost £1000 where salaries for foundation dentists and newly
qualified associates are being significantly reduced.
that increase is not fare-64% at once.Why haven`t you increased it gradually ? And the excuse that is tax deductible is just poor !
I strongly disagree-our cost has risen significantly as well -cqc , dp....,more people will give up dentistry and you will need more immigrants .
The costs for these resources have not been explained.e.g. why are the 'venue costs' per day so high? Why not hold these hearings at a cheaper
venue outside of London?
How many false complaints do you have, you should charge fraudulent complaint costs the the complainant.
I am aware of a complaint which has been dismissed by the police, the dentist's employer and NHS England and yet the GDC is investigating this
complaint which is a campaign of harrassment against the individual.
The individual has been threatened by the complainant and his accomplice and as a consequence has been suffering from depression.
Do any of your funds go to supporting such individuals?
You should look to the GMC and have a more integrated relationship with dentists. Most dentists see The GDC as something to be frightened of
and your image is very poor.
There are clear examples of how the stress of complaints has driven individuals to suicide, you in no way tackle this as the GMC has done.
I know my comments are likely to be ignored but they are evidence based.
I would happily pay an increased ARF if there was more support for the recipient of the complaints.
Why is there such a huge shortfall? Why are the disciplinary hearings taking so long, and costing so much?
how much the GMC spends per year
why cant you make savings in other areas
Increasing dentists fees by £369 and DCPs by £8 is grossly unfair.
Such a huge increase for dentists is ridiculous.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The complaints budget needs to be capped in the same way that NHS dentistry is. It certainly would be if it was funded by government rather than
the profession. A 64% increase in ARF is untenable in the present economic climate.
We could have 3 bands of complaint:
Band 1 - requires simple letter to sort out, lets call that one unit of council activity (UCA)
Band 2 - requires a meeting , let's say that's worth 3 units of council time.
Band 3 - requires outside help (legal perhaps) and is the expensive stuff - let's say12 units for those ones.
Now what we do is forecast that the council will need 40,000 units of council activity.
If they use less (the payers) could "claw back" the unused units and have a refund.
BUT if they use MORE than the given UCAs then we could sell them, if we wanted, more units at a greatly reduced amount per unit.
an increase in 64 % is extremely unnecessary.
I agree that you have set out why you need to increase your fees. However, as a registrant we have to cover indemnity costs on top of registration
costs. It's pretty ridiculous.
patients should share the extra burden, if this burden is caused by your effort to protect their rights -of- lower the GDC personnel remuneration.
The legal costs incurred per case. Why professionals found guilty of misconduct are not paying for the costs incurred themselves rather than
pushing up ARF for all other potentially innocent professionals.
I think as a dental nurse, the fee isn't fair. Considering how much more therapists & hygienists get paid & they still pay the same fees as us low
paid nurses. We don't get any benefits from paying this fee each year. Even if you work part time that isn't taken in to consideration, it's expensive
& unnecessary for dental nurses to have to pay so much just to be able to work. I think you should lower the fees for nurses & raise it for
therapists & hygienists, my hourly rate us a third of what hygienists & therapists get paid in our practice & I think you'll find this is the same for All
nurses.
no
Your consultation is deliberately written to avoid getting responses that would mitigate against a rise in ARF
Since the GDC is there to protect the patient i suggest the government take over the running of the GDC ie nationalise it
The salaries paid to the 10 highest paid GDC employees would make interesting reading!
The ARF should not be raised to build up reserves.
It should be raised incrementally to cover that years expenses, not increased by 64% on the basis of highly dubious projections for 2016 and 2017.
Who knows, cases might reduce by then or the GDC might make some more savings than expected.
In depth review of why this increase in ARF wasn't considered over the past four years, rather than the substantial increase at this one point
A clear account of why there is such a big increase
how much is the rent of your premises in London? Have you considered moving to a cheaper place?!?
The costs of a hearing are scandalous!!!
I think that it is disgusting the amount of money you are proposing to charge dentists! It is already too expensive as it is compared to other
professional bodies. GMC is around £390 mark and GTC is £50!!!
Dental nurses are not paid enough to cover these costs! Why should they have to pay the same as all other DCP's when they don't have nearly the
same responsibilities. The GDC needs to seriously consider the ARF needs to be on a sliding scale within the DCP's. Think about how much CPD,
Indemnity and ARF DN's are asked to pay and do just to work under the direction of a Dentist, especially those DN's that are on national minimum
wage.
When would you like to receive the clothes from my back!
I am a dental nurse with 33 years experience earning £8.50 per hour what on earth am I actually getting for my hard earned money?!
How can you justify £975. That is a serious amount of money. With associate pay falling and general decline in finance in dentistry this amount of
increase is not justified. I suggest stopping putting the gdc panel up in fancy hotels and having dinners on the GDC may help
What has the GDC done to engender such a large rise in complaints against dentists?
Why are PTF numbers increasing so much? What are you doing to prevent so many cases going to hearing instead of being settled earlier?
How the GDC is promoting better practice and limiting complaints MPS do a better job in educating dentists
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Paying monthly
Would be nice to know if there is any part of your job to serve and protect your registrants .
More information on how these complaints are triaged and how quickly and effectively this done and the number of cases that progress to the
further stages.
Where are the main complants coming from?
Are you doing anything to help dentists prevent complaints?
Can we claim fees from unsuccessful complainants costing dentists exhorbitant amounts to make pointless complaints can't imagine it's practice
that has worsened causing increased complaints!
Would this large increase in fee be now payable monthly.
More reasons why there has been such a dramatic increase in this fee!
Why does a DCP increase only have an increase of 6.7% compared to a dentists increase of 63%?
Percentage of hearings resulting in suspension / special measures imposed. Percentage of cases brought against non UK graduates. Reason no
funding from taxpayers.
Percentage of hearings resulting in suspension / special measures imposed. Percentage of cases brought against non UK graduates. Reason no
funding from taxpayers.
Expenses by all the staff at GDC for hotels, taxis, 1st class train tickets, flights, meals etc.
This is ridiculous! As a dentist I feel I get absolutely nothing from the GDC! Compared to other professions it's daft! You are exploiting the people
you're supposed to protect!!!
We only have your word for this It needs an independent assessor to state what is needed I think we need professional coroberation.
list of the salaries of the GDC staff whose salaries will be met by the ARF increase
How the money would be collected? Ie annually or by monthly direct debit. Currently the ARF comes out just before Christmas which is anything
from ideal! Direct debit monthly would be better. Also, there should be reduced fees for part-time individuals. I also think that nurses should pay
the least and technicians and therapists pay more to reflect their increased earnings.
No
Why is the GDC penalising and punishing hard working professionals, and can there be a streamlining and actual common sense approach to this
whole fallacy that you are "promoting standards and protecting patients". Obviously there is nothing in the GDC's activities undertaken on behalf
of Parliament that is to protect and support dentists.
What percentage of complaints/fitness to practice is related to private practice
General running costs per day of the GDC and the cost of running a fitness to practice panel for a day.
Costs of heating and lighting the building.
How will efficiency savings be made - other organisations are having to do more without an increase in funding (eg the NHS) and the GDC should
do the same
Source data to support conclusions, including breakdown of registrants in the uk that obtained qualifications fron non UK dental schools, origin of
complaints including those previously taken to solicitor in the first instance, GDC website hits in last four years and number of issues that lead to
suspension.
What preventive measures are you taking?
Based on the trends you will have to raise the ARF even more in the short term.
Attempts that have been made to streamline the workings of the GDC in order to make it more cost effective.
Total value of property and material possessions owned by the GDC
Are there plans to allow dentists to pay the ARF by monthly direct debit. £945 is too much to pay in one lump in these times when patient
numbers & dentist's income is falling.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Please explain to me why should NHS dentists pay a 64% increase (at a time of derisory 1% pay rises) for a service that is set up to allow the public
to bring complaints at no cost or risk to themselves? If they want to do this they should pay themselves as they would in any other walk of life.
Underpaid dentists and their families are patients and the public too.
As for question 3 - your costs are plainly completely out of control or you wouldn't be imposing a punitive 64% increase which represents an
increase of nearly 1000% over 14 years.
Why are gmc fees much less even though their earnings are equivalent.
Why are your resources not as efficiently used?
This is an utter waste of money. At no point have you maintained costs and at no point are you fair. If you are to raise fees they should all go up in
proportion. And there is no justification to raise fees - how about charging dental professionals who are committed guilty to recoup all you costs
rather than stinging the very dentists who work hard by the law and you as a cooperation refuse to protect or help?!
Why are there so many complaints?
Attempts to source funding from elsewhere and reasons as to why there are no other funding sources. This is an absolute outrage, the hike is
crazy. How can you expect young dentists to pay such fees, (which you demand as a one off payment!!!) in our first years after graduation when
we are laboured with debt from 5 years of study. This is a poorly thought out solution, surely there most be other ways of generating funds! Fines
for beauty salons whitening? Gov funding? Reduce the extreme overheads associated with hearings? Sell wimpole street and move to a more cost
effective postcode!!!???
Why some cases take so long to process? If the claim is brought about by an individual and the accused is not found guilts of any charges should
the claimant not be charged a fee?
A reduction in the fee. It is completely excessive.
You stated that changes in legislation could achieve great cost savings. I recommend you pursue this avenue vigorously through your
Parliamentary channels. I agree that some of your processes seem archaic and need reform to reduce costs.
A full breakdown of expenses. Moving the main activities of the gdc to provincial offices and maintaining only a small office in London would save
massive cost.
Perhaps it would be useful to give a breakdown on the actual number of complaints for dentists and for dental care professionals. It also seems
unreasonable to increase the fee by such a vast amount, considering the range of different salaries of dentists. I for one work as a Staff Grade in
Oral Surgery in hospital full time, a fee of £945 would mean nearly half of my monthly salary. Personally I think it would be better to fix the fee in
proportion to one's earnings.
If you're going to increase the ARF by such a large percentage have you really considered the impact on dentist's like myself who work in relatively
low paid part time community positions? It would be nice if the ARF could be banded so those that earn most pay most. Also if there was
allowances for maternity leave or the option to pay monthy.
You need to consider the salary that Foundation Dentists are getting paid (especially with the proposed salary cuts), the scheme I'm on only get
paid £27,090, thats £1500 a month, if GDC fees will be £945 thats nearly 2/3 of our monthly income, therefore if we need to pay that we won't be
able to afford rent, food, other professional fees etc that month. It isn't fair. If you are going to charge that amount then there needs to be a
deduction for foundation dentists.
Why you haven't decided to charge dentists/DCPs who have complaints brought up against them more money?
Dental nurses are on a lower wage than most other dcps therefore I think it is wrong that they should pay as much as they do when general
nurses who have more responsibility and are on a higher wage pay less for their arf.!!!!
How much money is going towards pay rises?
A break down where the cases. Whether from DCPs (which exact DCP), GDPs, specialists etc. The costs of each specific profession to the GDC to
justify a 64% increase to GDPs while a much lower increase to the other professions. A separation of DCPs into nurses, hygienists and therapists
may be more appropriate and an increase in specialist list fees.
Where the 18 million goes? If it doesn't cost that much are getting money back?i think gdc going about this wrong way- instead of anticipating
cost of dealing with complaints- should combat them and work towards a system in place to stop minor issues getting to gdc and wasting time
and money . Gdc need to build bridges with the dentists to stop a them and us culture - putting up the fee I don't feel will do so ? Hope this helps.
Kind regards
The rise in complaints- dentists or DCPs?
This is absolute ridiculous. There are part time dentists who are not earning as much and increasing the fees by around £400 is absolutely
appalling.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Do you actually know what the average dental nurse earns? Many are only on just over minimum wage yet you expect them to pay this fee in
order to be able to work in a job that in actual fact gives them less benefits and pay than if they are working in Macdonalds! Why do nurses pay
the same fee as hygienists when hygienists are earning at least 3x as much an hour?
What about those on a career break? A mother with no income can not afford these fees, leaving no choice but to de-register, why is there no
reduced fee for those currently not working?
The percentage increase is ridiculous
I think the increase in ARF for dentists placed at 64% is outrageous. Speaking as a dental practitioner who has been working for 22 years without a
single complaint - I find this increase very unfair. Why should I pay such a high increase to subsidise the mistakes or unethical work of others !!!!!
I work very hard as an NHS dentist in order to provide the very best treatment I can for my patients - this means I don't earn a huge amount in
the first place !!! This increase in ARF is yet a further financial penalty on top of monthly indemnities I already pay for and which I've never had to
use their services.
I don't feel dentists are remunerated properly or fairly for the extremely stressful work we do and this is yet another charge we are expected to
pay at the worst time of the year ie - just before Christmas !!!!
I think I speak for a lot of my colleagues and I'm really unhappy at such a large increase in ARF !!!
Further breakdown of costs especially for fitness to practice cases due to extensive costs. £8000 for venue and £140000 for staff for example.
Staffing costs for GDC in general and breakdown of these for cost saving.
Explain why the sole source of income has to come from registrants alone and why this has not been increased incrementally? Why there is only
one price banding irrespective of no of hours worked or if in further training? How do other medical councils like GMC with similar problems
manage to keep ARF to £390 per annum?
Breakdown of complaints increase. Is this caused by dcps? Is this caused by non uk qualified dentists? The group incurring the biggest proportion
of complaints should have the biggest % increase in fees. We should all not be penalised for this. In addition the day to day running costs of the
gdc should be made available for scrutiny as well as the salaries of all gdc employees.
A correlation between ARF paid and wages, i.e lower fees for newly qualified dentists.
It has been alleged by a well known lecturer that your complaints system is being taken advantage of by a certain legal firm known to specialise in
suing dentists, in order that they can circumvent the requirement for them to pay for expert witness reports. This needs to be looked into as a
matter of urgency.
Please provide a split of exactly who is causing the increase in disciplinary actions. I severely object to paying over £900 per annum, when I have
reached the age of 65, practising almost solely in NHS work and without any blot on my work practices or integrity. I now provide one day a week
to the practice to see a few private patients and give advice on difficult cases and take CPD very seriously. It is ridiculous that, with my current
income and track record, I should be held responsible in paying for those dubious characters who have been allowed to join our profession.
I would like a 64 percent increase
To allow me to provide a service for my patients
What consultation did you do ?
This is disgusting daylight robbery
A detailed breakdown of who is being paid by our funding.
Why there is a disproportionate rise in dentists fees compared with other dcps. DCPs (non-dentists) are often payed by the practice, dentists are
not. As a dentist in my first post-vt year this is more than my monthly salary after tax is taken off. And I still have to pay more in indemnity.
Doctors do not have to pay this much, why should we?
Why the FTP fees are so high and why so many cases
The demographics of people having cases against them. The ARF should work like insurance = No claims = lower premium.
The cost of any savings you could make by moving out of central London.
Why a 64% increase for dentists and only 6.7% for DCPs?
The massive increase in FTP complaints etc is due to your ridiculous system. No wonder the PSA have judged you to be a failing organisation.
How does the GDC manages to appropriately select the cases that need to go into fitness to practice panel and those who don't? If there has been
a 110% increase in complaints, have you looked at the reasons why this is happening and what is being done about this? Soon all UK population
will make a complain/ year
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Dear all
- I have never and please God never will be before the GDC. Why should I be penalised for other dentists actions? I see shoddy work from
Corporates. Why are they not being penalised? Do a large percentage of complaints come from them? To treat all dentists the same is appalling.
- I pay my nurses ARF. It is obvious no-one at the GDC has actually run a Dental Practice as they would never have made the payment date the
same as the July Self employed tax payment date! The same could be said about the dentist December/January dates.
- You mention nurses and dentists. What about hygienist, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians etc. Why are nurses ARF the same as
hygienist ARF, nurses are on much less money.
Sorry but enough. Along with CQC etc I know of huge numbers of Healthcare professionals who have had enough. I know of three of my GMP
friends who have emigrated this year.
Would be happy to have a chat with someone at the GDC if you want a 'from the coal face' view
Thanks
Cost breakdown per complaint made by each patient & a comparison to the same statistics for the GMC would be very useful indeed. They seem
to be able to run with an ARF of £390.
There seems to be no area in-which to provide feedback on such proposed increases to ARF. So I'll use this space instead.
I'm mum of two beautiful children under five, I work full-time for the NHS. My husband works full time as a multisite General Manager. We work
hard to pay the mortgage & provide a decent standard of living for our family.
As a DCP my fee would increase by £8, meaning I'd need to save more than my current £10 per month, then the union fees of £13 per month and
the BADN fees of £90 per annum. That's a huge chunk of my income. Bearing in mind Dental nurses are paid at band 4, general nurses are paid at
band 5 and yet their NMC fees are less!
I urge the GDC to think very carefully. The fees are exorbitant, at this present moment, to increase them would only alienate those working hard,
on the front line, improving oral health...
I strongly oppose such a huge increase in ARF for Dentists. We aren't getting paid any more, we simply cannot afford to practice for this amount
of money per year, on top of the compulsory dento-legal cover. Expenses for dentists are spiralling out of control. Money should be sourced from
the tax payer and the government, not dental care professionals.
This makes me despair in the career choice I have chosen.
Feel this amount is unfair on part time dental nurses having to pay this amount themselves plus there professional indemnity and there courses to
do cpd a lot out of a part time wage as it is. All to keep the job you qualified to do before family life. Also object to having to do same amount of
cpd as a full time member of staff when other professions ie teachers only gave to a percentage of the hours of cpd relevant to what they work.
I am privy to knowledge that there is a lot of waste and inefficient expenditure of retention fee monies collected. Perhaps maximising careful use
of this money be considered prior to raising retention fees. It is wholly unfair on part time dentists and other members of the profession who
simply cannot afford this fee. Another angle would be to perhaps have a scale of retention fees. Those with more complaints against them should
pay more than others without a blemish on their record?
Why should we be charged for people to be investigated
You simply cannot justify this. The GDC need to sort their own act out, if a dentist were to perform as badly as yourselfs you would be the first to
punish them.
I want to know why you propose a 64% increase in ARF for dentists and yet only a 6.7% increase for dental care professionals. I already think that
their fee is far too low given that dental therapists fit into this category and are able to carry out 70% of our practice.
I think it would be more fair to increase the dental care professionals ARF by a larger amount and reduce the amount that you are increasing the
dentist's fee by. 67% is an insane increase - my salary will not increase by this amount - the government did not agree to the increase (1%) that
the BMA suggested - I am currently a Specialty Registrar in Orthodontics with a salary of £35000, I am undertaking a compulsory MSc as part of
this programme costing £8500 a year for three year. I cannot afford a 67% increase to the ARF - I feel that you are discriminating against dentists
who choose to go down the specialist training pathway who are already earning significantly less than their peers and doing far less risky
procedures as they are always supervised and yet you make us pay the same ARF as those who earn 2-3 times and more than us.
The GMC fees are as follows:
£390 for registration with a licence to practise
£140 for registration without a licence to practise.
They also have an "income discount": the threshold to qualify for the income discount is £32,000. This means any doctor whose total gross
worldwide income from all sources is less than £32,000 will qualify for a 50% reduction in the annual retention fee due from 1 April 2014.
I think that the GDC fee should be the same or less than that of the GMC given that our procedures have a far lower risk than those of medicine. I
also think that a reduction for dentists in the hospital services who are earning far less than their peers should be available.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
A more detailed breakdown of the day to day costs and expenditure, for instance how can a third of a day cost £6500? and also relevant salaries
of the council and subsistence claims
It would be useful to know how much each group of dentists costs the GDC i.e. does it cost as much to regulate DFT's compared with practice
owners? As £945 is a greater financial loss to a newly qualified DFT compared with a practice owner and it is unfair to ask them to pay the same
particularly if there is a difference in what it cost the GDC to regulate each group, which currently we do not know. Similarly what are the costs of
regulating dental nurses compared with dental therapists? Again the earning capacity is greatly different and if nurses incur less cost compared to
dental therapists why should they pay the same. We understand that the GDC's funding comes from ARF however these are testing times
financially for all particularly those new to the profession and currently a 60% increase in ARF for dentists compared to only 6% for DCP's seems
out of proportion as we have no breakdown of the actual figures as to whether it costs 10x more to regulate dentists than DCP's.
value of property in London - surely savings could be made by moving to a more efficient building?
The costs for regulating those qualified abroad.
What the GDC are doing to reduce litigation trends and not just covering the financial implications. Solving the source of the problem would surely
safeguard the public.
The proposed increase is exorbitant. The cost of fitness to practice cases could be reduced if frivolous ones were stopped at an early stage. It is
also outrageous that the GDC expects the full ARF to be paid by clinicians who are unemployed or on maternity leave. If this ludicrous increase
does indeed come into effect I hope the GDC will at the very least give a discount to those who are not currently working for whatever reason, as
most indemnity providers manage to do.
More detail on the costs of dealing with complaints and Fitness to practice hearings. What is the current spend and how have the projections
been calculated.
Yes, why you feel you need to indescriminately tax everyone this extortionate amount
The percentage of registrants responsible for the 110% increase in complaints sent to the GDC and the number of these which lead to the GDC
upholding the complaint.
How much it costs for all these consultations!
Why is it appropriate to increase obligatory fees at a time when we in visage an over supply of dentists, we do not have enough VT places for
current dental graduates yet they will all (employed and unemployed) be subject to this. Current English pilot changes to nhs contracts suggest
that a further reduction in employed dentists may also occur as increases DCP occur and if not then reductions income. It would therefore have
been useful to discuss this and therefore impact of the sudden increases in ARF proposed. What systems have been implemented (not just by the
GDC) to encourage more local handling of complaints and should the GDC have a greater role on pushing the robustness of these local systems. If
these local systems are not fit for purpose should their budgets be claimed instead by the GDC who is now doing their job?
We need a plan not to keep increasing fees taken and budgets but a plan to reduce the case load!!!
why are you not applying for goverment funding? I am disgusted by this rise in fees.
As an academic based in a dental hospital I would like to know what percentage of hearings are for private practice / nhs practice and the
hospital. I earn a small fraction of the income of someone in private practice and have a suspicion I will be funding their hearings (and the DCS).
There should be some reflection of income / risk in the fee.
I think that the DCP annual retention few fshould increase and the Dentists should decrease due to the growing amount of access and treatments
they are performing
There is no reason whatsoever why each case is costing this amount.
Percentage of nurses being paid over minimum wage. Very few
Where the retention money goes to!
Ofgem, ofsted, ofcom etc are all regulatory bodies of their respective fields, but they are not funded by the energy companies, schools and
communication industries they regulate. They are government funded. Why should the regulatory body for dentistry be different. You say you
need to use your income to "fund all activities Parliament has stated you must deliver" - why aren't you asking Parliament to fund what it is asking
for? I have no doubt the GDC requires more funds but it is entirely wrong for dentists and DCPs to solely foot this bill.
Also, as a mother and part time dentist (only one day a week) £1000 makes a significantly larger portion of my annual takings than other dentists,
this should absolutely be considered when charging for ARF. There should be lower fees for dentists practicing fewer hours, if not only for the fact
they are much less likely to have complaints made against them if they work less and see fewer patients.
Finally, practically a 100% increase from one year to the next with 5 months notice is completely unacceptable and I would expect a massive
display of anger from an already dissatisfied group of professionals who are all educated, bright and perfectly able to argue their case eloquently.
This is a terrible plan.
This is a comment on proposed ARF increase.
In view of the fact that there are so many more DCP's it seems unfair that the ARF will rise by 64% for dentists and 6.7% for DCP's.
Perhaps DCP's could have a rise to £150 and there could be a lesser although still substantial rise for dentists.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
You state that one of GDC duties is to protect the public. If this is the case then the public should contribute to GDC costs ie via the taxpayer /
public purse. Has GDC asked Parliament to contribute? Or to put it more bluntly, why should we dentists pay for protection of the public?
Venus costs £8000, Prosecution costs £33000, ftp panellist costs £14000, staff costs £14000....Per case !. Are you serious?!!, I can t believe you run
the GDC like this. It s not an endless pot of cash you know ?!, If dental practices were run like that there would be no patients going to any dentist.
Seriously, you need to sort yourselves out and show the dental profession that you are a responsible body. Faith in you is very very low.
For starters what are you doing in London? Do you really need to be there ?.
Secondly, the above mentioned costs are too high
Thirdly, you need to recognise that the NHS arrangements where fees are capped by the government while dental practices are incurring ever
increasing costs is shambles and you need to admit to that as a governing body (NHS practices cannot just ask for more money just like you are
doing)
Fourth, stop detaching yourself from the profession under "protecting patients", portraying dentists as being some kind of evil force.
I feel it highly unfair to charge all dentist's £945 per year when you could have someone in the salaried service on £35,000 a year but then an
associate on £60,000 a year or a principal on over £100,000 a year.
I find it astonishing that an increase of this magnitude is even possible. Over the last 7 months, you have managed to conduct last minute research
to justify this increase. I understand that patient complaints have sharply risen in recent years, but I do not believe that dentists generally
speaking are to blame, and should not foot the bill. I know there is a "money grabbing" epidemic in this country. It would appear people are
desperate to get anything out of anyone these days. I think your problem is not with dentists, but most certainly in your filtration process. The
real solution to this problem is to take money from a tax fund paid for by the public. Otherwise dentists are paying extra for a service that is not to
serve them.
Why is there a 64% increase in dentists fees but only 6.8% for DCPs should the increases not be more in line with one another!
there must be a reason for the increased complaints, and perhaps this should be addressed at a political level dependent on why this increase has
come about, perhaps due to the influx of foreign trained dentists and different training procedures ect? i feel a slow gradual increase would be
advisable rather than a jump of nearly 50% in one go! the profession as a whole is currently struggling due to financial constraints and every
penny saved is a bonus!
the proposed fee increase is unjust and a massive increase, the gdc should look at the fees paid to its legal team , I cannot see how you can justify
such an increase to £945.
I think you need to justify why you will not take monthly direct debits when planning to take such a large amount of money from dentists just
before Christmas. I do not think dentists as a whole should be punished for a small number of the profession's mistakes and it is not the
profession's fault that there has been a cultural shift to blame culture and litigation. There is also no consideration as to newly graduated dentists
crippled with debt.
Perhaps moving from Wimpole Street to a cheaper location may reduce fees.
As far as I can see their is no need (i.e. legal obligation) to run the Dental Complaints Service. I'd also like to know more about the proposed "cost
orders" where registrants found to have impaired fitness to practice could pay something like a fine.
no
That is a huge jump in ARF, can this not be equally shared amongst all registrants? Newly qualified dentists do not have £900 available in
December!
I would like a monthly direct debit option to pay these fees.
I realise that this comment does not answer the question raised. However, I feel strongly that the questions within this consultation have been
designed and worded in such a way that the outcome of the consultation will necessarily support the ARF increase.
I feel that raising the ARF by such a large amount for dentists will impact on lower and part time earners disproportionately and could therefore
unfairly disadvantage groups such as women who are more likely to be in part time work. The refusal of the GDC to consider payment of the ARF
by monthly instalments payments further compounds this issue.
how much you pay in rent
how many people you employ
their earnings?
Should have a different fee for those tgat work part time as a huge increase.
Why do part-time practitioners have to pay the same as full time practitioners? Dentists who undertake further training and CPD should receive a
discount too.
How does the GDC propose to speed up the complaint process?
Cases, costs, number of cases, expenses/wages
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Yes, why do we have to pay for a body in which we have no say and is there to (so say) protect patients. This should be paid for by the people it
represents i.e. the public. The proposed increases in ARF are scandalous. Why not stop the ridiculous idea of letting patients complain directly to
you. This would save a lot of water time and OUR money. Have to state this here as
you clearly don't invite comments anywhere else. My ethnicity is none of your business.
I think you could make the GDC fee realistic and not 3% of an FD's salary on the same year they are taking a pay cut. I think you should align the
GDC fee with what dentists actually earn and appreciate the constant pay cuts they have faced over the past 8 years. Take into account working
part time etc
You do realise you discriminate against
-community dentists (generally female)
-dentists on maternity leave (female)
-dentists with care commitments (mostly female)
-dentists who are unable to work full time due to health problems
-newly qualified dentists
For some of these groups the new fee will be a month's wage.
As a registrant I would like to see a reduction to the registration fee for the above groups, to keep ARF fair.
In all honesty I don't think the ARF offers value for money to dentists. As a registrant I do not get anything out of it except my name on a list. In
effect Im paying you so people get the opportunity to sue dentists and as a registrant Im funding this. Perhaps if someone somewhere is really
interested on protecting patients, should start charging patients either directly or through taxation.
Failing that the GDC should either go "cap in hand" to the DoH and ask for funding or become a registered charity and fundraise until the cows
come home.
The GMC deals with more complaints of a more serious nature and it has managed to reduce their ARF, even after introducing revalidation a
couple of years ago.
Yer why we have to pay it and not the people the reason for the increase!? Lawyers?
Yes. Compare dentists ARF to our medical colleagues. Why such a difference? And why are DCP's charged so much less? Why is there no sliding
scale for those dentists who don't work as much/earn as much? There should be an option to pay such a hefty fee in instalments, especially as it
comes out at Christmas time. A 64% increase is an absolute disgrace.
How much money you spend on expenses for those people employed on your panels, expenses from the very lengthy interview procedure
currently being held for fitness to practice panel, proportion of your members who involved in specialist high risk areas of dentistry such as
implantology & aesthetic dentistry who are more likely to find themselves in front of the Gdc should have to pay a higher arf similar to how dental
protection etc charge more depending on the types of procedures carried out. I feel that you could cut money further in personal expenses &
those in higher risk areas of dentistry should have to pay a higher proportion of the costs rather than others being penalised for this.
Information to show how you are trying to help the dental professionals rather than encouraging complaints.
WHAT ABOUT DENTISTS WHO WORK PART TIME???
I WORK 2 DAYS A WEEK THIS WILL EQUAL A FULL MONTHS WAGE FOR ME. RIDICULOUS.
I WANT TO SEE A RESPONSE TO THIS POST. FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME.
None
Do not punish us safe and professional DCP's because there is unsafe DCP's. I find this increase shocking, atleast make sure we earn enough to pay
the ARF before increasing it.
I think the registration fee should be based on a sessional basis as £945 is extremely high for a dentist only working one day a week for example.
Also, there should be a concessional rate for dentists taking a break from practice eg for maternity leave. Why is this not the case?
A split of demographics of FTP ie uk qualified, EU, rest of world. What is the GDC doing about the increase in FTP? Rather than being reactive, they
need to be proactive. Why so many now? What has changed? Is it new dentists, and therefore a training issue which again needs to be addressed
by the GDC. The gmc do not charge such a large amount and they pay in installments. We need to be able to pay in installments. £945 in January
is a ridiculous amount.
I do agree that it it's dentists costing the most, we should pay more, but this is almost doubled our fee. GDC need to look at reducing their costs
sell wimpole street and relocate north. This would free up a large amount of assets.
A break down pound by pound of how that £945 would be spent
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Justification for such an astronomical fee for those on lower salaries, GPTs, trainees etc.
Why good dentists have to pay for the mistakes of others.
Maybe instead of dealing with complaints, put money into making sure dental standards are met and not letting people with inferior degrees
practice in this country.. Doesn't happen in Australia or America.
I strongly disagree with your proposal to take no account of a dentists income or working pattern. I cannot believe that it complies with equality
legislation.
For example, I am a dentist working 3 days in the community dental service at the bottom of the dental officer payscale. My annual salary is just
over £22000 pa. This increase will basically mean that the combination of ARF and indemnity cancel out 1 whole months salary which is just not
financially suustainable.
This proposal discriminates against any dentists considering the community dental service where the salaries are lower and positions are part
time due to the larger number of female dentists with childcare requirements who opt to work within the community service.
Age and education ranges for complaints, costs per case, etc
Consider a system linked to risk of dentist/dcp?
I think more detail regarding the cost saving measures implemented by the GDC would be useful. Nearly £1000 a year is a huge amount of money
to have to be paying, especially when I am married to a dentist so our household will have to pay £2000 a year just to have our names on a
register. I feel more effort should be made in reducing running costs of the organisation rather than making dentists foot the bill.
I think it would be absolutely appalling to expect dental assistants to increase the high amount they already pay for theyre registration.
Your running costs are too high, in comparison the GMC retention fee is significantly lower
An explanation of your ludicrous costs and why you haven't moved out of London to a cheaper part of the country.
Why the GDC is investigating so many unwarranted complaints.
Comparison of costs to regulate dentists with other comparable proffesions and their regulating body such as the GMC where the annual fee is a
fraction of this proposed price
Where the gdc money is actually spent. You state that a 110% raise in complaints warrants an additional £18million in funds. Why? Where will this
money go? How much does each investigation actually cost? Is the money spent effectively and in the best interest of both the patient and the
professional?
How is it reasonable that a fitness to practice hearing costs £20,000 per day? By any measure this is unreasonable and costs must be brought
under control.
Proper investigation of cases would reduce the number of cases going to FTP.
How can it be reasonable that dentists are set to pay more than double the retention fee of their GMP colleagues?
Ridiculous increase in 1 year!
The percentage of increase is unacceptable, it should be the same increment increase for all members. NHS funding is being cut, practitioners
aren't making a 64% increase in their annual income it's absolutely ludicrous to justify charging this amount. I also would like to know what is the
percentage of failed cases (patients' failed claims) and cost of that from the GDC. Surely patients who make a claim and fail should pay for their
own cost. (Same as an open court) And maybe those registrants who had been found guilty and suspended but not erased should pay more.
Why is monthly direct debit not on the agenda for dentists but it's being kept in mind for DCPs? We have a young family and my husband and I
would have to find £2000 each December. There needs to be a monthly direct debit option for everyone.
Why have the GDC not moved offices to somewhere less expensive? Being in the centre of London must be very costly and cause more money in
expenses for people who need to attend.
Complete breakdown of all expenditure, including building costs and running costs.
Why are we not funded by the tax payer
What is the purpose of gdc when cqc have taken over of many of these roles
More income should have already been raised through dental nurse , therapist etc registration
Why are gdc head quarters on wimple street their are other options
Yes. Why the GDC charges dentist a ARF at all. The GDC remit is to protect patients. It should therefore be funded some other way not by those
that it regulates.
To reduce costs move out of London. Sell assets. Stop persecuting dentists.
Well I think too much money is spent on paperwork and fighting for people who can't or don't know how to behave. May be a refund for people
who don't get in bother would be more productive!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Stop wripping your fellow professionals off with a preposterous increase that frankly is beyond reason. When already there are problems with the
economy, inflation and growth. This is completely beyond reason and urgently needs to be reassessed.
Why do dental nurses pay the same arf as hygienists when we earn a fraction of what they do. You are ensuring that nurses will leave this
profession well done.
Where is the money being spent? An exact break down of what our money as GDP's is going towards would be helpful. £945 for every dentist per
year is a very large sum of money. It cannot all be going towards dealing with complaints.
2015 expenditure seems to be based on theory and clearing a backlog of cases within the year which I don't think is achievable. I am not
convinced the GDC has done all it can to reduce its running costs and I feel very strongly that it is unfair to throw so much in the way of cost on us
for an organisation purely there to serve the public. In a culture which has become so flippant about complaining formally about almost anything I
would like more reassurance that the large number of cases the GDC take on are appropriate. I feel a substantial number do not need to be
brought to that level. If the public are going to complain to such an extent, why should we carry the entire financial burden? Can some of the
funding not be sought from the public sector?
Breakdown on how much each function costs the GDC.
How you worked out that 110% increase in 4 years, also how you expect dentists to pay almost 100% increase in fees when the NHS fee guide for
us in N.Ireland only increases by 1% per year?
Wastage, salaries of GDC employees etc
Justifying the increase.
How can you as a body expect to double the price of its subscription without uproar? Not one of the 120 staff in our group have said this is
expected and welcome. Regulation of what cases actually reaches the Gdc level is what is needed to be addressed.
Further information regarding the 110% increase in complaints. This is a significant increase. Why? Data analysis would be most welcome as soon
as possible.
An ARF increase in the order of the percentage highlighted is concerning, especially for young dentists who now leave university with large debts.
Justification for the leased building. Prime central London is a luxury, perhaps move to a cheaper location?
the percentage of fitness to practice expenses on foreign national dentists versus British dentists. There appear to be more and more complaints
against foreign dentists practicing here who cannot speak adequate English. In a day where there are not enough jobs for our own homegrown
graduates I find this rather disturbing
Why the GDC is solely funded by dental care professionals when it's onus is primarily to protect the public/tax payer?
Why dentists fees are increasing more than dcps
Looking into how many cases should be thrown our before they reach consultation as they not have sufficient grounds to stand on. How you are
going to reduce the overall number of claims as it is not sustainable for claims to continue to rise when the standard of dentistry is increasing.
How are you dealing with Parliament to help change the on win no fee culture? How you you justify the rising costs when you are not putting into
place controls to stop them spiralling.
how the estimation of an £18 million pound increase was arrived at.
-A further breakdown of the costs of holding a fitness to practice hearing (i.e. pannel costs of £19,000 and staffing costs of £14,000)
-Proportion of fees used to pursue cases related to their outcomes (i.e. cases pursued with the outcome of no sanctions imposed)
Why is the fee for GDPs increased by 64% to £945 when GMPs annual retention fee is £400?!! It seems the dental profession is getting squeezed
for money at all levels. It cost us to get registered with the council and having to pay for private medicals from GPs when our counterparts didn't
have to do the same to register with the medical council. It seems that you are giving the impression that if a complaint about fitness to practice
etc is autimatically going to end up with a payout or disciplinary action.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Our pay increase from the NHS is 1% per annum. How can you propose increasing the ARF by 64%? This will result in our professional fees costing
more than a months wage. How is this supporting a profession where an increasing number of registrants are coming out of university with an
increasing amount of debt already?????
The number of fitness to practice cases has risen by 110% - What is the likelihood of this increasing in the future and how can this increase be
dealt with other than by increasing ARF fees to arrange more fitness to practice hearings. The implication is that if 8000 complaints were received
a year we could end up with an ARF in the region of £2000.
Details as to the cost of chasing those illegally practicing dentistry should be reported. Including any costs recovered from doing so? These are
clearly people not contributing to GDC costs and as service users, should they not be?
In terms of dental education do the Universities contribute funds to the GDC in terms of paying for inspections and reports? How much do these
establishments contribute? Should their contribution increase as the cost of funding the service increases?
Every dentist currently pays the same ARF fee regardless of their level of training and type of practice. It does not take into consideration dentists
who may be working part time, pursuing further training; dentists who by working reduced hours are likely to be at a reduced likely hood of
receiving a complaint.
I understand that there has been use of some reserves over recent years to buffer when the number of complaints increases. What would be the
plan if these reserves were used before increasing the ARF? is a reserve of 10million pounds on-top of assets of 50million pounds not seem
excessive for a public body?
Why was the increase not gradually introduced as the number of complaints increased?
What would be the impact on the finances of dental workers in current climate where wages are not increasing?
salary costs
Cost of buildings and hire of rooms
1) Information about other sources that GDC is planning to explore/ considered already to cover needs other than registrants only.
2) Given the direct association between complaints and funds required, it appears necessary to have information about the reasons resulted in
this dramatic increase of complaints within a relative short period of time and a proposed plan by the GDC to deal with this matter in the long
term.
This increase is disgraceful. Why should we pay extra to be complained about? The standard of dentistry isn't getting worse, dentists are not to
blame. The blame and claim culture created is. Dentists should not be punished.
Also need to take dentists posts into consideration and how much more money dentists pay than doctors, teachers or any other profession.
Perhaps the gdc being more efficient and organised would be a way to save money? The percentage increase for dentists is far too greater than
for dcps
Have you considered charging the people who have fitness to practice cases against them? Or charging the corporates forcing dentists to
compromise their work for the benefit of figures???
The number of dentists and dental care professionals currently registered and how this will increase or decrease by 2015. This should also reflect
a decrease/increase in cost.
How to reduce the number of complaints being made.
How many cases which went to trial which were unnecessary.
An audit of the efficiency of the GDC and whether there were any payments from the public for wasting GDC time.
Is this service just being abused by the public? Should they not fund if they are deemed to be time/resource wasting.
Why dental care professionals pay a significantly reduced rate? Dental Therapists should pay a higher rate as they are providing more treatment
than others. Does direct access play a role in costs?
Figures of how many complaints there were to each indivual dental care professional domain i.e. dental nurse, therapist, dentist.
Since 2010 you have started. Charging nurses& technicians. This therefore provided way more income for the GDC. NHS fees have not been
increased enough to compensate and with inflation up, this is a beyond reasonable increase.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The number of complaints that are upheld and where a full investigation/ public hearing is deemed to have been the best way to deal with a
complaint.
Are there more efficient ways to investigate complaints, as the current system seems to be extremely expensive and in many cases over the top?
Why is the number of complaints increasing so much? Is it poor training, overseas (EU) dentists being allowed to work but not being given
sufficient support, or inappropriate complaints from patients?
Please justify the 110% rise in fees against the supposed increase in costs of investigations into dentists. Please also justify the rise in GDC fees
compared to that of the GMC fees.
This is the most ridiculous increase I have ever heard. The GDC needs to make efficiency savings not just the NHS. As a orthodontic trainee a
quarter of my salary is professional fees. Why is this not payable in instalments?
earnings of examiners, panellist and other people salaries which are in the expenditure, percentage of how much of the complaints are valid,
On why it's costing so much, and why we have to use legal route to assess and strike off such cases.
More information not just about how you protect the public and patients, but how you ensure illegal practices are not going ahead to protect our
profession. More information on your influence on the new NHS contract to protect the integrity of the profession.
yes. where could you make other cutbacks. Also be realistic. On the current amount of money that you get now, tell us what you can provide and
stick to that. You have unlimited demand on a fixed amount of money - just do what you can for that amount of money. As general practitioners
we have unlimited demand for a fixed NHS contract for which we are forced to turn patients away through lack of funding. Instead of further
affecting patient access (increasing the ARF by such a large amount WILL impact on delivery of patient treatment) just deliver what you can on a
fixed budget. Finally a 64% increase is ridiculously large
The reason why the ARF isn't changed dependent on group, such as why are those doing medicine as a second degree for Maxfax, who may be
working minimally or not at all, still expected to pay the same as those working full time. The risk of a fitness to practice case being brought
against us is negligible.
Those who are in front of the conduct board should pay for all the costs. Not the rest of those on the GDC list.
Move offices too cheaper parts of the UK.
What's the breakdown of cases against dentists versus dcps
This is a scandalous position to be in. Dentists no longer respect the GDC and this is a very good reason why.
Will you publish the outcome of this survey. If the majority of dentists don't agree to the rise... Will you refrain?
How many nuisance claims the GDC wasted time and money investigating last year. As the GDC protects patients and does very little to represent
dentists perhaps taxpayer money should fund the organisation.
Number of EU dentists registered for "equivalence"!!!
I am a hard working professional with ethical values. I don't see why I have to pay such a large increase in ARF just to practice Dentistry that i love
all because some members of the profession are failing to meet these values.
I have two important questions:
1) as a women working 2 or 3 days a week, why should I pay the same as someone working a 5 or 6 day week??
2) What proportion of fitness to practice hearings involve UK graduates versus foreign dentists?
I would really urge the GDC to consider the part-time working dentist - particularly working mothers. £945 a year is far to much especially when
associate pay is decreasing with increased pressures on practice owners.
Better explanation on why such a big increase in the fee
This payment represents the cost of regulating dental profession but does not take into account the individual risks of different practitioners . This
exorbitant price rise is pricing dentists out of working . What further pay cuts will we now receive ?
When I qualified in 1994 the ARF was £90. It has increased to £576 which is a massive rate of inflation.
GMPs pay only £390 annually.
How can it be possible that they pay so little and we pay so much more and now are expected to pay even more? Our outlays as practising
dentists increase year after year and yet our contract values have stayed the same since 2007! You cannot possibly think it is fair to increase the
ARF by such a huge amount when our incomes stay the same year after year. We are the only NHS workers not to get any pay rises and yet our
outlays are amongst the highest. Simply not fair.
Lower gdc fee
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
There is No proportional representation of fee increase when comparing fee increase to salaries of DCPs and GDPs
The increase is not in proportion to any increases in inflation/dental registrants salaries/increases in costs.
Utterly ludicrous increase in fees which I feel only highlights poor business forecasting and poor planning by the GDC.
The justification of 'This fee is deductible for the purposes of income tax for all UK-based registrants' is completely flawed. The GDC should be part
funded through other national or governmental means - how is it that this can be an impartial service when it is funded by dentists?
It is regrettable that there are more fitness to practice proceedings but perhaps rather than penalising those of us that are upstanding
professionals with exorbitant amounts of further qualifications it may be better to start to look at why we have an increase in fitness to practice
proceedings? Are our dental schools failing in training? Is their insufficient CPD?
What are the statistics on Country of Graduation of Dental undergraduate degree and levels of fitness to practice proceedings brought against
these registrants? Ensuring this foreign training is fully equivalent to British standard and therefore registrants are clinically acceptable before
being allowed to practice in the UK would be beneficial.
Perhaps the 'no win, no fee' campaigns by law firms are something that should be looked at. What proportion of fitness proceedings are justified
and what are simply spurred on by patients being encouraged to complain...
This fee is taken in full in the first few days of December before most registrants will have received December salaries and right before Christmas the most expensive time of the year which is then followed by one of the quietest months in practice. This all just shows how little the GDC cares
about its registrants.
The GDCs position in maintaining standards is, I agree, of upmost importance, however, a fee increase of this magnitude is entirely unjustified.
There is absolutely no need to increase the fee to dentists by a STAGGERING 67%. This is simply outrageous.
All dentists and DCPs should have access to a FULL itemisation for EVERY day (including 'expenses') to show what is actually necessary per day to
hold hearings. Perhaps moving outside of London, one of the most expensive places to work and live, is a simply option to avoid causing uproar
and anger amongst EVERY dentist in the UK???
Justification to charge dentists who are just out of university or working at reduced salaries in hospitals nearly 1000 pounds to continue their job.
How you can justify a 64% rise is still beyond me!
A more detailed breakdown
A breakdown of how the national total ARF is split up - e.g. marketing, complaints handling, hearing, salaries etc
A comparison between the GDC and GMC - the GMC fee is only £390 and there are more doctors than dentists, therefore higher potential for
litigation but yet the GDC's ARF is much much higher.
Will the ARF be payable in installments?
Evidence that the dramatic increase in fees in last 15 years have improved standards rather than just being a response to a more us based
litigation society we now have. Comparison with GMC fees which are much lower! Cost savings of selling Wimpole street and moving to, for
instance Darlington- less glamorous, but in an internet based future hard to argue. against! I am interest in whether the GDC perceives whether
the increase in litigation has foci ie to bodies corporate employed practitioners, foriegn qualified practitioners, practitioners without post
graduate qualifications? Would a tiered, risk based fee system not encourage practitioners to operate ethically, ensure language skills are
sufficient and seek additional education?
Why has there been a massive increase in complaints. why has there been such an underestimate of complaints and the cost to manage these
complaints?
You are then politicians of dentistry. Whatever you publish and show us I am sure will not show the whole story. Disgrace for trying to raise the
price.
Exactly what the costs entail. Why it has remains static for 4 years without any apparent problem and suddenly there is a ridiculous 60% increase
Investigate why complaints are increasing so much. It might have something to do with ever increasing costs while prices have stagnated for the
past 5 years. Some dentists might be forced into doing things they wouldn't previously have done to try and earn a similar wage.
Why have you given a full breakdown of your costs yet HIDDEN the new fee deep in the many links that have to be followed. This is not
transparent.
Dental nurses should not be charged the same rate as hygienists and therapists,they don't earn anything like the same amount.
You should have separate ARF fees-those that mainly work in the NHS and those who work in private dentistry. I believe the bulk of GDC
complaints are from the NHS so private practitioners should not be faulted for this nor extorted. The increase is staggering.
The GDC will greatly damage dentistry. These ARF costs will be passed onto patients and recruitment of DCP's will be even worse. Dentists should
not be paying for a body that aims to investigate them. It destroys confidence.
It is disappointing that the GDC has done nothing to highlight the specialist list (which incurs a fee) and educate the public. We do not benefit
from GDC membership-we view it as a tax.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why it costs so much, where my money will be used.
What are you doing to protect dentists interests?
There seems to be no move by the GDC to investigate why there has been such an increase in complaints and why so many are becoming Fitness
to Practice issues and not being dealt with at a local level.
I feel the way you charge DCPs is very unfair, A Dental nurse is on a lot less than a hygienist and therapist and they pay the same amount. Part
time staff pay the same as full time and people on maternity pay on their year out and money can be tight then. I feel the whole costing and
system needs looking into the wrong people always get penalised
Apart from details regarding fitness to practice hearings, no further information has been given about the way monies from registrants is used. I
feel both dentist and DCPs ARF are excessive when compared to other skilled professionals. I suspect this level of ARF payment will encourage
young dentists to seek employment outside the UK where contracts are more desirable and ARF rates are reasonable.
The GDC are yet to adequately explain why I am expected to pay nearly £1k for a regulatory body which sees fit to publish my home address
online. If this was just a body to protect the profession I could accept dentists must shoulder the costs but to protect the public should engender
some tax payer funding!
No, additional information is needed.
This is a ridiculous increase.
Make savings in the way our money is spent on GDC council meetings, refurbishments and staffing
I'm just greatful that nurses don't have the same hike that dentists do, a 64% hike is a huge huge increase, I understand dentists earnings far
exceed dcp's and that most cased will be against dentists, but it's incredibly harsh, surely it should be on a sliding pay scale? how are newly
qualified dentist going to able to afford nearly £1000?
You are pathetic.
A breakdown in the origin of the increase in claims, ie dentists to allied professionals, non uk trained professionals etc.
You make great strides to keep mentioning that the ARF has not increased since 2010. However I am sure that you are aware neither has dental
income either. The ARF, especially for salaried practitioners costs a significant proportion of their salary, with or without the tax relief.
Too much increase for dentists
Number of laps register that re register
N/a
I don't agree at all. The fee should be based not only on position but the number of hours. Why should a part time role pay the same fees as a full
time role. No money is being invested to help reduce the number of claims. This is just helping to find the notion and encourage people to sue
medical professionals to make money rather than having a legitimate claim or reason.
No
While I see the need for an increase in ARF, I feel it is extremely unfair to increase the ARF for dentists in this way. It is another kick in the teeth
for GDPs who work predominantly within the NHS. We are being squeezed financially towards extinction from every direction.
Surely the ARF should be determined by % NHS income and graded accordingly.
Those dentists with higher incomes..ie private should pay higher ARF.
Or perhaps the GDC rest easy with adding a few more nails in the coffin of NHS GDS!
Very disgruntled NHS dentist who chooses to put the austerity ruined public first before my own financial wellbeing.
Sort it out please GDC.
I am afraid that the GDC has rather missed the point. Simply pushing the costs of a massive rise in litigation onto the dental professionals when
the rise is caused entirely by the legal profession charging grotesque sums of money and soliciting of claims is inappropriate and wrong. What is
required is urgent change in the legal system to stop the current ever increasing rise of ambulance chasing which has seen car insurance
premiums sky rocket over recent years with spurious whiplash claims. If nothing is done then the same will soon be true of claims in the dental
and medical field. A 64% rise is utterly unacceptable and no dental professional in the country will be ready to accept it.
This is completely inappropriate and ill founded. We should not be 'penalised' for the general public's need to complain about dental
professionals on mainly ill founded claims. Either these complaints should be dealt with by the defence organisations and therefore the GDC
overheads would be reduced or the public should be charged for the GDCs costs as much as we are. It is totally unfair that we bare the brunt of
the GDC's deficit and also remain in fear of complaints when we are trying to practise good dentistry and do the best for our patients. Another
way needs to be found to relieve the GDC deficit rather than charging hard working professionals more.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
1. How much of this increase will actually be allocated to fund the investigation of new cases?
2. How much of this increase will be allocated for the salaries of your committee?
3. How many new cases have actually progressed to a hearing since 2010?
4. Have the GDC investigated the declining rate of pay for dentists in the UK since 2010? Surely this should be taken into account before charging
us for the poor representation of the legal system by no win no fee solicitors. As you will know NHS dentists have experienced pay cut after pay
cut in the past 2-3 years. An increase like this (and may I add, it is so generous of you to add this at Christmas time and just prior to us paying our
tax and student loans) is suggestive of a potential future further increase justifiable by the means of re-assessment. "Due to so many cases of
negligence we feel that dentists should now be re-examined, for which you will have to pay". I wait with intrepidation for the day THAT email
arrives on my junk mail.
I feel the figures need to be reviewed by an independent party as they are incredibly high
I dont think that increasing the ARF to this figure is fair or justified. This is a dental profession and we should be working together which I dont feel
is the case here. The GDC has put forward this extortionate figure and expects all dentists, with current claims or not, with previous complaints or
not, in general practice or not to pay this. I cant see how its fair that we have to pay this huge sum of money so that we can be regulated. We
have studied a considerable number of years and continue to do so via CPD and you continue to make it difficult for dentists to practice in the UK.
This unacceptable rise in the ARF will continue to push dentists out of this country, dentists like myself who genuinely want to provide this
valuable service to the general public. I think on behalf of all my dental colleagues that you strongly reconsider this. You have no doubt received a
huge backlash and you must stop to consider why this is.
We should not have to pay more than what the medics pay. Which I have been told is less than £400. How can the GMC manage on this and the
GDC can't? So £945 is nearly double what the medics pay, c'mon this is too much.
It is outrageous that the GDC, which behaves as a functionary of the Department of Health, not a professional registration body, feels it can
impose such an unprecedented increase in registration fee. Consider the GMC and other countries' dental registration bodies and their fees. GDC
has long ceased to represent the profession. We are NOT a SUPERMARKET!
We should not have to pay more than what the medics pay. Which I have been told is less than £400. How can the GMC manage on this and the
GDC can't? So £945 is nearly double what the medics pay, c'mon this is too much.
Fee payable by direct debit?
If a patient tries to sue a dental professional and the claim is not upheld is the patient liable for a cost?
No
I understand the costs have increased for the gdc, however I feel it is just too big an increase for dentists to fork out for. Patient complaints are
increasing, why should it be up to the dental profession to fork out for this? Surely there should be a system whereby the patient pays a fee for a
complaint and this is refunded if the complaint is upheld? I don't see why dentists should suffer for an increase in complaint culture? Also, doesn't
seem right the fee is over double the GMC annual retention fee.
Breakdown of cases brought against GDPs/specialists/trainees
A further breakdown into the expenses as to why are venue costs and staff costs so high per day? What measures have been implemented to
reduce these costs?
What percentage of the complaints made actually turn out to find the dentist negligent or unfit to practice? The GDC should charge patients who
wish a complaint/dentist to be investigated. If I wanted to sue someone,who is not a dentist, for whatever reason, I would have to pay legal fees
to do so. Why then should patients not pay fees to sue/complain about a dentist? £945 is an outrageous amount of money. It is immoral and
unacceptable that the GDC suggests such an ARF. The complaint culture has gotten the better of this organisation. The GDC is becoming a threat
to dentists. It is truly shameful.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Please explain why the cost of one fitness to practice hearing is so expensive:
- How many people sit on the panel to justify a 19K bill and why are they being paid so much?
- What staff are being employed at such high costs?
- Where exactly is the Venue that justifies an 8K cost?
Please explain what measures are being done to prevent fitness to practice hearings and promote local resolution.
Please explain where and when these hearings take place to justify such a high price.
Please explain how newly graduated dentists can be motivated to provide a high standard of care which is expected of such a highly trained
person, when their salary after tax and ARF is similar to the average UK salary and can be achieved through no training or qualifications.
Please explain why the differences between the GDC and the GMC fees are so huge.
Please explain why there are no other sources of funding, such as from the government or legal aid, for fitness to practice hearings and other GDC
functions.
Please provide information on the levels of staffing and staff salaries within the GDC itself, which we would expect to fall in line with economic
hardship and austerity that all other professions and trades, including dentistry, have experienced. please also provide a history of this over the
previous years to show decreases and increases in staffing and staff expenditure, and why.
Unfair sum compared to the rate that Doctors pay to GMC
The increase is ludicrous especially, seeing as medics do not have such high charges. Additionally, it would make sense to have a reduced fee for
part time workers. The gdc is designed primarily to protect patients but it seems that dentists are seen as a cash rich source that provide an easy
target for squeezing out finances wherever they run short
Exactly how are the fees increasing the speed of case turnover. It is unacceptably slow.
A consideration needs to be made for registrants in training who have low salaries. As a registrar in a 3 year training programme my salary is
substantially lower than my general practice counterparts, yet most of the complaints to the GDC seem to involve General Practitioners. Also
some DCPs in practice earn more than my salary as a dentist in a training post. I therefore think unless there are different grades of ARF for
dentists in different sectors, this blanket increase can only be unfair to some
Consider reducing the price for part time dentists. 900+ is too much for 2 sessions per week.
I would like to know why we as dentist it's cannot pay by monthly instalments. With the extortionate increase in fees this is a must!
Please reduce costs by relocating
to cheaper area of the country than Central London !
Stop paying expert witnesses and other consultants thousands of pounds including secretaries - for work which is nowhere related to time - esp as
it is a public service like jury service. Should be paid accordingly .
I feel like your questions on this consultation are extremely leading and there is nowhere for me to raise my concerns.
I understand that you need to raise the ARF but I think 64% is extreme.
1. Some therapists earn as much as associates and with Direct Access having been introduced, I cannot understand how they can be paying the
same as nurses who have far fewer responsibilities (and a much lower wage).
2. Maybe consider what other large companies are doing to save money, and relocating to an area with less rent. e.g Birmingham or Manchester.
3. If you are to raise it to £945, then PLEASE allow us to pay in instalments. Finding nearly £1000 to pay all in one go, at christmas, when many of
us have families seems extremely unfair. The GMPs are allowed to pay in instalments.
4. Newly qualified dentists have just had their wages reduced by £2000 and now are also expected to find almost £1000 to even be a dentist.
SURELY a tiered system could be considered?
How much do you spend on each Fitness to Practice hearing? Can we please have a breakdown of these costs?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
What is being done to prevent complaints?
If parliament requires GDC to meet it's statutory requirement to protect the public, for cases involving the taxpayer i.e. The NHS, why are the GDC
not getting support from the taxpayer for a taxpayer service? Separating the private sector as a separate fee for the GDC.
Why are complaints going up?
Why are dentists getting penalised for dentists who out rightly do wrong?
Are we encouraging the public to complain? If so and theoretically if so, what are we going to do about this?
I believe the increase from £576 to £945 for dentists is a bit steep. I understand the need to increase the fee but perhaps increase it by £100 not
£369! That ridiculous why not increase the DCP's fee a bit more instead. We have a lot to pay for already in order to be able to practice so I don't
find it fair at all. We have our indemnity, CPD, courses, lab fees and lots more to pay for to keep our right to practice.
Efforts to reduce costs rather than increasing our fee to meet them
Cost of expenses to GDC per annum to cover over night stays for business related accommodation. Do employees of GDC have company cars? The
pay for GDC registrants who sit at meetings (we were invited to apply for jobs sitting on the board during consultations and the daily rate of pay
was huge) and who have flights and again accommodation paid for them
This proposed fee hike is totally outrageous. As a dentist studying for my second degree in medicine, working part time to make ends meet, I find
it ridiculous that I should pay nearly £1000 a year for regulation that barely applies to me.
I feel that the GDC wastes a lot of money e.g.overpaying for services of expert witnesses, travelling expenses etc. Costs could be further reduced.
Also premises could bpe moved to a far cheaper location thereby releasing funds.
Over the years, the GDC has sent out really rather leading questionnaires, much like this one, to gain information and feedback from the
profession. And, yes, you have spent our ARF to do this. I believe one of the points showing you are listening to the profession is the name of the
ARF - a title 'practising fee' may be preferred. What would really be preferred, is spending time and money on regulating the profession, not the
the name of the exorbitant fee you are proposing to charge us. Or other such petty matters which we all know makes little difference to the
regulation of the profession.
I disagree with the ridiculous proposed increase for dentists. A majority of dentists, the vast majority are hard working ethical professionals,
paying for the minority of people who may be unethical. How about a reasonably low ARF for all practicing professionals, and those who need to
undergo a fitness to practice trial, or are called into question, pay the fee's of their own proceedings. The trouble with raising the fee for those
who have previously has a FTP proceeding, is that they will then likely leave the profession. So the GDC will loose out on the increased income.
And again, the ethical majority of the profession pay for the unethical few.
As a hard working professional, on a specialist pathway in dentistry, I am currently paying my ARF, professional indemnity, MClinDent course fees,
royal college fee's, journal subscriptions and CPD course fee's. For four years, I will have more outgoings then incomings as a dentist. And yet, you
propose to increase the fee's. NO OTHER PROFESSION HAS SO MANY FEE'S JUST TO WALK THROUGH A DOOR AND PRACTICE A PROFESSION
THEY'VE SPENT SO LONG TRAINING FOR.
We are in a litigious age. And more complaints are being brought forward. However, perhaps there need to be a more effective screening process.
With personal injury claims being so common-place, it is no surprise more cases are being brought - however, how many reasonable claims are
there? Before whacking the profession with costs, first look at simplifying practices at home. And perhaps developing a better screening process.
A little while back you proposed removing the specialists list from the GDC. This is another use of registrants money that really could be better
spent. Why are you spending money making it more difficult to identify a specialist from a general dentist? Is this your idea of regulating the
profession? How much was spent on the consensus agreement, and meetings to discuss this matter? A specialists list identifies those who have
spent YEARS on additional training. I find it crazy that the professional body, supposedly working in my best interests would even propose a policy
that would disadvantage the profession.
Lastly, the disproportionate increase for dentists and DCP's is rather poorly weighted. The large anticipated increase in claims can partly be caused
by the increased number of people you now regulate. Why are dentists being charged an increased percentage for the claims the DCP's will bring?
If you did not have the capacity to regulate a wider net, then why take them on - or was this again to raise funds, with no future planning of what
this may involve?
why not charge both members the same fee? why not charge patients for cases which do not amount to anything and this will reduce the amount
of resources used for no apparent good?
Far too spread out - more concise please
The amount that an clinical academic salary has 'increased' over the lady few years - less than inflation.
Could you consider charging offenders more to cover costs rather than those who practise appropriately and with professionalism.
There is a ceiling to how much can be claimed back through tax and specialists are charged more due to extra professional memberships and
maintaining FDS etc. I feel a 64% increase is unacceptable.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
What fees have you paid in respect of you longest FTP case? How many FTP cases are successful ? What evidence do you have to show that
internal lawyers can provide cost savings? If you reduce those on ic and FTP committees and in the light of the pas report into FTP can you assure
registrants that there will be a fair and transparent process?
As someone who in 7 years of practice has never received a complaint is there no way the fee could reflect a practitioners history of complaint. Eg
each year you dont have a complaint your fee reduces. (like a no claims bonus)
You have failed miserably to keep your costs under control. Why is there the need for a central London based address? Why am I expected to dip
further into my pockets so your emplyees have the kudos to work in the capital? Wigan or Slough has far cheaper property to rent.
A hike in ARF of this obscene magnitude is completely unacceptable and will be met with huge anger from an already disgruntled dental
profession.
Is this a back handed way of pricing the dental profession out of joining our trade union by simply making too expensive to pay for both the
compulsary GDC registration and BDA membership?
It is ridiculous that you claim that you haven't put the fee up in 4 years - for a 400 pound increase in one year it may as well have gone up
gradually, if you haven't got adequate funding this should be addressed by a sliding scale for fees based on salary, to a consultant or private
dentist this is nothing but to a vt and newly qualified dentist it is entirely unmanageable and accounts for over half the salary. It will put people off
the profession and should be based on how much you earn / how long you have been qualified for
Why are you using external legal services at all? Legal services should be provided in house only.
Why are expenditures not recovered from the dentist when they have been deemed unfit to practice?
Stop spending money on unnecessary consultations, for example, whether Dentists should be able to gives themselves the title of "Doctor".
I greatly understand that our profession requires a regulatory body. I also am fully aware that the cost of operating this service is increasing, as
we are all aware of increasing costs throughout our professional and personal lives. However, it is the amount of increase that is outrageous. If
this fee was gradually increased, I'm sure most Dentists would be more willing to accept the increase, however, suddenly launching a 64% fee
increase is unreasonable.
Medics pay the GMC an annual retention fee of £390 annually and they are even offered a to pay in instalments. We, as Dentists, are not even
offered that courtesy.
Costs with regards to staff and location of buildings. Is there really a need for very expensive buildings in a central london location?
If you are planning on increasing the few by so much what about monthly direct debits? An annual one off fee at Christmas causes problems for
many people.
What about trainees and people in employee indemnified positions? I understand you say that income is not taken into account but why?
It would be interesting to see a break down of where the number of complaints are coming from and to what dentists. Are oversees dentists for
instance more likely to have complaints?
Why is a portion of the arf allocated to private care? People who undertake private care should have to pay an additional fee to cover these costs.
Dentist should not fund this. It is a public service for patients, get the state to fund it
To provide some evidence as to what it is us dentists benefit from the registration fee other that basically paying for the public to bring complaints
against us. We already pay a fortune in indemnity insurance for this very reason. Our cost of living is also increasing however the UDA value
remains static, pension contributions increase year by year and our earnings drop year by year because of this. Do you intend to inform us of
what will happen when the new contract comes into play and the need for the therapist increases and our duties decrease and so will our
earnings?
Stop paying expert witnesses and other consultants thousands of pounds including secretaries - for work which is nowhere related to time - esp as
it is a public service like jury service. Should be paid accordingly
LET US PAY IN INSTALMENTS.
If we are to have no choice but accept this outrageous 64% fee increase, then please allow those of us with families to not be victims of it during
the festive season in one lump sum.
The actual outcomes of the extra complaints being handled... Is there alot if time wastage by patients trying to play the system.. Compensation
culture... 64% increase is totally unacceptable.
The number of claims/cost to the GDC of dentists who work solely in the hospital service in training positions.
We should be considered a separate cohort from GDPs and charged ARF accordingly. By comparison to GDPs specialty trainees work to a salary
which is limited by the NHS payscale which means affording the increased ARF will be difficult. We are also working under close supervision of
specialist consultants in employer-indemnified positions and actively seek further training and CPD so should be less likely to need the services of
the GDC. This should be reflected in the cost charged to specialty trainees.
The ARF charged to a registrant should reflect the probability that they will require involvement from the GDC in a similar way that indemnity
insurance does so that it is not the same for every dentist. A dentist in a specialty training post in a hospital should not be considered the same as
a dentist in general practice and the same for DCPs.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
How have dentists working in the salaried services been taken in to account? As a Core Dental Trainee about to start work in Community Dental
Services as a Band A Dental Officer this raise in fees would be near impossible for me to afford. I do not earn as much as a private dentist or even
NHS "high street" dentist. I do not believe this is fair, surely if you feel fees should increase this should be comparable to the earnings of
members.
This is too large an increase in one go; there should have been a gradual increase over the past few years to cover costs.
It is not reasonable to expect GDPs to pay this fee on an annual basis as it is such a large amount; there needs to be an option to pay monthly.
The cost of having offices in central London and not having a consultation on the cost benefit of relocating!
In what ways has the government been approached regarding assistance in funding.
Are there any other options than to drastically increase retention fees to practice
Speaking on behave of dentists, we find it hard to believe of the increasing cost to the profession. Indemnity, CQC and now the extortionate
increase to GDC ARF. At the same time we are not seeing any increase to our NHS contract or pay. It is becoming harder for us as dentists and
patients are so unwilling to pay any further increase to their fee. We feel dentists are taking all the hit as costs continues to mount on us and
patients are so readily to complain about fee.
Bring the proposed retention fee down. It's completely preposterous to increase it by 70% or so. I speak for many uk dentists when I say we are
outraged at this dramatic increase. Simply awful.
What about dentists who work only part time?! This new ARF is firstly too high a figure. Furthermore the figure should reflect part-time working
dentists too. The fees should be banded
How can we stop this happening? This is a rediculous rate of increase and totally unacceptable. You need to think of more affordable ways of
operating. This will cover the cost this time but how are we going to finance this in the future.
It would be useful to see an audit and breakdown on all tasks taken by case workers.
Explaining why you allow so many foreign dentists register with the Gdc given they form the bulk of the increase in complaints. It is absolutely
ridiculous we're having to subsidse these idiots that seem to have the majority of the hearings on the website. Fair enough increase the fees but
by £400 is insane. You need to reevaluate your registration process. I had to sit an exam to register as a dentist in nz. A practical and written exam
to assess the skills of dentists qualifying outside the eu would help eliminate a good number of these complaints
Why do we pay to protect patients... if that is the reason for the existence of GDC, why don't the patients pay for it?
Why is there a huge gap in the percentage of ARF increase amongst dentists and other DCP s??
There should be some consideration into an element of tax payer subsidisation for an organisation that aims to protect the public under directives
issued by government.
Could restructuring reduce overheads?
NHS general dentists are facing a pay cut in real terms annually so there can be no justification in a 64% increase in ARFs.
Given that GMC ARFs are currently set at £390 could a merger or at least copy of the GMC model keep ARFs at a reasonable level.
A full public breakdown of all the expenses you charge to your organisation pertaining to all your members of your committee including
conventions, meals, travel expenses and accommodation. We all have a right to know seeing as we pay for them.
Why there is no mention of attempts to reduce costs elsewhere prior to levying such an increase in fee on dental professionals.
There is no breakdown provided of how much the specific activities you are likely to undertake are going to cost. There is no consistency to the
ARF percentage increase for dentists and DCPs and this difference is not explained. There is no information as to how the cost increases are
calculated nor any information on the savings activities after 2015.
Further breakdown of the costs of hearings, especially using external legal firms and venue costs, these seem disproportionally expensive
Further breakdown of DCP disciplinary action- I assume that dental hygienists, therapists and technicians are subject to complaints more than
nurses, and given their generally higher income bracket would it not be fairer to increase the fee to these groups by more than the nurses'?
Further breakdown of the complaints made against dentists, whether those who are UK trained are subject to more or fewer complaints than
those trained abroad. A broad sweep of 64% increase in ARF for dentists seems highly unfair
As I am unable to type this anywhere else on the form I would just like to make a comment here. As someone who is graduating in July 2014 and
having had to pay a large sum of money after five years of study, the idea of having to pay nearly a grand on top of this does not seem fair. I
propose a tiered system is applied to paying the ARF fee so that recently qualified dentists are not put at a greater financial disadvantage.
The GMC has frozen fees at under £400 for 2014-2015 for all specialties. You regulate a single specialty and yet want to raise the fee by over
double in a single year? In a specialty with far lesser risks than the GMC specialties? This massive fee hike on top of pension and pay freezes? I
would suggest seeking advice on how to run a Council from the GMC, as clearly the current GDC committee is not fit for purpose.
What the retention fee gets used on? Patient complaints? So we pay for patients to make complaints against us?!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
A clear account of day to day expenditure, regional trends with regards to complaints, fitness to practice etc. Which dental treatments receives
the most complaints eg implants, cosmetics etc, do more females than males receive complaints, are there more uk graduates having fitness to
practice hearings that oversees graduates etc? A clearer understanding of why such a ridiculously high hike in ATF is needed....is this extra money
required for forecasted figures or to cover previous losses or expenditure? If forecasted figures what is the basis for calculating such massive
increased costs and if left with a surplus of funds would this see future ARF decreases?! I suspect it is more likely it will just increase regardless. I
feel such a high increase in a single year is unjustifiable particularly with regards to the profession as a whole seeing decreases in salary over the
previous years!!!!
Why is our system so much more expensive than that for Doctors, etc.?
When I hear from my union I will be in a better position to respond to this but at present I am incensed. I feel this is a ridiculous increase based on
a poor system. Perhaps it would be best to look at other professions and how they handle these things. I can see no evidence that this has been
done. If there are specific problem areas should the causes of the complaints not be dealt with instead of closing the stable door after the horse
has bolted.
Cutbacks should be made, the profession is getting harder to be a part of in the uk and quality dentists will want to emigrate to where their
services are respected and pay into a body which protects them aswell as patients. Private dentists doing high risk dentistry shouldnt be paying
the same as a community part time dentist. There should be some kind of scale of pay and I dont think there is a justification for a 64% increase in
fees. The cases brought to hearing maybe need to be done more cost effectively.
How many claims go to panel out of the 110% increase.
Yes why you have never responded to a part time NHS caring conscientious dentist with never a single complaint since qualifying in1988 who is
also a single parent trying to make ends meet and failing to do so. Could we have a no claims discount? Could we please pay monthly by direct
debit instead of at Christmas with all it's other expenses!! I earn a paltry £35000 a year and despite the tax allowance a 64% increase is just
unacceptable. The NHS has not given me a pay rise in years and my UDA rate has remained unchanged since the new contract in 2004. No wonder
the complaints are escalating as new dentists cut corners and make dubious clinical decisions realising its futile to try to make a living abiding by
the rules. I stick to my principles but I am so demoralised - what other profession is expected to provide unlimited treatment for a fixed fee as in
the Band 2 UDA rate? I spend hours on molar endodontics to save teeth and in the process earn less than the minimum wage. Lobby for proper
NHS resources and the complaints will go down. Please respond!
Yes why you have never responded to a part time NHS caring conscientious dentist with never a single complaint since qualifying in1988 who is
also a single parent trying to make ends meet and failing to do so. Could we have a no claims discount? Could we please pay monthly by direct
debit instead of at Christmas with all it's other expenses!! I earn a paltry £35000 a year and despite the tax allowance a 64% increase is just
unacceptable. The NHS has not given me a pay rise in years and my UDA rate has remained unchanged since the new contract in 2004. No wonder
the complaints are escalating as new dentists cut corners and make dubious clinical decisions realising its futile to try to make a living abiding by
the rules. I stick to my principles but I am so demoralised - what other profession is expected to provide unlimited treatment for a fixed fee as in
the Band 2 UDA rate? I spend hours on molar endodontics to save teeth and in the process earn less than the minimum wage. Lobby for proper
NHS resources and the complaints will go down. Please respond!
You have not justified the increase and the information provided does not properly explain how the increased revenue will be spent. What
efficiencies have you offered? Simply asking for more money because there are more complaints is not the answer. We live in a very litigious
world now and I would like the GDC to provide information on how it determines how to spend valuable resources and when some claims are
simply fictitious or induced by speculative personal injuries lawyers
You state the number of complaints increased! Should you not investigate the target group? Where do you get the most complaints e.g. newly
registered? Non UK trained etc.
Why not charge dcps more now that they have direct access!!!!! We have a doubled charge but they have an £8 increase? That is ridiculous!
Need an itinerary of everyone's wages that works at the gdc and how you are going to cut them?
How you think associates are going to be able to pay this as well as the increasing cost of dental protection and potentially the reduction in wages
in a new contract. As well as keeping up with cpd and new courses to get more qualifications (these cost money too) do you want us all to live at
work. Maybe if we do you will get more complaints and can pay yourselves more money. Maybe it's time you looked at other ways of sorting this
problem out like actually policing some of the cowboy dentists that come into this country instead of catching after they have caused a problem.
If I actually felt you did any good I would pay it! What are you actually doing to stop people needing to make complaints? Why is dentistry so
different to medicine? But I really don't think this survey or any of your consultations will make any difference and you won't change anything?
Yes where do you spend this money ,
a break down of where the £18 million figure has come from and how it would be spent
A decent justification for a 64% increase in ARF when our incomes have dropped 20%.
Why you prosecute petty matters.
Number of Cases of non uk graduates versus uk graduates
Cost analysis
None
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why the increase is disproportionate between dentists and dcp's? In my mind fees should rise by a more even amount. Prehaps a seperate
registration fee bracket should be provided to therapists and hygienst who earn more and have more responsibilty than nurses but less then
dentists. With this rise and the rising cost of indemnity I would spend over £3,000 on simply being a regulated professional. This very much in
excess of any other profession. This money for me is effectively whole months salary. The GDC need to look at effiency savings instead of taking
the easy option to raise more capital. As the cost of dental education continues to rise and dental incomes continue to drop these kind of fee
increases cannot be sustained. Our profession is already disillusioned. To except this kind of money to be paid by students post graduation and in
a lump sum around Christmas shows just how out of touch you are.
Outrageous to expect newly qualified dentists to pay nearly £1000 amongst other debts they have after qualifying in the first few years!
high risk individuals should be paying more. Individuals found guilty of misconduct should pay a personal fine which goes towards the cost of the
hearing, this should not be paid by indemnity companies.
Detailed income and expenditure reports. Salaries paid to GDC employees, rent paid on building, rates, fees paid for outsourcing work such as
website, exhibitions. Surely if these are scrutinised and a business plan is implemented savings are to be made. DCPs (especially dental nurses)
fees appear to be high in comparison to earnings. Perhaps consideration can be given to the hours they work. The fee of £128.00 assumes all
DCPS perhaps earn similar levels - this is not the case, especially when comparing a DCP in a specialised private practice to a DCP in a small NHS
practice. Similarly for dentists the raised fee of £945.00 assumes that all dentists earn similar amounts and are able to pay this. NHS dentists
working in accordance with guidelines will perhaps see a much smaller income and net profit compared to those in private practice/specialist
practice/hospital. However, the standard fee means a consultant in hospital will be paying the same fee as an associate in an NHS practice who
will in comparison be likely to earn less. Due consideration should be given to the consequence of this raised fee on dental care professionals and
all others within the profession. Perhaps those seeking to make a claim could pay a small administrative fee.
You will need to reduce the length of the hearings that are not of clinical significance and try to solve the disputes before it comes to a hearing.
Lawyers are the highest expense and so the legal costs need to drop. Also, the panel should be reduced in numbers. . 7-8 people is not necessary.
Maybe consider reducing the number to 4. Also, i find unreasonable to increase by 64% the annual fee..a 10% would be more reasonable.
How we can cut the salary of employees of the GDC to cover the costs
No protection for dental professionals only the public
I feel very sad and disheartened that the career I felt I deserved after 5 years of dental school is disappearing rapidly. After nearly 2 years out of
dental school I
feel that a career change is probably going to be a difficult decision but necessary with increased indemnity costs, pension , child care etc. I love
the profession but these are difficult times.
break down of salary paid
and breakdown of rent/rates. cheaper to move away from Harley street. maybe birmingham cheaper.
information on which university graduates get the most complaints.
The impact this will have on newly qualified dentists, coming out of university with 5 years of debt and with pay that has already been cut!
The increase is absurd. It's not justified.
detailed account of the vetting system,
what system have you got to validate complaints?
What constitutes a 'petty' complaint?
Have you considered the cost of psychological trauma to the practitioner involved, after having encountered such a claim at the Fitness to
practice panel?
As it is going up so much, monthly direct debit should be offered.
This fee will force part time dentists out of the occupation.
Info on where the main source of complaints are from would help. Eg corporate/ implants/ private or nhs.
Should the nhs sector bear the brunt of private problems.
Get off your winpole street London City high horse and look to the suburbs the working class dentists who you've alienated with your ignorant
accounting. Disgusting!!
What is the general mood of the profession with regard the consultation process and the disproportionate proposed fee increase in contrast to
funding for provision of services?
I think you need to justify why the GMC can charge £390 and are so far ahead.
A break down of how many complaints are unsuccessful made by public...... ARF should not be increased because of these
Some jargon that eventually means not doubling the ARF
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I would like to know how much the cost of the salaries for GDC council members most of whom come from very prominent previous positions and
whom I assume are extremely costly in terms of their fees. Could the appointments committee not appoint normal everyday dentists to council.
Also, I would like to know how much different registrant groups cost - I am a dual qualifying (dentally qualified and studying medicine) dentist
who does not work much in dentistry and I believe I am less of a risk to the GDC as a result - why should I pay (though my low part time salary) the
same as a full time GDP earning so much more. I want to know why the GMC is able to provide it's regulation for £390 for doctors ARF and even
gives discounts to those on low incomes or who are retired and only with to register without a licence to practise. I want to know the costs of
having offices in Wimpole street. Perhaps if times are this hard the GDC should unlock money by moving to cheaper premises. The costs of
hearings seem to be outrageous - I want to know more about why hearings cost this much. The proposed fee for dentists is outrageous. I also
want to know why you have not forecast this and gradually increased the fee. To suddenly impose a 64% increase is completely ridiculous. The
costs of the GDC seem to have got out of control. Someone needs to look into the root causes of the increase in workload as it seems not to affect
the profession in other countries such as the republic of Ireland where the retention fee is 200 Euros.
Why should I as a professional individual who has no complaints have to pay for each and every complaint a sometimes irrational patient makes?
What exactly does the gdc do for ME the dentist??? apart from take an already extortionate registration fees?
I am speechless at this. I simply cannot afford to pay this.
A breakdown of costs incurred
The number of false complaints dealt with yearly and their investigation. How you are protecting dentists' interests with regards NHS and CQC.
Costs to relocate hearings to a central location
I feel the ARF for dentists is too high at over £900. Why should the wrongs done by the minority have to be paid by the majority? Could a fining
system not be brought in so that those found guilty of misconduct, etc should be fined in order to pay for the costs incurred as part of the
investigations and trials. Most dentists (like most of the population) don't like paying for other peoples mistakes.
The other point the GDC should consider is that for young dentists in my situation where I am working in a quiet practice and some months my
net profit is only £1300, £900 is unaffordable and will mean that I have minimal disposable income for the year by the time I pay my ARF,
indemnity insurance and sickness at work insurance. For many dentists £900 is affordable but there are also many dentists in my position where a
lot of months we have no excess income by the time we pay our bills. Could the GDC not bring in a three stage ARF that is three different prices
for ARF depending on the dentists income (like how income tax is done) this would make it fairer for all dentists. I worry that if the ARF is
increased a lot of young dentists will find themselves getting into debt just to pay for all the fees required to practice. £945 a year (that is if the
fee doesn't increase above that even) would mean that over the course of my career of approx 40years I would have paid almost £40,000 in ARF.
How much overseas registrants pay and of what proportion of complaints and hearings are related to overseas registrants
None, this is absolutely obscene.
I find it incredulous that there is consideration being given to such a massive fee increase. The fact that we as a profession have to pay that
amount to practice our job which most of is regard as a vocation is awful. Also most of us do our jobs to the best of our ability. We live in a "no fee
no claim" overly litigious society where people complain for the sake of complaining in the hope if the shout loud enough they will get some
money. I am outraged that we are having to foot the bill! It is seriously making me consider whether my job is worth the stress, time, care and
effort I put in.
Why are so many more complaints being received. Are dentists getting much worse at their jobs?
What percentage Of complaints are overseas registrants?
It would be appropriate to define the proportions of the registrant categories which account for the increase in complaints. For example, what
proportion of increase in claims is in relation to DCP's? Is the increase in fees proportional for all of the different categories of registrants?
Are dentists subsidising the registration of other categories of registrants?
Yes, where is all the rest of the money going? Dentists expenses have gone up just as much as anybody else! We do not get paid more through the
NHS so why should we pay more for our ARF?!
As a recently qualified dentist this increase will dramatically affect me. I have left university with huge student loan debts which were used to put
myself through university and entered a era in dentistry where job security is not guaranteed. However to enable me to get I job of any
description as a dentist I will need to remain registered even if unemployed thus adding to my already crippling debt and financial burden. I
understand in the current climate that a increase in fees is inevitable and that the job you do is superb but a 64% increase in ARP is absolutely
ridiculous. In most cases the majority of dentists will never have to face a fitness to practice issue so why should those of us meeting your
standards be punished? What other avenues of generating additional income have you researched? To register with the GMC costs £185 for
recently qualified and £390 for full registration, the GDC ARP currently stands at 32% more that this and will increase to a staggering 59% higher
than what our medical counterparts pay. If GMC can keep fees low I believe other ways can be found to keep the GDC fees lower than the
proposed increases.
how do you calculate these savings? what is your base source? A feedback form will be very useful at the end of this consultation. 64% increase is
extorionate. GMC charges is about £400/yr and less for nurses too. Please appreciate our salary does not increase by 64%!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
No
State costs for investigating complaints which were found to be unfounded and should have been dismissed at a much earlier stage
Salary breakdown of all individuals within the GDC organisation.
Your feedback form is inadeuate to express my opinions, therefore I have expressed them below:
I suggest additional savings by:
-Stop running the Dental Complaints Service which you CHOOSE to run, it is not something Parliament expect of you.
-Appeal for PUBLIC funding as you are set up by government for the protection of the PUBLIC.
-Reduce the number of complaints which waste time by making complainants more accountable and responsible for their complaint.
-If a registrant is found 'guilty' through fitness to practice board, charge the costs to the registrant.
-If a member is not 'guilty' then charge the complainant the costs or use the ARF fees to fund this.
-Stop paying your panel members as much cash. Consider the use of volunteers.
-Streamline the Fitness to Practice process so it doesn't take so long.
- DCPs and Dentists see the SAME patients, therefore they should be charged the SAME ARF. If you equalise the difference you will find the
additional cash you need. Unequal fees are discriminatory and unfair.
Why should I have to pay for registration with a body that does nothing to benefit me...instead you use that money to find a way to get me out of
my job/profession.
What exactly if it that you do for me?
The ARFs are unfair.
Why does a therapist pay the same fee as a dental nurse????
With their additional responsibilities, won't they be having more complaints? More complaints the dentist will have to no doubt rectify? And still
get charged against?
Where the complaints are coming from, dentists or dcp, and whether they are uk graduates
How the registration of DCPs, technicians etc has affected the increase in complaints and the percentage split of complaints between the groups
of dental professionals.
Why you aren't recovering costs from dental protection companies or unsuccessful complainants.
Why are you not prosecuting illegal dental work more thoroughly...tooth whitening a classic...£300 fines aren't exactly a deterrent.
A 64% increase is absurd and must be looked at again. Dental wages haven't increased for years but outgoings have...hugely. CPD costs, lab bills,
indemnity, practice running costs, not to mention vast amounts of debt for newly qualified students.
The cost incurred for these fitness to practise panels are absolutely crazy.
We pay obsence amounts of money for members to sit on these panels.
We NHS works have just come out of pay freeze and not had fair incremental increases with relation to cost of living rise and now you would like
to take more money of us.
That is compareae to take food out of our children's mouths
e,g Dentists wishing to pursue career in omfs are doing second degree, is it fair that they have to pay this amount whilst studying for second
degree.... At this level I don't think the gdc considers the profession as a whole anymore... No wonder so many dual qualified members are leaving
to have solely gmc registration!!,
Exactly why there has been an increase in the fitness to practice cases.
Reasons why the DCP increase is under 7% and the dentist fee is 64%
Why the proposed fee is nearly 3 times that of the gmc arf?
How much do non practising dentists cost to regulate?
Non-practising dental registrants may constitute another group? Dental practice advisors, Fitness to practice panel members who have retired but
need to be on register to function etc etc
Should entirely NHS practitioners subsidise private practitioners via private complaints service?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Full justification of increased fees. Especially differences in dentists and therpist increases and why gmc (a much bigger body) charge much less
than the gdc. Ridiculous costs spent by gdc on marketing. No push at all by the gdc to aim for local resolutions first before attempting ftp cases.
No attempt by gdc to reduce the number of complaints in fact the gdc are doing the opposite making people want to complain more thus
increasing all our costs. Therapists and cdra should pay higher fees as since direct access.
Whether this will be reduced for training posts or reduced hours.
Breakdown of accommodation and travel expenses of all GDC employees/experts witnesses.
Breakdown of accommodation and travel expenses of all GDC employees/experts witnesses.
I think this idea that the public is going to loose confidence in the profession is nonsense.
Further breakdown
What the ratio of fitness to practice cases are dentists or dcps?
Ratio of fitness to practice cases are new qualifed versus qualified years and uk graduates to non uk graduates.
Salary differences of dentists are not taken into account when comes to arf.
which group needs biggest usage of fitness of practice expanses?
Not to put the proposed cost of registration in the body of the email sent out suggests an obtuse embarrassment with the proposed cost and is
not fitting with a desire for transparency. An comparison with GMC Costs and costs of other professional bodies may be illuminating!
I think it would be useful to know why if it is a service for the general public why it is not funded by the tax payer.
I also think it is more fair to charge registrants according to how many years they have been qualified, or number of complaints for which they
have been found guilty for.
As a 2012 graduate I only earn £31,796 (DF2 salary) and then pay tax, pension, national insurance and super annuation from this. The amount
being asked just to practise in this country is unfair and unjustifiable.
Which groups has the highest fitness of practice complaint? Why DCP only has £8 increase while some DCP has higher pay than SHO. GMC only
charges doctor for £390 so it is not justify to charge dentist nearly three times more.
Yes, there is no mention as to why all dentists ARF are being raised as opposed to the dentists that are acting against GDC principles. The system
needs to be fairer, whereby dentists who are found guilty of misconduct are penalised individually for the costs that are incurred in their hearing
rather than those who practice in the best interests of patients but are paying extortionate fees just to be able to provide honest care and
treatment.
The General Dental Council is proposing a hugh increase in ARF but in the same period the incomes of Dental Surgeons have increased by 3%
gross and net figures are down by nearly 15% . The Dental Council protects the public but the Dental Surgeons re not protected because of total
underfunding of NHS dentistry. The government spends around £ 45 per capita per year and expects us to provide high quality care which cannot
be provided and hence the increase in complaints against the practitioners . The GDC should tell the Government that the Dentists cannot work at
such low fees and expect carry out their professional duties to a high standard and then ARF can be increased
The information provided as always by the GDC is sketchy and secretive. There is very little explanation of the costs associated with the head
office other than the rent. It is likely there could be considerable savings associated with a move away from the capital. There can be no
justification in the current economic climate to increase the ARF by 70%. I am also a registrant in Spain. In Spain registration fees are paid
quarterly in the middle month of each trimester. Why can't the same facility be made possible in the UK?
You shouldn't charge dentists for this - you should seek government funds if your existence is required by government.
N/A
Why is there a 110. % increase in complaints and have you done enough to address that .
Why have the FTP hearings increased disproportionately to the increase in complaints?
Does this indicate a change in the FTP policy of the GDC? And if so on what basis is has this change in policy been made?
Please inform every single dentist and dental care professional of how much the GDC staff earns per hour.
I can only advise you to keep a web page on your website providing this information.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The costs involved seem unbelievable (eg, in a fitness to practice hearing). It would be helpful to know more about how it can even begin to cost
that much. For example, explaining how venues for hearings can cost so many thousands would be helpful. Also, being actively forthcoming with
lawyers' fees and staff salaries would help reduce concern that someone is taking the mic.
The GMC provides good information on what it is doing to reduce the number of cases going to hearing, but I cannot find similar information from
the GDC.
A discussion as to how the GMC is able to provide service for a third of the cost would also be helpful. Is there anything to learn from them, or
anyway of combining with them to spread the load?
No
Explain why it should solely fall on dentists to provide GDC funding, and not, even if partly, from the government or complainants.
Also provide information/insights into the negative effects this will have on a DF1 with an already reduced salary.
A view from other professions eg if teachers had to pay £900 to be inspected by OFSTED - I'm sure there would be serious reprocussions.
I am a mature student and have a mortgage, family and student loan repayments to also consider, coupled with a reduced DF1 salary.
You have not justified why the there is such a massive jump in ARF for dentists, You have projected expenditure over the next few years but have
not shown how these figures are determined. Plucked out of thin air perhaps?
Plus: HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY not taking into account the "individual circumstances of registrants, such as their income or the number of hours
they work each week". This is completely moronic and stupid beyond the comprehension of most sensible dental professionals. You are clearly
discriminating against dentist that cannot work full time due to ill health and those with young children.
PLUS... How can the results obtained from 1255 responses possibly be adequate for this consultation, when there are tens of thousands of
registered dental professionals. The GDC does not have a mandate to carry forward these proposals.
Kindly consider dentist dont witg graduation or passed ore or lds exam and not in training till now or doing vte in which thy r not been paid or
either paid very very minimal through out training. It will be an extra load when the are not earning
Details of complaints, details of increase of ARF and why such exhorbitant rise!! It's not fair on dentists. Why should other dentists pay for costs of
complaint handling? If a dentist has been correctly implicated and legally been found guilty of misconduct, let him/her bear the costs of the legal
proceedings. The GDC has managed statutory function all these years without much monetary inconvenience I presume, and I hope it will look
into the interests of the dental registrant, rather than burden him by such alarming ARF changes.
Apparently some prefessionals are making the costs to climb up too much with an astonishing rise of claims. These professionals should be
considered responsible to pay these dramatic increase in costs.
I am part of another council elsewhere and the increase of the ARF in the UK has no paralell in any other place in the world and is simply nor right!
How much costs would reduce if you were to base yourselves in a more modest and economical location.
Also, complaints seem to be encouraged by the GDC and many of these are baseless and a clear waste of time and money. Why should we as
dental professionals foot the bill for this. Where is the sense in that. It is unacceptable to charge us more in order to encourage complaints against
us more. It's outrageous and quite frankly would not be accepted in any other profession.
To release data on resource needs related to complaints of overseas qualified registrants, and adjust the fee for that group appropriately, and
that group only.
To release data on resource needs related to complaints of overseas qualified registrants, and adjust the fee for that group appropriately, and
that group only.
A 64% increase in ARF is in simple terms farcical! In no other industry is such a cost added to no benefit to the client paying the fee. If then gdc
was a body providing aid and support for the dental profession then it may even become acceptable. To charge us to be regulated for public
needs then the public purse should front the majority of the bill.
The wages in dentistry have not seen even an increased comparable to inflation so how can a 64% increase be justifiable at a time when all real
earnings are significantly lower.
To not allow a way of paying in installments and to implement such a high cost at Christmas is also ridiculous.
This proposal is only to drive well trained professionals away from the industry leading to more complaints than ever.
Exactly what types of complaints are on the increase, and exactly how much is being spent on dealing with these. How much of the monies earned
are being spent on staff working for the GDC/premises etc. With ever increasing living costs/taxes/inflation and decreasing wages, it seems the
ethical and moral professional clinicians are being punished for the mistakes of the minority and in some cases the ever increasing litigious nature
of society.
Prove the GDC supports the profession, as opposed to deterring young people away from it. In Australia, the equivalent fee is 300 pounds, and
they provide alot more support and help than the GDC. If there was an added benefit of 64%, then I would agree with it, but I know I will see no
difference - as was the case when the fee increased last time.
Why dcps who now have direct access are paying so little?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I work 1 day a week as a dental nurse and paying £120 a year is unfair there should be a different fee for part time employees.
What an absolute disgrace! The gdc make this one of the worst countries in the world to practice dentistry. What with rediculous indemnity fees
this profession is becoming less and less enjoyable. Well done.
A plan to increase and maintain standards for registrants to ensure patient safety.
how much money is wasted by the organisation. what level of complaints and hearings were dcps. why is there a 64% increase when the gdc does
not appear to be performing well in the recent information provided. should be state funded especially for nhs dentists
Dentists who get complained about should pay more
Why are you not working to lower the amount of complaints received rather than just accept the higher numbers
The organisation needs to get organised. There is no way £945 is needed from each dentist to regulate dentistry. A more cost effective method is
needed. A whole overhaul of the current system is required. I would be wholly unwilling to pay such an amount, especially in December. If I was
seeing such a pay rise myself then fair enough but in effect we have had a pay freeze for years.
Staff expenses need to be outlined in detail
Stop investigating anonymous complaints - that should be job number one, would save you plenty of time and money. If you can't regulate
dentistry for less than £945 per dentist then you are clearly crap at it.
Investigate reduction of costs. Expenses could be reduced increase efficiency.
Effect on dentists, expenses across the board are running away
You have looked at saving from efficiency drives but there was no mention of assets which could be disposed of to generate revenue like BBC did
when moving to Salford.
You have recently included dental nurses on the role this must have inceeased the GDC income so why put up the charges for DCP's now more are
registered - most complaints will be about dentists anyway ! I work in the NHS and have not had a pay rise in many many years !
Why does this government department feel it can increase fees to this extent when all others have had to cope with such external pressures
without any funding increase
More dentists will emigrate and you will end up with a badly maintained nhs
If the sole reason for needing to increase the ARF is an increase in complaints. I would like to know what the GDC is doing to prevent further
increases. If a healthcare service said it needed an extra 64% funding to treat obesity I would ask what they were doing to prevent the obesity
from happening in the first place! Is the increase because dentists are getting worse or because the culture of complaining is more widespread? If
it is the latter then surely society/the public should take some responsibility for funding the GDC (even if it is in the form of a small administration
fee as part of the initial complaint process). This might also help to filter out any spurious complaints/claims made against GDC members.
Finally, if you increase the ARF by this much the flat rate payment starts to look increasingly unfair to certain groups of dentists. The range of
income for a dentist could easily vary from £30,000 through to in-excess of £150,000. Some dental hygienists/therapists may earn more than the
lower level of a dentist and yet under the new ARF proposal they would pay 86% less! Why not have a higher DCP rate for hygienists/therapists
who also can earn considerably more than dental nurses.
Finally, instead of a flat rate why not base the ARF on risk. Dental indemnifiers do this and if you're high risk you pay more (but likely earn more).
Alternatively base it on income (like tax)!
We dentist/practice owners derive our practice income to cover expenses from fees earned. Therefore Government needs to increase the fees
revenue we receive so that we can pay whatever fee the GDC sets.
Not so long ago all of our staff were not GDC registrants and now we have paid for their training courses/exams etc and we are the ones that also
have to raise their pay so that they can afford their GDC subscription ie we are paying ALL of our staff GDC subs too!
NHS fees have to rise to accommodate this!
Patients should be informed that it is the dental workforce that is funding the patient protection organisation!
This questionnaire is too preloaded to be of any practical use, the outcome is decided. FtP procedures have been shown to be not up to standard
by the regulator in their current form and should be taken from the GDC to a separate regulator. The increase is out of all proportion to other
professions.i
The increase almost 64% is unjustifiable and unless an increase in salary is proposed to sustain this fee. This new ARR is an extortionate amount.
There has to be a revised way of regulating and the cost should come from those who are trialed and found guilty of misconduct.
Justification as to why every dentist, including those who have never needed any help or support from the GDC, are having to absorb the costs of
a huge increase in the number of complaints from patients and Fitness To Practice cases. This increased cost should, in my opinion, be met by
increasing the GDC ARF for those who have had complaints against them and needed intervention by the GDC. This is a totally unjust (and huge)
increase in the ARF for all those dentists who have had a blemish free career
No
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Providing details of why GMC registration is currently set at £390 and how GDC registration fee can be so much higher
I personally feel DCPs who are carrying out clinical duties (eg hygienists and therapists) should have a fee that is more consistent with dentist feeridiculous that the proposal is for dentist to be £945 and a therapist for example will be paying only £128-I don't feel our pay difference is
reflective of this difference
I also feel that a lot of claims/complaints are related to private practice, so there should be two tiers of dental membership-nhs mainly and private
mainly-I feel it is unfair that predominantly nhs practicing dentists have to subsidise disproportionately the amount of claims that are related to
private practice
None of this information is available
Should be widely published I.e dental magazines so info broadly known to all
With all the new European and overseas dentist registering with GDC, cost should be going down.
I feel more justification is needed for the sharp increase in fees. Also you've not shown any attempt at raising the needed income by any other
means than raising the ARF. There may be a sharp increase in dental complaints etc however you do not seem to be doing much to help reduce
this number, just willing to accept the increase by taking more money from the dental profession. There doesn't seem to be any effort to band
dentists to make the ARF more fair, for instance there has recently been a decrease in DF salary. There is no effort to make the people who cause
the most complaints pay more, just punish all dental professionals despite most working hard and not causing complaints. Considering the sharp
increase in DCP complaint taking a large proportion of this increase why has their fee not been proportionally adjusted?
Suggestion to be considered for future reference: consider banding your members according to experience, exclusive private or NHS work, and
postcode areas to establish a fair ARF for everyone. As I believe there is a significant statistically difference on the groups of professionals that are
more prone to receive more complaints and those are costing the GDC more thab others. As well as the public thenselves should pay a
contributory fee that would be refunded to them if the case is won by them.
I think you forgot to consider that the dentists who have complaints against them should be charged for this investigating costs. Why should I pay
for their omissions and indiscretions when I have never had any complaint investigated by the GDC in my over 35 years or practice and the
majority of dentists fall into this category. So charge the offenders please!
I think it would be useful for all the expenses to be published by the GDC. There will be a proportion of part time dentists and DCPs who are again
going to be severely penalised by this new proposal rather than having a weighting system against the what appears by the GDC publications the
main culprits. To increase the fees so much without a sliding scale if a part time dentist/DCPS working only in the NHS could have to pay a whole
month of wages just to pay the fee. Surely this is unfair and will deter good dentists etc re-entering dental practice or staying in the profession
after having children and cannot commit to working more hours.
A full explanation of how this cost could be justified in relation to other health care professionals such as medical nurses/ doctors.
Why you waste so much money.
Why do you need so much?
Why does it cost so much to be a dentist? How does the general medical council manage to keep their fees to £340 for doctors? Why could we
not pay in instalments? Why do we have to pay in December the most expensive time of year (hello christmas /January tax bill). Surely some
groups within DCPs are more prone to complaints so why not separate them out and let them carry some of the burden? What about the VTs and
the DF1s who are getting their pay cut? What about finding cheaper premises outside of London?
If the GDC find everything so expensive it's time to relocate to Birmingham
Careful considerations needs to be given with regards to increasing the fee for Dental Nurses. Many are earning a very low salary and the
continuing costs for being able to work is having an impact on if they stay in the profession.
Many Dental Nurses have to fund their own CPD, ARF and indemity and for what they earn it is becoming very expensive, sadly many Dental
Nurses are becoming priced out of their profession.
A breakdown of complaints, year by year by group (Dentist/technician/DCP).
I would appreciate if there could be an explanation given as to why there has there been an increase in the need for regulation? The GMC does
not appear to have the same predicament. Please explain in detail why more cases are progressing to hearings. Most importantly for families, why
is it necessary to take the retention fee in December? An honest hard working NHS dentist does not earn as much after tax and increasing
professional expenses as one would think in the current financial climate. Especially if household income is provided by a full time and part time
dental associate. After the rising costs of childcare it is not financially feasible for us both to work full time. Would it not be possible for the
retention fee to be based on sessions worked also? It will take me a month or more to earn the money required to pay my professional expenses
and will not allow for household expenses, seasonal expenses or childcare costs. Risk assessments should be applied based on an individual
professionals clinical circumstances and earnings. Perhaps advice should also be sought as to whether the process can be more cost effectively
managed.
A clear breakdown in fees to solicitors/consultants etc.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The GDC occupation of prime location premises belies its function to provide cost effective duties to the public. The proposed increase is sheer
lunacy given our medical colleagues pay £390 per year for identical reasons. Poor management and bureaucracy is the overall reason for this
absurd planned rise in fees.
I think you should be holding group/face to face consultations now that you have announced a rise in the retention fee. I would like to have my
say with someone face to face.
The GDC is for patients so perhaps they should pay towards? I personally have never had a complaint go to the GDC so I don't see why I should
pay for those who don't practice good -safe dentistry.
I disagree with the increase of ARF, I havent had an annual pay increase for 5 years, although my standard of living has increased. If the fee
increases I will be looking at alternative job careers.
There is nowhere to comment but as a Therapist I feel it is now very unfair to charge nurses the same as me - I earn a lot more as do most
therapists and hygienists and other DCP's -- I also have a lot more responsibility. I know the ARF is not based on that but it is time the GDC looked
at the difference in DCP's and not lumped us all together.
What proportion of the spend is on each discipline and therefore if the increase is justifiable in these proportions.
Where any other money comes from and why isn't our cost covered when you prosecute a dentist?
It certainly does not cost £945 for you to regulate me individually each yearWhy is the charge the same for someone working hard at the bottom of the salary scale doing less risky procedures for nhs patients as it is for the
top grossing private dentists?
The gulf between them is enormous.
A young dentist will struggle to even start work since the cost is so high.
I feel This is a very sneaky tactic in order to come up with a lesser increase which doesn't appear so high after all the complaints have been
received.
Why DCP's pay so much less than dentists? Why is there no distiction between each DCP category? Clearly hygienists should pay more than a
dental nurse. Reality is that many times a dentist doesn't earn much more than a hygienist!!
Full breakdown of your accounts
Stop spending our ARF money on unnecessary debates such as whether or not dentists should be able to use the doctor title.
The reason that the number of complaints has gone up. What are the complaints mainly for? Is it DCP's? Or dentists? Specific treatments? Please
be more specific as this is very vague and the numbers involved are huge so we need to know much more detail than this.
It would be interesting to know why there has been such an increase in hearings - this has been a marked rise in prosecutions, and it would be
helpful to know why.
It would be appropriate to break it down by the primary practice of the dentist - as a specialist trainee in NHS hospitals I'm under constant
scrutiny and with excellent support, and I would support a reduced fee for those in training - foundation, core and specialist trainees.
A Final point that requires clarification is why the hearings should be in London, with each case costing 8,000 for facilities alone, let alone the
added staff costs for London weighting.
Ho much money has been lost on complaints from patients who were not legitimate/ not real?
These are projections; without the accurate information and expert opinion it is impossible to say whether they are accurate.
insist on local resolution of complaints first
Make complainants pay an "investigation fee" -refunded if the complaint is upheld
Reject as outside the remit of the GDC any complaint which will not affect his ability to do the job or registration
Do not go looking for additional roles for the GDC (Bill Moyes at the Pendlebury lecture)
Move to the Birmingham/Manchester/Leeds and save money
Need a dentally qualified Chair/President/CEO
Government imposed the regulations, let them pay, the profession has no say any more, it is not self regulation-if it was self regulation then I
agree we should pay but it is not.
These proposals make me very angry and the GDC should not underestimate the anger of the profession towards these proposals, especially
when the GMC is <£400 and allows payment by instalments
Look at merging with the GMC
Yes, the number of complaints which are not upheld, or which were lack of communication/understanding which could have been dealt with
without getting as far as the FTP panel
The hike of fees is unfair
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I feel such a high increase in ARF fee to £945 is unfair. I do not see why I should have to pay for mistakes other dentists cause leading to
complaints
I also cannot understand why the retention fee I pay seems to only serve patients and not dentists a purpose.
I am also registered with a defence body, as well as other registrations. All these Add up to quite an expense!
I hope that the ARF does not increase further.
1. Why is it necessary for the GDC to be based in expensive premises in Wimpole street? Surely running costs could be slashed by relocating- the
BBC managed it!!
2. What percentage of complaints are due to non-UK qualified dentists? Those qualified outside of the UK must surely be regarded as high risk and
should be expected to pay a larger retention fee.
3.
What's the cost per hearing and how many more hearings will be held to justify £18.0 million? I think that value is outrageous.
EXACTLY where are money is going to.
HOW IS IT HELPING ME PERSONALY?!
Costs of maintaining offices in Wimpole Street - if costs are so high then move away from London and exorbitant costs and salaries
Why you waste so much money on ridiculous trumped up allegations
You have not asked if we feel you are doing what is necessary to keep costs under control. The answer would be an almighty no from the whole
profession, this is outrageous and completely unacceptable. Please start to delegate less serious complaints to local bodies, leaving yourselves
free to work more cost effectively.
A breakdown of costs and why the large increase in fees is necessary.
How much the GDC could save by relocating and moving out of London W1. What are the running expenses what are the terms of the lease and
why does the GDC need such grand premises ??
I am outraged at the prospect of such an increase in ARF and to attempt to temper such a move by stating that it is tax deductible is an insult.
why has there been a 110% increase in complaints? are the majority of these complaints serious enough to charge such a high amount for?
Information about how the costs could be split over the year rather than as one set payment at the end of the year.
Being able to change the payment time of year.
Clearly there has been an increase in the amount of fees the GDC receive since nurses have had to register. 60% DCP v 40% dentists. I feel
especially since Hygiene Therapists have direct access and a new scope of practice, the £945 proposed fee for dentists V £128 for Hygiene
Therapists is disproportionate. I think they could share that cost. For dentists it is a massive increase if you are part-time £369. I feel a fair increase
would be £760 for dentists and £300 for Hygiene Therapists, other DCP's with little patient contact remain at the proposed £128. If fee are going
to increase will it be possible to pay in instalments as these fee always are at Christmas for me, I would prefer a choice of payment, either
quarterly, or bi-annually.
comparison to similar regulatory bodies such as the General Medical Council , its running costs and the ARF that must be paid by medical doctors
explanation why fitness to practice hearings are so frequent, so costly, whilst standard are increasing, and what is being done to rectify this
The resource needs do not justify a 64% spike in ARF. I'm not opposed to an increase but it needs to be a little more realistic.
The increase in complaints is because money has been taken out of dentistry at a local level, so governance in many areas is poor. In essence this
is dentists having to fund governance due to cuts in the NHS. Its ridiculous! There should be national accountability about the resources that have
been stripped from dentistry and how this is impacting the profession.
To differentiate between
1)NHS & Private dentists/DCPs and
2)where dentists & DCPs work
as those within an NHS Trust have very strict Governance, Peer review, Standards & Information sharing protocols and take part regularly in
supervision, Outreach clinics and peer review - so would have less complaints and certainly much less involvement with the GDC. It is shocking
that these NHS salaried dentists/DCPs (often part-time) with lower earnings are being grossly penalized for those dentists/DCPs earning much
higher incomes who have the sole use of the Dental Complaints service.
I'm still looking for VTE since 2013 after completing my overseas registration exams, such a large increase in the fee when I am not in employment
is not affordable for many people in my situation and GDC should give due consideration to us.
The rest of the country, including the dental team have seen no pay increase for longer than 4 years, and their own costs have increased. More
evidence on other actions to cut costs should be demonstrated before asking for more money. As a NHS consultant I am technically entitled to
First class rail travel, but my employer will not fund that. We need evidence than the GDC are taking a similar line for all their activity.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I think that it would be useful to have information of the proportion of FTP cases are DCP and GDPs. It would also be of interest to know the
number of cases that are from registrants who are British and Irish trained vs EU and other countries.
1) ARF based on individual basis and number of complaints.
2) Introducing a more efficient system for complaints grading and management to reduce GDC costs
3) Only deal with complaints which matter and oppose the encouragement of "complaints culture" among citizens/patients.
Instead of collecting extra money to deal with increased complaints, the GDC should be investing in prevention ( as we dentists are supposed to).
There is no breakdown of where the £18M is going and no explanation of how it will help improve patient care or relieve dentists anxiety about
increasing complaints, many stemming from the undue pressure applied by the terribly unfair and ineffective UDA system. Simply asking for a
64% in increase to deal with extra complaints is a very simplistic and unfair procedure.
How it costs the GDC such high levels to regulate DCPs, especially professions such as Dental technicians, who have such limited patient contact (if
any) and it is the dentist who 'signs off' work as correct design etc when the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) who regulate the
following professions with a large number of employees often with intimate, direct patient contact (and a high number of hearings):
Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists / podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, hearing aid dispensers, occupational therapists,
operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists / orthotists, radiographers,
social workers in England, speech and language therapists.
Whilst charging £160 for a two year period (£80 per year). The fee proposed of £128 per year for GDC DCP professions, such as dental nursing
and laboratory staff, who are often, especially in the North East of England, paid extremely low salaries is completely unfair.
Whilst I acknowledge direct comparison of the cost of regulating different professions will always be contested I refuse to believe it costs this
difference.
Maybe the GDC should differentiate between Clinical dental technicians, laboratory owners etc to provide a truer reflection. A laboratory
technician involved in the process of constructing a denture has far less responsibility than a Dietitian administering potassium feeds to sick
children and a reduced likelyhood of misconduct or complaint etc. £128 is effectively a tax of the lower paid to supplement those with patient
contact and a greater risk of complaint.
A breakdown of all expenses the GDC has.
The GDC have an effective monopoly - I do not beleive that any organisation should be allowed to impose such massive increases which are far
beyond the rate of inflation and being proposed at a time of increased financial burdon, pay restraint and net reduction in after tax incomes.
More radical cost reduction solutions are necessary... As for the ARF being tax deductible - really! - as if that helps!!!
Why as Dental Nurses are we paying more than an RGN?? For part time workers this is a diabolical fee! Not only that there is still no monthly
direct debit facility! And you still take this fee before the August school holidays start which is a nitemare for part time working single parents for
one example! I could list many more! As a unison steward I am aware of the lack of pay increases yet you put this up at a time that most workers
are struggling! Thanks for that!
many cases that are filed by the patients turn out to be false accusations, this behaviour of patients should be stopped and the attitude of pushing
a dentist for legal proceedings just to get undue advantage by some monetary compensation should be discouraged.
There should be stricter criteria set for patients as well, like being consistent with care for few consecutive years under same practice, not
changing dentists every now and then.
Intoducing compulsary compliant score for patients in terms of their social habits and dental attendance, attitude etc.
Better nhs contract system for both dentists and public.
Clear cut guidelines ovet what to expect and acheive under nhs and private.
Why should those dentists who do work under the regulations of the GDC be punished for the increased in complaints. Also, why has there been
no information on this "rise" over the last 5 years?
An increase at this level is disgraceful.
What costs are recouped from registrants found to be in breach of regs and/or deregistered etc?
Why isn't the government and public purse funding the GDC when you are a body regulating dentists and protecting the public. Surely this is not
something that dentist should have to keep funding alone. A 64% increase is absurd. It is hitting the average dentist very hard, who has to pay for
the faults of other dentists. Also to limit costs I suggest stopping this culture of encouraging people to complain. It encourages damage to the
profession and keeps legal fees and ARF high, unnecessarily.
how many of those dentists involved in fitness to practice hearings are non-uk trained?
Full accounts should be published including all costs of running GDC
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I am currently in training in a hospital StR post. My salary is no where near that of dentists in practice. I work under the supervision of consultants
and am continuously doing CPD and thus feel such an increase in ARF price can not be a one size fits all.
I feel those in training posts should not have to pay the entire £945, but perhaps a proportion e.g. £600.
Would the cost of the GDC be reduced by a move from premises in central London?
Why can the payment not be made in installments like any other form of insurance (especially if increasing to this amount and to be paid at
Xmas). Why is the payment not based on earnings? I work in salaried services and would struggle to afford this amount.
Why can't more cases be dealt with at a "local" level, where it must be cheaper.
A 64% increase is ridiculous, as the profession isn't 64% worse than last year.
Salaries of senior staff!
Why London based with all associated high costs? Can the GDC look at a non-London base?
The GDC is considered by the majority of registrants I speak to as an association that is 'out of control'. If the fee goes up to the suggested level
there will be calls to replace the GDC with a leaner and more efficient body.
We need to see more information and transparency on why you need more money for FtP proceedings. Particularly in view of the fact that the
PSA has only just criticised the GDC for only meeting three of the ten Standards of Good Regulation for fitness to practise. It is difficult for the
GDC to ask for more money to do something they are not doing well. How will extra money improve the GDC's performance? A breakdown of the
types of cases (implants, orthodontics, fraud etc), and demographics (dentist, DCP, UK graduate, overseas graduate, specialist, NHS,private etc)
should be provided to all registrants.
Barrister fees for FTP hearings, how the triage system works, £0.6m in the whole scheme of things is not a big saving.
How the GMC regulate doctors for substantially less cost to registrants?
It would be useful to know if there have been any costings for relocating the GDC to another site in the UK. The BBC have done it in order to save
money and it would be sensible for the GDC to consider it. If it was moved North it would also make it more central and involve less travel for
many registrants who have to appear in front of the GDC.
I understand that more money is needed for the GDC but surely ones income should come into account? For all those doing specialty training such
as myself, 900 pounds before Christmas is a large amount of money. My salary is around 30000 at the moment, similar to a DCP who is only being
charged 128??To someone who's earning more such as a dentist in practice or a consultant this is easily affordable.
I think a grading system is needed where you are allocated a category according to your salary.
I also think it's unfair that everyone had to pay for other people having complaints. So I think that dentists who regularly have complaints should
pay more.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Dear GDC
Does the GDC think the 110% rise in complaints is healthy? Or does it believe the rise is due to it continually encouraging patients to complain and
it having an inefficient process to screen the complaints and to weed out the ones with no real basis and kill them at source.
Does the GDC believe that new graduates should be suffering because of the mismanagement of the profession from previous generations? These
people are the people who made large financial gains from the profession and the new generation is now suffering as a result of them being
allowed to do whatever they wanted.
How can it make sense that dentists and DCPs pay to both protect themselves (indemnity) and to be sued (ARF)? Does the GDC realise that there
are a lot of dentists out there (especially newly qualified) who earn a very modest amount? Paying nearly a £1000 per year is going to hit them
hard and especially when the GDC is perceived by most as an organisation who does NOTHING to help dentists or DCPs. One can liken it to the
defendant in a court of law paying for the prosecution to send him to prison! Madness!
Does the GDC not find it absolutely shameful that in the whole piece it released yesterday about the consultation it did nothing but to talk about
the money that we pay being used to fight claims against us!? I appreciate that some of the money should be used for this but the GDC is an
organisation which seemingly does nothing but spend time suing dentists and DCPs. Not exactly a great way to improve the image of the
profession now is it?
Maybe the GDC should very strongly consider a conserted campaign to promote the good work that most dentists do. Maybe it should endeavour
to educate the public as to the difficult job that we do and the pressures involved but also let them know that the majority of us are just normal
honest people trying to earn a living. It would be a change of tact from the GDC which would perhaps endear it more to it's registrants. Rather
than being seen as purely a dictatorial regime who do what they want, when they want, to whoever they want.
Unless, that is, the GDC have also lost all faith in dentists and DCPs as seems to be the case by some of the ridiculous things it seems to do!! Way
to go convincing the public we're any good if you can't even seem to do it yourself!
Yours sincerely,
An honest, hardworking (non moneygrabbing) dentist :)
With fair trading regulations can the GDC apply a 64% increase from £576 to £945? immediately? I think there must a legal issue with this. There
should be stratification of increases. This is not in line with inflation or with respect to anything. Why is there not a sliding scale based on earnings
for all? Some GDPs can earn £945 in a week but a part-time dentist wanting to do a few sessions floor walking a dental school clinic, will clearly
deter good people wanting to work sessions. Absolutely disproportionate to those DCP holding direct access and clinical access, should pay more.
The argument given for needing to cover costs is all very well but why then was the ARF frozen over the last 4 years? A gradual increase would
have made this enormous increase (64%!!) a little easier to handle. My concern would be for the dentists who work part time or in salaried
service where this huge increase in ARF would have a huge financial impact on quality of life. I personally am going on maternity leave in the next
month and the thought of having to try to get this sum of money together in time and the fact that I will be returning as part time employed is
frankly quite worrying. Shouldn't dentists who also wish to have some sort of family life be supported in their decsion to also carry on in the
dental profession. Along with other dental organisations constantly increasing their rates (although I have to say a lot more fairly and in a much
more manageable way than what is proposed here) part time wages will be solely spent on registrations and subscriptions. I realise regulation is
incredibly important but the medical profession do not have to pay anywhere near the amount you are proposing. Why then is dental registration
so high? Have any provisions been put into place for dentist who could seriously struggle to pay such a huge amount every year, and on the 31st
December no less? Also why has DCP registration only gone up by 6.7% and dentists registration by the enormous 64%, I realise dentists have the
income capacity to pay significantly more and have a lot more responsibility to the patients but is a 6.7% Vs 64% difference really fair?
where the money is currently spent and how the GDC cannot manage but the GMC and NMC seems to.
Since this is the only place to put comments I will place a couple here :
I feel that there is a lot of wastage in the processing of complaints & the process needs to be refined to stop multiple expence payments.
I am a salaried dentist & my wage does not reflect this massive hike in arf. I feel that since my earning potential is capped very low compared to
high street dentists & my risk of complaints is significantly lower the fee should be reflective of this.
A rise of this amount in the ARF is ludicrous
How much panellists get paid for a 4-day hearing.
A further breakdown of the staff costs for FtP cases - £14,000 seems very high for admin staff.
What the money goes towards?
£18 million for the 'extra volume of complaints' needs more transparency- fund allocation and breakdown?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
why has there been a 110% increase in complaints to the gdc? Are we as a profession really 110% worse or are more spurious complaints getting
to GDC level, surely we need to address the need for all this extra funding?
I am opposed to any increase in fees. Maybe we should merge with the GMC to keep costs down
I think more GDC money should be spent on regulating dentists from other countries being able to practice here, as they make up the vast
majority of GDC cases and is a glairingly obvious problem when looking through the hearings. They should pay more retention fee because as a
group their risk is higher. I also think that people who are fund guilty by the GDC should be made to pay higher costs to reinburse the GDC. I know
this is not in the right box but you havent even bothered to ask why people are against the fee rise.
Details of what proportion of complaints AND hearings involve uk trained vs overseas trained registrants.
Need much more detailed information if we are going to be hit with such a price increase. It would also be nice to know how much the GDC have
spent on refurbishing their premises, and why it will benefit us, considering the fact we are paying for it.
It states in the consultation that individual circumstances cannot be taken into account when setting the ARF for DCP's. I do not agree with this.
Dental nurses are quite substantially paid less than other DCP's. We are paying higher regisration rates than teachers and nurses who are paid a
higher salary. I know they are different registering bodies, however salary has to be taken into account here.
I do think dental nurses should pay a lower ARF than other DCP's. If the GDC must take into account the cost of regulating different groups then
make a separate group for dental nurses.
What work is being done to reduce the number of claims!
I think that the GDC provided their side of the story however there is still the dentist side of this story. Yes the GDC provided figures but how can
we guarantee that there is no waste by the GDC? How can we be sure that there is no saving that can be done by the GDC? All the government
departments provided saving for the last 4 years and I'm sure the GDC can do the same. We need to know why they have all these complaints. Is it
because patients taking advantage from this complaining culture? Finally the salaries haven't increased much for the last 10 years in fact they
froze for couple of years in addition to increase the cost of living in all aspect and now to almost double the ARF is completely unacceptable
At present the dental profession in NHS General Dental Practice is experiencing a real terms reduction in pay and therefore perhaps a tiered fee
level depending on the number of hours practised per year or dependent on the risk of being referred to the GDC may be appropriate. Similar to
Defence organisations. Some part time dentists may struggle to pay the new fee.
As I am about to become a mother and facing years of working part time, the higher retention fee is going to be a big issue for our family. I'd
propose a smaller fee if one is on maternity leave and working part time. The cost of living, training and indemnity (not to mention running the
practice) will become so significant that the profession in general may face loss of dentists to other professions.
If there are repeat offenders that are incurring higher costs, surely it would be an idea to impose higher fees on them and not penalise those that
are providing the proper professional care.
I still don't think you have provided enough information to justify such an increase.
Doctors pay £390 to be registered, opticians £290, vets pay £299 and nurses and midwives pay £100.
I appreciate that complaints may have increased but I still don't understand why the dental profession is going to have to pay such a large amount
of money in comparison to other comparable professions.
I also think that consideration needs to be given to different costs for different members of the profession. Newly qualified dentists should have
to pay a lower fee in my opinion.
I also think the GDC needs to consider allowing all members to pay in installments as this would be much more affordable.
My defence union for example allows their fee to be paid in this way.
I understand that shortfalls in funds have to be made up, but I am struggling to understand why dentists fees are increasing by such a drastic
amount when other medical professions do not pay anywhere near the current amount. Are there not other measures that could be taken to cut
costs, or funds in place to make up this projected shortfall?
I would like to know other expenses the GDC have and feel if there is such a deficit, why are GDC inspectors flaunting photos of their room service
meals at the Hilton Hotel that they have been put up in overnight during practice inspections.
Breakdown of numbers of complaints received and those which go to a hearing. I would also like to know how much was paid in bonuses and pay
rises
we can only take your word for this - a massive and unfair hike in charges which cannot be paid in installments.
67% rise is too much and I am sure all of the profession will be in agreement
It is far too over budget and the price should not have to be paid by the professional who is already struggling to stay with the NHS
I think i can speak for quite a few dental nurses that i work with, who are struggling with wage freezes and the rising cost of living, that this
increase would not help them
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Move from high expenses in London and relocate to Birmingham instantly reducing your expenses
Give a full breakdown to justify a 64% increase in fees
We are actually regulated by the CQC as well only one body is necesary
A clear explanation of why the number of complaints are dealt with through the GDC rather than by local measures would be handy, as a
significant proportion FtP complaints do not lead to a FtP ruling yet still need investigationg. I agree that the GDC should protect patients, but it
has gone about that by encouraging unnecessary complaints which has increased its costs. The triage system should only investigate FtP once a
local system has either concluded there is an issue or the aggrieved party is unsatisfied. In addition, the GDCs' conception of 'professionalism' (a
difficult to define abstract concept) which would put members in front of a FtP committee also needs revising. The public do not expect students
to act like choirboys nor would I think they would believe that a police caution should automatically call a qualified dentists' Ftp into account
(depending on what it is for of course).
64% increase is rediculous!
Too much too soon...
Given that the GDC has publicly accepted the need for FTP improvement, the anticipated resource need to cover future FTPs is impossible to
justify. Once you have improved your FTP processes, the need may even fall. So your rationale for the ARF rise is totally flawed. Perhaps you may
relaunch this consultation once you have addressed your FTP problem.
a 64% increase is not reasonable. If I did that to my fees I would loose my patients. The GDC is a monopoly I have no choice but to pay. Start by
getting your house in order and reduce overheads, would like to see the GDC run as a business with some accountability!
Dentist from eu should have to pass an exam to practice in the uk this would generate revenue , and potentially stop complaints and subsquent
gdc hearings from sub standard dentists.
If we can claim back the redicolous amount of money we need to pay to register when most nurses pay are only slightly above minimum wage.
Dentists earn enough to pay for these fees but nurses wages are so poor it's difficult to justify paying theSe fees from our wages!
our medical collegues currently pay a fraction of what you propose with reductions for part time employees
I currently work two days a week in the public dental service and am expected to contribute the same as those working full time.
perhaps ARF should be varied according to time worked, place of work and risk of liability
Our medical colleagues manage without such extreme fees and are just as open to litigation and complaints .
You have certainly provided a detailed account of resource needs and indeed savings you have made in recent times to try and offset rising costs.
However having considered the expenses you quote for hearings (i.e. £70k or more for a 4 day hearing) I would appreciate a further explanation
of how staff, venue costs and panel members' expenses can reach such obscene levels.
I am a solely NHS practitioner. I earn a modest amount. In recent months I have drastically reduced my expenses to pay for my home and to
support my ill wife and children. I am an honest practitioner. I do not undertake private work and aim to provide good value for money for the
largely deprived patients I treat. Granted any of us could be called before the GDC in our careers. However I firmly believe that the cost cutting
measures you have detailed are grossly inadequate.
Further details must be given about the breakdown of expenses. Perhaps some of the more thrifty GDC registrants would be able to suggest
methods of cost cutting that would reduce these ridiculous levels of expenditure.
Breakdown of what fee will be is not clear. Once a price goes up and people have paid the fee there is little chance of it coming back down to the
same amount. £945 just to practice dentistry yearly in this country is too much, especially for dentists that go by the book and make sure
everything is done correctly - why should we have to pay for others' mistakes??
there is no statement as for what GDC has done as representative body for dentists and how it benefits dentists from a clinical and developmental
point of view
Yes. Instead of continuously proposing increases in the ARF can you please tell me how you plan on reducing expenditure. I can tell you many
ways that this can be done.
Can I suggest that those individuals who have legitimate cases brought against them pay more than those with no complaints at all. Whilst I agree
an increase is necessary I do not appreciate a 64% in one year.
i would like to know what resources are used, and what the cost implications are of maxillofacial trainees in hospital who do not practice dentistry
and why there is not a reduced fee for people in this situation who maintain dual registration with the GMC and GDC
Yes we do not feel you are doing enough for your registrants. You only talk about increasing income to cover costs and less so about reducing
costs. The current system requires an overhaul and nothing is being done to address this instead you are carrying on as before without
change...Change is needed. A 6.4% increase for DCP's can be accepted and may be inline with expectation. 64% for dentists is not.
None
How much is spent on changing charges in fitness to practice hearings. This is a common occurence that could be avoided by proper early
planning but which is very costly
We need to consider if dentists need to be charged on an individual basis, depening on the their need.
The GMC pay an ARF of £390, do we need to compare how they have managed to keep their costs so low?
how much money has been repaid in fines or penalties or , paying back money claimed fraudulently.
Why cant dentists found guilty bear all of the cost and fines
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why have you been so ineffective in managing your finances.
How many of the 110% increase of complaints have been acted on or were legitimate?
I feel that an income discount would be appropriate for dentists and DCPs earning below a certain threshold, as has been implemented by the
GMC.
Inflation rates over the past 4 years
Year
Rate
2012
2.83%
2011
4.48%
2010
3.29%
2009
2.10%
How can a 64% increase be justified.
If the GDC cannot control it's budget, it needs to be managed by a firm of Liquidators as the administration is in effect bankrupt.
The proposed fee increase effectively a ransom enforced by a monopoly.
The GDC needs to move out of London to cut costs.
our wages have not increased in last 5 years to compensate this rise you are trying to bring in.
Benchmarking against GMC who charge registrants significantly less.
In times of austerity with practice incomes hard-hit, a large fee rise is unacceptable - we have had to make harsh financial decisions but the GDC
are reluctant to freeze or reduce costs and quote aspiriational 'resource needs' - consider the NHS efficiency savings and reduced expenditure
year on year.
The GDC seems to exist solely to penalise dentists. There is very little support for the dental profession and the GDC seems to have a reign of
terror with all hard working, diligent dentists working under the constant fear of a GDC investigation which can be triggered by nothing more that
a disgruntled patient with a grudge. Why should we have to pay for the privilege? An increase of over 60% is ridiculous when you take into
account the other costs associated with being on the dental register, over £2000 a year for indemnity insurance, an unlimited amount on CPD
courses etc.
Penalise the dentists who need the GDC to keep them on the straight and narrow, not the hard working everyday dentists who are already
dealing with the increased stressed of the litigation culture developing in this country!
No
full breakdown of costs and why 18 million pounds is needed
Is there a genuine need for continued use of external lawyers in a high proportion of cases? To what extent are refershments etc still provided to
panels at cost to registrants etc. No information has been provided on pay/bonuses/benifits etc for GDC employees and anticipated changes in
these.
Consideration of whether fees can be paid monthly in 6 month arrears (in a similar way to TV licensing) to help spread the cost for registrants.
Hello.
I would like to ask a simple question:
What GDC is doing for dental technicians?
I can't see any benefits.
Total number of registrants broken down into types of registration eg. dentist, dental nurses, etc and the effects of maybe increasing all of the
ARF but not so disproportionately as 64% for dentists alone, but 6% for therapists and hygienists who may well earn 60% of a dentists earnings.
It would seem more appropriate to levy the extra charge to the few offending dentists rather than to all dentists, most of who are innocent.
Breakdown of venue, staff and counsel costs.
The exact statistics with a breakdown of which groups were found to be involved with the increase of fitness to practice, as you have only recently
started charging DCPs compared to dentists
Given the changes in scope of practice for dental hygienists and therapists who will be practising with more independence it would be interesting
to see what your estimates for future cases are within this group. Their ARF should be higher than other DCPs.
Why a member funded organisation does not hold full democratic processes and consult it members on how best to to run this body - which has
multiple failings, included financial incompetency
How much much do you spend on pensions and what sort of pensions do staff receive. I.e final salary etc..
The steps taken to reduce the FTP procedures and thereby reducing costs
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why is there a 110% increase in complaints? perhaps its because you carry out witch hunts rather than actual investigations of the complaints.
It seems strange that the GMC retention fee is set at a much lower level than the current ARF for dentists. Why should this be so, as litation in
medicine and dentistry is relatively at the same level.
There is also the additional question of the Specialist List, what does this fee pay for every year apart from being able to us the title Specialist. This
is a blatant 'cash generation'.
why dental care professional are grouped together
they should be seperate and be charged ARF seperatley
As you have left no space for comments, I think this massive increase puts us paying far more than ANY equivalent profession, penalises both
newly qualified dentists and dentists in the salaried sector who have been on a pay freeze for years.
Full breakdown of all costs including staff pay at all levels, cost of administering the GDC, etc. There should be a record of everything open and
transparent for all registrants to be able to access, also further information on other ways that have been tried to fund the shortfall, with a
chance for us to suggest ways to meet this.
The cost of housing yourself in central london as oppose to a possible move to somewhere a lot cheaper in the UK.
An itemised breakdown of how exactly you intend to spend the money. It is not fair to increase the fee by such a substantial amount and expect
people to pay their hard earned money.
Many of us are jobless and for us this increase of fees is too much.
Breakdown of country of origin of GDPs that have complaints lodged against them.
Also, why penalise those GDPs who have never had a complaint lodged. Far better to charge those who are complained about in order for then to
bear the brunt of what is an excessivly large increase for those who are older and perhaps only working occaisionaly, as I am, on a locum basis and
as a Postgrad. Tutor
The percentage of dentists that create the additional increase to the ARF should be stated. The ability to pay in installments would also be
advisable, especially for those who only work part time or are in Foundation Training and for whom the ARF at the new level would represent a
month's wage.
You have been criticised repeatedly by the professional standards authority for your failure to get a grip of the fitness to practice procedures. The
writing has been on the wall for the past five years but you have done nothing about it. There has been no admission of liability or failure on your
part.
You simply seek to blame the government and other organisations rather than recognising that there is an endemic systemic failure within your
own organisation down to its core.
The questions in this survey are highly loaded and closed and therefore the answers will only fund whatever outcome you want to achieve. This
will allow you then to publicly go about claiming what an accountable and transparent body you are which is far from the truth. The survey is the
most useless I have ever done because the answers are already there and the decision has already been made.
yes explain why headquarters are in an expensive part of london ?sell lease back or move premises and use the funds to lower the arf
It might be helpful, especially for the dentists, to see a breakdown of the costs between the dentist and the DCPs.
If there are increased complaints, no doubt a result of the current 'no win, no fee' litigious culture, why are dentists being made to pay for this?
If you're here to protect patients, how about charging patients for your services?
This increase of the ARF is an utter joke given the current recession and the recent salary cut to the FDs.
This is not a feedback form!! This has only questions you want to know the answer to and not true feedback from professionals about the changes
you are making. Considering many dentists never need to come into contact with the GDC other than to maintain their registration wouldn't it be
more fair to claim more fees from those that do? My other point is that you remain unmoved on the urge from many young dentists to all the fee
to be paid in instalments. I struggle to pay the current fee, and I find it very frustrating that in the modern day you won't be flexible enough to
change your ways to please more of us!
Please do not increase the fees by 64%. Please don't.
DCP price goes up by £8, and dentist price by almost £400
How is that fair in any way?
Enforce this on top of all the other fees and new regulations, and watch the exodus of taxpayer trained dentists move abroad
Ridiculous.
What other methods have been exhausted to raise funds from other means.
Explanation on what you are doing to help protect dentists (currently I feel as we have little to no protection), rather than just allowing spiraling
costs towards complaints, many of which i'm sure are likely to be baseless
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The fact you are spending £2,000 per day on venue fees is astronomical - where is the venue Buckingham Palace? The costs across the board are
too high, move out of central London and make more effciency savings!
1) A more thorough breakdown of expenditures for the average 4 -day hearing, which you stated is the main reason for an increase in
expenditure. £8000 for venue - the hearings are held within the GDC premises. £14000 staff for 4 days - please expand exactly what this involves.
2) Expand in more detail on the reasons for the substantial increases in expenditure with regards to Registration and Quality Assurance
That if you didn't put gdc jurors up in 5* all expenses paid hotels for the length of a trial then maybe the trials wouldn't cost so much, therefor
decreasing the need to charge ridiculous amounts of money for the arf!!
Why not offer a comparison with the work and resources of the UK General Medical Council which only charges me £390 to stay on the register?
Otherwise it remains very difficult to see how the GDC justifies this level of fee. I am on both the UK Medical and Dental Registers.
How to reduce costs
A report on the activity from your regulators to see if GDC activity is in fact beneficial
How much the recent refurbishment of the GDC cost and who funded this refurbishment.
The statement above talks about the public losing faith in the profession. Why, if the GDC is strapped for money is it revisiting resolved issues like
"should dentists be called Dr" and seems determined to undermine the profession itself by devaluing us in the public eye.
Why an organisation that is no longer self regulated is still being paid by professionals rather than by the tax payer.
Why the fees are the same for everybody. Not only did I have to pay fees when I was not working due to having children (to prevent erasure from
the register), but soon, as a part time dentist and mother, I will not be able to afford to practise dentistry. It seems tantamount to sexual
discrimination.
Breakdown of costs
Warning of this increase WELL in advance. This amount coming out of a business account in December will cause cash flow issues. I for one could
do with monthly direct debit payments spread over a year rather than a one-of direct debit.
breakdown of costs in a lot of detail and explanation how you reached your figures
The 64% rise for dentists is a ridiculous increase. You need to look at ways of cutting your costs rather than charging more. There would seem to
be no good reason why you need to be based in the most expensive city in the country, relocating to cheaper premises in a cheaper city would be
a good start. You should also recover costs from people who have been found to be in breach of regulations and not make the majority of honest,
hard working people from the dental the profession pay more.
your productivity , at a time when everyone else is working harder for less, why should we pay even more to be regulated? It is easy to see the
direction things are going in, especially since the CQC will increase its fees. More regulators, charging even more .
Which sections of the Dental Profession are being sued the most, which are providing the poor quality care, why those in the Dental Profession
who show a lack of care and poor standards are not charged significantly more than the rest of us. Why the GDC fee is not proportional to the
individual Dentist's income.
You need to realise that a Dental Nurse does not have the capacity to earn as much as a Hygienist , Therapist or Technician and many Dental
Nurses work part time and this should be taken into consideration. Dental nurses should pay less than them .
Yes.
Why is that part time dentists have to pay the same amount as full time dentists?
How do you justify this?
How do you propose that a part time associate will be able to pay a months worth of salary just to be able to practice?
How is that the fact that associates have not seen a pay rise since the new contract started in 2006 not effected the amount we have to pay?
How do you expect us to be able to have a work life balance, pay for nursery care, pay the mortgage and pay general leaving expenses: that are
rising when there has not been a pay rise and yet the amount we have to pay to be able to practice is increasing?
The retention fee amount should depend on income of dentist.dentists on 38000£ should not pay same as dentists earning over100000£.it is not
fair
I'm very interested in learning why a triage improvement, allowing less waste of our money, is not being implemented.
It's seems instead of trying to fight the outrageous number of complaints, we only get asked for more money, so that more complaints can be
made.
Location and running costs of GDC offices. Considerable savings to the organisation could be made if running costs were based outwith London
Since the GDC is there to protect the public's interest, perhaps the money to regulate and provide statutory functions should come from the
public pot. Such an outrageous increase is completely unreasonable when dentists cannot see any direct benefit to their profession for the ARF.
Perhaps you should consider moving your HQ from Central London to cut costs like other bodies.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
It is hard to understand how it can cost £78000 for 4 days of hearing. A better break down of these costs would be useful, although staff costs of
£14000 for 4 days is phenomenal. It feels as if savings could be made elsewhere rather than having to increase the costs by such a huge amount.
Explanation to why DCPs only have 6.7% increase in comparison to the 64% increase for normal dentists. The difference is huge and a 64%
increase is a massive increase especially with respect to newly qualified dentists and with talks of salary cuts.
No
The estimate of £18m appears to have been plucked from thin air. I have no faith in the gdc accounts team. If there have been no ARF increases
for 2 years whilst you have been totally aware of the increase in cases then how can trust the system?
The number of hearings that are abandoned or the registrant is exonerated as a percentage of the overall total.
The steps you are taking to reduce the number of FTP hearings by better pre-hearing analysis and chucking out spurious claims
What ways have you sought to become more efficient with the funds you already have as opposed to simply demanding more money?
Why you do not risk assess different registered groups? For example overseas qualified Dentists would appear to make up a significant proportion
of hearing costs but are a smaller proportion of registrants. The groups who generate the most complaints should pay the most. It is unfair to
penalise people who have spent a vast amount on their education in the UK and qualified at a very high standard with the actions of a minority. In
addition why does it cost so much more to register with the GDC than the GMC, how do they run arguably a much larger operation and don't
need to charge such high fees?
No
I think it is important to make dental professionals aware of what you intend to do to limit the spiralling level of complaints you are receiving and
thus having to investigate and put to a FtP panel.
I would suggest that the GDC shouldn't be having to get involved in patient complaints until they have been through a sequence of steps initially
which would hopefully allow for local resolution in the majority of cases.
I understand the GDC is an important organisation to protect patients but I also understand that the vast majority of complaints you receive are
thrown out for being too weak, but inevitably waste alot of your time and resources. Dentist's will clearly be very unhappy with a 64% increase in
their annual retention fee, especially when our medical counterparts pay a mere £390!
How is the GDC addressing the unsustainable increases in patient complaints.
The patients have a right to complain but the system is overly biased against the profession.
It is all too easy for patients to simply take a disliking to members of the profession and cause months and years of work (and cost) by the GDC
and all other parties.
Patients however don't have to conform to any structure before getting to the point of complaining to the GDC.
It seems a lot of the time the GDC is the first port of call.
Why DCP ARF is only increased by £8 and the GDP Fee increased nearly two fold
Decrease prices
Perhaps different payment bands; those registrants who appear more regularly before the council pay more as an ARF.
More consideration as to the apparent lack of transparency as to how registrants money is spent, detailed breakdowns and how the GDC aims to
reduce costs.
This is far too big an increase for a body which in my opinion has not been proactive in looking after the people who fund it merely hiding behind
the excuse that they are there to protect the public.
Has the level of dentistry deteriorated that much to explain why there are so many FTP panels? Are there inappropriate referrals and if so why do
they get so far. Why penalise dentists. As a body we are no longer represented by you and are not self regulating, why lay members?
This survey does not allow decent feedback and a64% hole in ARF is outrageous. All your questions are closed!
I feel as a DCP and working alongside dentist who are more than competant at their work, i feel as thoughthe majority of professional dentist are
being punished at a costly length and does not justify having to pay nearly £1000 as ARF and as for myself £128 is more than midwifes and general
nurses pay for their annual fee. Iw ould much rather be able to pay a monthly amount rather than paying a lump sum on a yearly basis.
I will write here since there is nowhere else to. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
5 yrs out of uni I still owe £35,000; I have no savings, no pension, I struggle to pay my tax bills, I just moved back to my parents house as I could no
longer afford to rent and I have clinical depression due to stress. You are increasing the fee to penalise those who don't follow the rules. What
about those if us that do?? Those that actually care about the profession? Answer; we will all leave due to poverty. I am disgusted by this
proposal.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
what proportion of cases that you have to deal with could have been resolved more effectively for all parties buy locally based mediation ad/ or
support services. Im thinking of PASS schemes and their like.
my impression from the direct experience of colleagues is that a significant number of cases taken to the GDC are long winded and stressful for all
concerned.
i also feel that the legal profession is too keen to encourage patients with minor grievances to go to the GDC and that they need to be regulated
more effectively.
Why do therapists pay the same fee as other DCP's when the now have direct access. I feel very,very strongly that therapists earn more than a
young dentist and should pay a greatly increased fee from dental nurses. You have not explained this in the document.
If hygienists and therapists are working in direct access their fees should equally reflect their increased responsibility. A 64% increase for dentists
cannot be justified especially when dentists salaries are decreasing and indemnity is increasing. The way complaints are being made and handled
need to be seriously reassessed. The complaint culture is out of control in today's era.
A break down of where the increases have occurred should be provided. Wheater they are from dentists or DCP's.
The need for such a sharp increase in arf that is out of line with any other professional body.
Full publication of gdc accounts including payments for hearing committee members and salaries for board members. A full breakdown of money
collected and expenditure.
Very unfair for the people who conduct themselves and follow a lawful practice need to accommodate for those who do not.
Why cannot there be a insurance like plan placed for those offenders?
Are fees raising across the board proportional to complaints per area of dentistry?
No
none
I'd just like to point out that I only work two days a week as I have small children. I disagree that I have to pay the retention fee when I have been
on maternity leave. I disagree that I have had to pay the full amount even though I only work 2 days and my earning basically cover my childcare
costs . The thought that I will have to be almost a thousand pounds next year on top of what I pay the indemnity company is quite frankly
OUTRAGEOUS and I cannot afford to pay it. It shoul be discounted for part time dentists and dentists on mat leave as we are not earning enough
to pay these fees. A 64 percent rise is ludicrous .
i am not practising dentistry because of maternity and not happy to pay such an increase. what about creating a new practising and nonpractising register(for overseas/housewifes/maternity). they need find this money from somewhere else like the practices who are making a lot of
money what about them they should contribute as well. why should other dentists penalised for this. why don't the indemity insurance
contributes towards it.
Your accounts look very clear and as a dentist I will not be able to comment about it but I can say that my NHS salary is not enough to pay the
£945 ARF.
Providing a clear account does not mean that the only way forward is to raise the ARF.
I work 21 hours per week, and only do oral health education with no clinical work. It would be helpful if the fee was slightly lower as i am on a
limited income and still pay the same fee a full time nurse.
This fee cannot be justified. The GMC charges its registrants £390. The bank of England base rate is stil 0.5%. According to inflation the increase
should have been less than £100.00. If fitness to practice is an issue those registrants with endorsements should be asked to pay a premium. I am
disgusted and feel over a barrel to pay a ridiculous amount of money which is completely unjustified. This is exactly the way to ensure complete
privatisation of NHS dentistry as the financial situation is becoming untenable.
Why has there been such a large increase in complaints/fitness to practice hearings? Are you setting the threshold for investigating dentists at too
low a level? What percentage of hearings result in a "no case to answer" outcome?
Are you quality assessing new registrants appropriately?
Where do most of the complaints arise. and can you not target the root cause of these complaints rather than launching numerous fitness to
practice hearings at considerable cost?
What is the reason we have to pay so much to work in the profession. Wages don't go up so why does the fee!!!
I cannot believe I have been paying you year after year for people to get more money from me. I know of no other regulatory body that would
ever do this to them, you have been getting away with this since 1984. Now your taking the biscuit. Dentistry has become a very depressive and
stressful career thanks to you gdc. It is not our fault that people are making more complaints...if anything we are doing things better and better
these days with all the regulations and standards we have to abide by. Surely we should not be suffering for this. You must look at bringing down
complaints by looking at them more carefully not looking as us for more money.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The GDCs whole approach to this problem is flawed. The GDC has simply looked at its increased workload and decided the only way to manage it
is to charge registrants more money. The GDC should, alongside looking at the retention fee, be publishing proposals as to how it can deal with
this increased caseload more effectively and efficiently.
We have a number of suggestions:
1.
The first time a dentist sees any complaint against a registrant is when it gets to the fitness to practice panel. This means all cases,
however spurious or irrelevant, are dealt with at an expensive and time consuming stage. The re-introduction of a “screener” would help with this
time and cost burden enormously, bringing down the cost of running the GDC as a whole and making sure fitness to practice panels are dealing
with more relevant and appropriate cases.
2.
The GDC has its premises in a very expensive and exclusive district of London. The order to raise funds, the GDC should sell its Wimploe
Street HQ and relocate to more cost-effective premises on an ex-industrial brownfield site in, say, Middlesbrough.
3.
The current GMC retention fee is £390. Clearly there are more doctors than dentists but it might be expected that the proportion of
complaints is similar to both bodies, meaning the annual retention fees should be similar, as they have been up to this point. The GDC should
publish the data from the GMC to compare with its own and look to the GMC for advice and guidance on managing its caseload without resorting
to huge fee increases.
4.
It is not in the interests of public safety to have an ineffective regulator who does not even have the where with all to put forward
proposals to manage its own caseload more efficiently. Simply putting up the fees and carrying on as you are is not acceptable. The GDC must
publish proposals as to how it intends to reform itself and become a leaner, more effective regulator.
In addition to the above points, young dentists are leaving university with huge debt burdens since the introduction of tuition fees. This may be
compounded by a pay cut which has been proposed for newly qualified practitioners. To charge this group of young dentists £945 will make this
already worsening situation intolerable. We urge the GDC to consider reduced fees for those who are newly qualified. If this simple request is not
possible, the GDC could at least have the decency to introduce the option of monthly payments so costs can be easily spread over the year.
Our prediction is that the profession will deluge the GDC with comments such as these and the consultation will have an overwhelmingly negative
response. Sadly, we predict this will have no effect whatsoever and the GDC will increase its fees anyway. We believe the GDC has published this
document in order to pay no more than lip service to the profession and will act as a law unto itself without a care for the welfare of it
registrants, particularly junior practitioners and those in comparatively low paid junior hospital posts. Unless the GDC shows a clear intention to
reform itself alongside increasing fees it risks losing the goodwill of the profession and also of health ministers and the government at a time
when all other organisations are having to tighten their belts and work more efficiently within a tight budget.
I would like you to categorise the dentists who recieve so many complaints /requirements for fitness to practice proceedings. I would like to know
whether the majority are general dental practitioners.Speciality trainees I believe should be a seperate category. Why should they be expected to
pay such a high retention fee? The majority are employer indemnified. We undertake a significantly higher number of CPD hours and a higher
level of training than GDPs. Our retention fees should reflect this. We are working under supervision by hospital consultants.
Please consider following points.
1.
ARF increase in 2010 was fairly large increment at once.
2.
GDC equally works in public interest and should consider some fund raising from public as well.
3.
The member of public complaining should pay some fee towards the cost.
4.
Hospital salaried dentists cannot coup with this massive rise of £945.
5.
We may end up in loosing our mortgaged houses/ other necessary livings our family and children will suffer. (with so many membership
and indemnity fees to pay).
I find it ridiculous that in this day and age that the ARF cannot be paid either quarterly or monthly by direct debit. December is not a good time of
year to be paying this, especially this hike in fee. I also find it scary that the majority of the fitness to practice panels seem to be made up of lay
members, rather than dentists. I also reckon this consulation process is a waste of time, when the fees will clearly be put up anyway!
yes i would like to know if- the GDC have a low income discount on ARF ( Just as GMC has)
- they would consider an increase in Overseas Registration exam as a means to raise funds .
The blanket rise across all dentists is too much too quickly, especially for newly qualified individuals given the proposed income cut for DFT, which
combined result in a real terms paycut of around 10% in one year. Furthermore the raise is too fast given it has been held static for the previous 2
years, meaning that either poor planning has taken place, or that these problems are unforeseen - in which case they should have been able to be
dealt with the contingency fund. Therefore a more graduated increase would be welcomed, as would a reduction for those just entering the
profession.
The main concern is to reduce the number of spurious cases brought to the GDC so that resources can be directed at the genuine examples of
poor practice. The best way to do this is via an 'excess' for example '£100 fee' to claimant that would be returned only if the facts were found to
be proven. PLease note that there are many examples of government departments charging the public for their services.
It needs to be given detail of what makes the handling of complaints so expensive. Furthermore, it may be relevant to consider how the
complaints are dealt with and if it is necessary to do full investigations on every complaint, when most prove to be frivolous and poorly
fundamented. Maybe procedures should be reviewed instead of simply increasing the fees.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I believe that searching/doing VTE dentists (just like me ) who do not work because of the difficulty to find VTE place or work for free!!
on their VTE position should not be treated and charged ARF in exactly the same way as dental associates -- who work full time, do
complaint--prone procedures like dermafillers or implants etc,-- who earn at least 2000--3000 pounds per month.
Dental Indemnity cover organisations do not charge all the dentists equally . They set up the price for the cover only depending on the
number of sessions per week, types of dental procedures done, and of course depending on if they are doing VTE or are they post VTE.
The government Tax and revenue charge tax depending on the income. Which means if I'm currently working as a cleaner (while looking for
VTE) and earn £6.40 per hour--and £250 per month I will not be taxed exactly as another employer who earns £10 and more per hour
and earns £2000-3000 per month.
To make the conclusion, GDC should not mix together VTE dentists and post vte associates. GDC should charge ARF depending on all
those multiple factors.
Nowadays, many employers offer the VTE trainees to work completely free of charge knowing that the competition is very high and if I
refuse to work free of charge there will be someone else who would agree..
I have had an interview for VTE in London where they offered me to work 2 days per week and free of charge for 1 year!!
In that conditions people like me( free of charge VTE trainees) should not pay extra high retention fees of £945 to manage the complaints
that has been made against totally different dentists who might earn £2000-3000 per month and even more
As a salaried dentist, I have suffered a pay freeze, or in real terms a pay decrease over the past 4 years. This likely to continue for the foreseeable
future, so a 64% rise in the ARF is totally unacceptable.
No
What EXACTLY I get for nearly £1000 a year.
It's a vast amount of money - for which I see little return.
Other cost saving efficiency measures that could be taken into account
Number of spurious complaints, or complaints where the dentist was not found guilty.
with the economy the way it is this is not a good time to be increasing fees even with the increased case load. DCP's seem yto have increased the
case load disproportionately along with foreign dental professionals who should bear the iproposed ncrease in fees. Also if a dentist is proposing
to retire part way through a year then the GDC should charge only a proportion of the annual fee or refund that unregistered proportion, which is
only fair and have a fee free retired list as per GMC
Increase in number of complaints does not equal worsening standards of care;
maybe the rise in the number of complaints that needs to be address alongside other issues.
The potential savings by having regional hearings.
The potential savings by dismissing more claims prior to hearings.
unsure
Yes.
I would like to see a comparison graph etc comapring DCP registration and it s justification next to General nurses who pay less but earn more.
No
Compare expenditure and income (inc. ARF) of GDC to for example the GMC.
the proposed hike in fees is unjustifiable in the current economic climate .Our costs are increasing alarming,the goverment is proposing a freeze
on the uplift,and this increase is to steep.
I feel that as an NHS pracitioner who has not had any form of pay rise for several years (and indeed in real terms have had pay cut) a 64% rise if
ARF in unacceptable. I am constantly being told that in these difficult times we must acecpt austerity measures for the greater good - and do
more for less. In addition as a NHS practioner we have our own complaints porcesses which I suspect result in a large number of comaplints not
reaching the GDC. Why should I subsidise the private patients complaint system that the GDC now operates (for private practioners who are
earning significantly more that I do...) Should this not be operated by praivate pracitioners in the same way that the NHS complaints system
works for us.
Cost per case
Cost for experts
I think the GDC should make efficiency savings as we were asked to by the government
No pay increases ,only real term pay cut for dentists
May be try and save money by using common sense in trying to close cases quickly
1. How much does each member of the counsel and panel earn per day/session
2. Costs of venue in more detail
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
A breakdown of the staff costs, including levels of pay for all tiers of staff. I could not find any figures relating to expenses.
Also you have not included a space on this reply to the consultation for any comments, rendering it almost useless, answering your questions is
not a consultation, you should be answering our questions and grievances.
I retired from dentistry after 39 years on 28 March 2014.
I was surprised and disappointed to discover that, unlike the GMC, the GDC will not refund any of my ARF.
This does not seem fair and reasonable, and I would welcome a response.
the amount paid to the council members.
why GDC needs to be in the middle of London? can you not move out?
I think DCP nurses & technicians should be less than Hygienist , Therapist & CDT's
I feel that part of the reason why there has been an increase in number of complaints is because the GDC doesn't encourage local resolution of
these complaints. Patients feel it appropriate to write directly to the GDC than to attempt to resolve disputes with practices.
Hygienists and therapists should have their ARF increased.
GDC can cut more costs by locating outside of London, as MGC.
Since it is in the public interest to enable GDC to carry out its duties, there should be an allocation/bursary provided for by the government.
Dental incomes have lowered and all costs are going up, it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage such extortionate hikes.
what departments get more funding and justify why these areas need more money and why they system is not more streamline.
You also need to consider the effect this has on us as people trying to live and work. As a newly qualified I couldnt even afford the £250 + £600
ARF for this first year of work and had to borrow this money, yet its a drop in the ocean for many of the the practice owners and high earners. You
can sit at a desk and claim we are all high earners and can afford it, but we are not,there are varying scales of income and to inflate this cost to
not far off double what it already is is wrong and you are going to severely affect the financial state of many young graduates trying to get by on a
small wage with a lot of debt to pay.
You are going to struggle to get backing from the dental proffession when the GDC protect the public and do very little for dentists, and we ask
why are we footing the bill and not the tax payer? An increase in claims does not mean its more dentists that need investigating, it has something
to do with the 'no win no fee' mindset of the public and the countless adverts encouraging patients to claim. you need for money should also be
making you question how efficient your processes. You investigation stages should be identifying and getting rid of false claimants earlier and
more efficiently as currently dentists are dragged through lengthy and stressful claims already against them for years even when no fault is found.
You have not clearly stated how you propose to reduce the cost of ftp process. By simply giving an account of what you need you are simply
asking greater money for the same inefficient processes.
How many foreign ( none uk dentists) are in the complaints procedure. How many are about implants?
Your account may be clear, but the perceived need for such an outrageous increase is certainly not.
No
Get each patient who makes a complaint to make a payment.
Total number of complaints per annum?
What percentage are progressed?
What percentage are found against the registrant?
Has consideration been given to complainants making a payment?
Why you have chosen not to change ARF for 4 years and now propose a 64% increase.
1)which percentage of the complaints were genuine ?
2) what are the reason of the increasing complaints?( we all know that unfortunately in the last few years the complaints against dentists and
other health care professionals has increased ).
What percentage if dentist accounts for the majority of investigations
The proportion of dentists vs DCP who are brought to FtP
A brake down of the costs for each staged of FTP proceedings, & the reasons for the obvious high cost
Why better savings cannot be made
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
PROJECTED COST SAVING GETTING LESS EVERY YEAR, WHY?
WHY NOT REDUCE THE USE OF EXTERNAL LAW FIRMS EVEN MORE OR EMPLOY SOMEON EWITH SIMSIALR EXPERTISE?
How much of this is spent on complaints involving overseas graduated dentists?
Unfortunately you seem to address one issue and then if it proves groundless keep fishing in the hope of building a 'case'. This will inevitably
generate more work, although it doesn't necessarily show useful results. I would like to see a study which shows the efficacy of any of these
additional investigations. I feel that the Profession should not be asked to fund these fruitless fishing episodes. If you can show that you have
uncovered fraud or found another Shipman or materially improved patient protection; fair enough. If you don't have that evidence, then stop
raising your fees and building up your part. I hope that the CQC will take over your registration duties and the GMC take over the rest. They seem
to be able to do the job for £390.
Whether the patient has exhausted all other avenues of their claim first . Eg. Via dental indemnity
A thorough breakdown of how other alternatives to cover costs have been exploited to their maximum potential in order to prevent this
significant increase in ARF to GDC members.
£945 or a 67% increase is a disgraceful amount to charge dentists. The figure needs to be lowered. I am extremely angry at just getting into this so
called profession only to be met with ever increasing demands, such as increasing indemnity insurance, increasing GDC and a lowering of FD1
salary. There is no need for the fee to be that high, GMP's pay £390! This will cause many part time dentists to quit dentistry altogether. Disgrace.
Why do we need to have the GDC based in London - the most expensive place in the UK? Why can't the GDC move premises outside of London to
a cheaper venue? Where is your explanation and evidence on why the amount of fitness to practice referrals has risen exponentially? What are
the demographics of the dentists referred? (previous publications suggested highest prevalence of referrals was amongst EU and overseas
dentists). Why is this and why does the GDC not seem to talk about this issue? Why do the GDC (unlike the GMC) make provision for English
language competence for it's registrants? I appreciate that the Dentistry act is not on the political agenda for repealing / amendment; however,
substantive guidance from the GDC could force employers (CCG's or practice principals) to be held responsible for ensuring the dentists they
employ have an appropriate english language qualification.
When all the nhs working dentists perform safe procedures according to the standards why should we be over charged??we donot perform any
high risk procedures right??
How are you reducing claims that are not genuine.
A lot of people just want to sue dentists. It's in the culture now.
I want to know a specific case by case breakdown of costs. I also want to know why the GMC is able to provide the same service at far less a cost
to it's members. I also wish to know what proportion of cases are brought specifically against the following subgroups: dentists working in the
hospital service, dentists working in the community service, speciality trainees and dentists who gained their undergraduate degree outside of the
UK and who are able to practice here without any assessment of their competence. It is completely unfair that as a hospital based speciality
trainee (who presumably will be charged even more than £945 to be on a specialist list when I finish) that I have to pay the same as a general
practitioner who earns on average two to three times as much as me and is far more likely to be up in front of the GDC. £945 is nearly half of my
monthly salary (due at Christmas!), even if we could pay by direct debit (the fact that you continue to state this is not an option is also completely
ridiculous in this day and age) it is still more than my indemnity cover every month. Hospital practitioners, speciality trainees and dentists in
community should pay a tiered amount, just like we do for indemnity, because unless you can produce figures proving otherwise, these groups
end up in front of the GDC far less. Conversely if people who qualified outside of the UK and who are able to come and practice here without any
sort of assessment are investigated more than the average general dentist this should be reflected in their fee. To group all dentists in the same
bracket is totally unfair and needs to be revised.
Why are dental hygienists charged the same as dental nurses when they earn 3 times more (based on an hourly rate) then dental nurses!
It is unfair to categorise dentists as an entire group as depending on your field hospital, university, Community, NHS or practice your earnings and
direct responsibilities are entirely different and therefore the likelihood of proceedings etc. for example my personal circumstance is a research
PHD student in tooth wear with a modest salary and little patient contact which as a postgrad student is covered by the university like as an
undergraduate. Obviously I am expected to maintain my registration but at these rates it would be very difficult to do so and it feels like those
who are furthering their education and career are being treated unfairly when compared with those in practice raking in large salaries and
treating much more patients therefore increasing chances of complaints.
Justification of your costs compared to GMC for dealing with complaints and fitness to practise?
GDC costs in 2014 projected £32.4 million (FTP + complaints) dealing with 3500 complaints and 296 cases
GMC costs in 2014 projected £40 million (FTP + MTPS costs)dealing with 11230 complaints and 4500 cases (source GMC business plan & budget
2014)
Why costs have increased so markedly - maybe limiting the lengthy processes would save money and taking sensible steps to stop patients
complaining when they have no grounds
No
Reduce the fees!!!I get nine pounds an hour for goodness sake!! Disgrace.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
-What other means have the GDC employed to gain revenues other than increasing fees of dentists?
-Just because complaints are going up due to an increase in number of claim compensation companies does not mean dentists are becoming
increasingly negiligent on an annual basis!
-Why is it that the GMC can keep the cost so much lower for our medical colleagues (approximately £390 per annum) when they are normally
carrying out much more complex procedures which are more likely to have post-operative complications/complaints?
-Why can the GDC not be abolished and merged with the GMC who are much more capable of keeping their ARF costs lower than the GDC
-The GDC are not fit for purpose and are an extremely poorly managed organisation if they think that such a huge increase in ARF is an acceptable
way of raising revenues to protect the public. It certainly isn't acceptable for me or for any pf my fellow dental colleagues whether they are
dentists, nurses or technicians. I am yet to find a single professional who thinks this increase is fair or justifiable!
-As a paediatric dental specialist trainee a large amount of my annual salary already goes towards dental subscriptions, ARF, further training,
insurance and I am doing all I can to provide my patients with the highest quality of care and to ensure that I do not get any complaints being
raised from them. Why should the ARF that I pay increase so I can continue to work in a proffesion that I am passionate about?
-There has been very little consultation with dental professionals with regards to his increase in ARF and a very limited time given to offer
feedback!
Number or current and past complaints?
Breakdown of monies spent?
Reasons as to why the number of complaints can't be reduced?
Why should all dentists suffer if we have a minority that are doing patients a disservice?
You have not addressed the additional burden for those registrants who have to have multiple registration with regulatory bodies, especially
where those other regulatory bodies have sole responsibility for the specialty (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery).
You have not demonstrated how the FTP Process can be streamlinedwhere a registrants FTP has been considered by another regulatory body nor
where a standard response can be given for non-clinical issues.
Explain why you have been negligent in allowing these costs to escalate and now expect to be bailed out by the majority of dental professionals
who have NOT caused the increase in costs.
Yes
I would like to know why you have failed as a professional body failing 7 out of 10 psa standards.
Also why you have not looked into why there is an increase in fitness to practice hearings? if there is an increase in such complaints then surely
our profession is doing something wrong. And in such case you should be first to investigate.
I'd love to know what sort of venue do you hire for 4 days of Ftas and why it costs £8000 to do so.
I'd like to know why the staff cost of such hearings is so high.
If similar professional regulatory bodies can have their hearings 40% cheaper why can't Gdc learn the good example?
I would like to know why therapist and hygienist are charged the same rate as dental nurses even thou the first group have more clinical freedom.
I would like to know why your expenses are so high?
I would love to know why dentists are governed by lay members? Surly a fellow dentist would know better what constitutes good practice. I'd
love to know via the Freedom of Information how much those who run Gdc are paid and also whether they get any bonuses?
I would love to know why you were not so eager to send all registrars an apology letters for such low performance as assessed by professional
standards authority?
And after such poor performance how can you justify increasing fees? Are we going to pay for such poor service? why should we?
Why are fitness to practice hearings going up
Salaries,
Number of staff
Details of cost cutting attempts
There is no information whatsoever that relates to possible cost cutting and expenditure minimising.
GDC does not help dental professionals it does not support us
at any way .
In a way we pay GDC to be against us despite if we did malpractice or not if we are right or wrong . GDC is a patients
council not a dentist council.
A further breakdown of all the costs of running the GDC, costs of building, cost of salaries for staff.
What resources are being spent to see why there are so many complaints, what is being done to see if all the complaints are justified.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I think you need to simplify the regulatory procedure , making it less about the solicitors and lawyers and involving more dentists. Also need to
investigate the serious complaints and get rid of the frivolous complaints in the initial stages i.e introduce a vetting system for the complaints as
well . Also recuperate some costs of the proceedings from the frivolous complainants .
The ARF should be proportionate to the hours a dentist / DCP works e.g. dental indemnity rates. It is ludicrous that a part time dentist who works
in a hospital setting eg as a clinical tutor ( and thus does not gross a large amount) would be forced to pay the same ARF. I currently work in a
hospital teaching undergraduates on a part time basis and this amounts to more than 2 months pay.
A need for increased funding is understandable. An increase in accordance with inflation would be acceptable. I think there should be research
into other means to collect the extra funds that are needed. Well meaning, ethical and skilled dentists are being penalised for faulty actions of
other dentists and DCPs.
Breakdown of where every single penny is going?
Clear reasoning for an increase.
Salaries of members of the gdc and people employed by the gdc
Expenses claimed by members of the gdc.
Why there needs to be a 64% increase especially for young dentists who have only been practicing for a couple of years having to pay for the
mistakes of older dentists who are of a less clinical and professional aptitude?
Further information on cost saving including moving premises, introducing leaner hearing panels with a 'triage' unit for disciplinary cases.
This proposal is shameful.
More facts and figures on the purpose of needing to raise £18 million for complaints handling? Where exactly is this money going? A 110%
increase in complaints since 2010, so is that because the figures are already low? A 60% increase in the ARF, does not even follow the rate of
inflation, why not? For the young and newly qualified this is a lot harder to afford, especially due to an increase in unemployment?
Why have complaints to GDC gone up? Does this not need to be investigated to try to reduce complaints ie are law firms eg dental law
partnership directing claims straight to GDC as cheaper for them to get a dentist declared unfit for practice and then claim from the indemnity
company rather than go through indemnity company directly.
Why can't the complainants (public) contribute financially to the investigations to cover some of the shortfall so that the professionals are not
funding it entirely? Can the ARF be prorata depending on the number of hours worked as the indemnity insurance is?
This increase for dentists is exorbitant and I already hear of plans for boycotting the increase. Make those who are found wanting at fitness to
practice hearings pay for them. Charge those that make the complaint if the dentist is found not guilty.
Break down of FtP costs. How much is spent on general dentist only, specialist dentist on registrar, acedemic/lecturers only, therapist only,
hygienist only and nurse only
Why you need to hold fitness to practice hearings in London, one of the most expensive cities in Europe when there are cheaper alternatives in
the uk as accessible to registrants. The cost then filters down to the registrants
I would like to know why the government cannot contribute to the gdc funding? I do not think it is fair that dentists bear the burden of increasing
litigation costs alone when the GDC is for the public protection as well regulating dentists. This should be be considered as the price of the ARF is
unrealistically high. Many dentists will simply not be able to afford this when we have not had a pay rise in years and yet increasing overheads to
pay.
A more detailed break down of what 'Fitness to practice' entails as it is by far the biggest expenditure.
I cannot see that you do anything useful at all !To increase a fee by 64% is appalling !!!! especially as there is no way to avoid it.
If the state is so interested in protecting our patients and regulate us , it can do it and pay for it as well,as they do it in other civilized countries!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Is it really necessary to have a head quarters based in one of the most expensive streets in London? Costs could be cut drastically by just moving
offices.
Why is the compensation culture being encouraged by the GDC? There seems to be a general feeling amongst the dentists I know that we are
basically paying for a body to find fault and not support us and encourage irresponsible and petty claims from the public. If petty claims and
compensation cases (solely where the patient is trying to make a quick buck) surely costs would then also be reduced. As dentists we joined the
profession to be a caring person to help others, a lot of the time I feel that if I haven't ticked the boxes or written every inch of conversation that
has passed down I will get in trouble. Surely we should feel like we have some sort of support and an organisation which will also see our side of
the story - rather than us paying for something which I feel just goes after us finding fault. Patients should not be encouraged by the no win no fee
culture and if this body were a little more stringent perhaps the case load would decrease as the lawers wouldn't think that they could bring such
cases as its a push over. Yes we need a body that oversees neglect but we also need a body that does not encourage the public to persue stupid
claims.
Also if it is true that claims are increasing against dentists recruited from abroad (which I don't know if it is) why cannot the UK have standards as
abroad where dentists not trained in the UK have to sit basic exams as in the USA or Canada and then it makes sure there is a profession with an
appropriate level or level playing field with everybody supposidly at the same standard to start with - this might help reduce claims from the start.
If your costs have gone up by 17% why has the fee ebing increased much more than this?
If we agree to this increase do we then keep rolling over every year when you say that oh yes we need to put it up again. With NHS fees not
increasing it might actually start costing us money to go to work. Oh but yes I forget thats what the government and the patients seem to want
because we are all money grabbing dentists out to make a quick buck and don't actually care about patient care. We have no union of sorts so no
matter how much we protest and reply to this survey it is simply a box tickng exercise for you to say a consultation was made yet the price will go
up regardless.
What would happen if all dentists on mass didn't pay their fee this year?
With due respect, all members understand the function of the GDC, however, what the GDC don't seem to understand is how to treat their
members who effectively pay for the resource to sue them. My impression is very much that the GDC seem to have inadvertently cultivated the
culture of complaint and legal action for the most minuscule of errors among the general public and legal eagles alike. There's very little respect
for the professional with all rights given to the patient, making UK the capital of negligence claims in the world. I know of cases that have cost
>£100K in legal fees, gone to judicial review only for the case to be dropped by the judge! The real winners: lawyers on fat salaries. What will the
GDC do once the claims hit new records? Employ yet more staff, write more "your fitness to practice has come under question" letters to
clinicians who are often found innocent of all charges. Where do you draw the line? Will you keep hiking up our registration fee every time you
feel the need to balance your books?
It's not rocket science, if you keep feeding the cat, you'll end up with a fat cat and in more than one way.
No explanation of why this appears to of reached 'crisis point'. A more prudent, & acceptable approach would of been to increase gradually over
the last few years.
Why does it cost £8000 in room hire for a fitness to practice hearing !?!
Why haven't you allowed comments following any of the other questions?
No mention of being able to pay this ridiculous hike via monthly direct debit like the GMC allows? Unclear if this proposal is for 2015 (as fees for
this collected in 2014) or 2016 (with fees collected in 2015). If for this year I will be returning from maternity leave & feel it is unfair to have this
increase announced now when I am in the unpaid part of my maternity leave. I had budget for my ARF but not at this ridiculous level & I now have
no opportunity to rectify this.
The whole system to charge the dental professionals in order to regulate them is a sham. We all know that the gdc is NOT an independent body as
they claim to be and as such should be funded by the taxpayers themselves as they are the ones being encouraged by the gdc among other
organisations to bring complaints against dental professionals. But it is a nice business model for the gdc ofcourse!
Absolutely no justification for such an increase in one year! 64%!!! No other professional body has had an increase of this size in one year.
Not everyone can afford to pay this amount in one lump sum, will there be a means to pay by monthly instalments? Unbelievable!!
Proportionality of different groups of dentists regarding location, type of care etc.
Proportionality of spending on hearings from complaints and triaging process involved.
Why a dramatic rise rather than a graded/phased rise? Why do we have such a huge fee in comparison to doctors and the gmc? Is the money not
being used correctly?
Why the costs are extraordinarily high
I am a qualifier dentist who is undertaking a very expensive speciality training program and I can barely afford the current GDC fee. I will not be
able to afford the almost £1000 fee and I will have to suspend my gdc membership and flee to Australia once I graduate. It is not fair to punish
hard working dentists for the mistakes of a few. If you want to raise funds either do it based on income or based on risks. Hundreds like me will
drop out from the GDC if this goes ahead.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why you are failing in your standards
Why you need to be based in the centre of London
GDC board members and employee's wages an their changes
Has there been any consideration of the impact this will have on young dentists trying to further their education by completing postgraduate
study? I am currently an SHO struggling to save up for speciality training, which incidentally also costs more than ever before. Why is it that
income has not been taken into account, and why is it that the youngest of our profession, who do not have anything like the higher wages of our
older colleagues, are having yet another barrier put in front of us? I would also like more details on the legislation that prevents dentists from
paying monthly by direct debit. It is simply insufficient to brush this request under the carpet by referring to 'legislation,' without providing further
details. Thankyou.
No explanation of why a massive increase in FtP hearings but only a small increase in complaints is predicted.
There is no clear information outlined on the money paid to members of the council (and any intention to reduce these), the cost of rent for the
premises, and no account for the costs involved in redeveloping the GDC premises. A simple summary of the costs incurred annually should be
provided and an explanation as to how a 64% increase has been necessary in such a short period of time. Details of any other alternative plans to
raise revenue and more definitive plans to drastically reduce costs should be provided as such an increase will make it very difficult for young
dentists to be able to afford the retention fee.
At the very least, we need to be able to pay by quarterly or monthly direct debit. To expect us to find even the previous £576 at once was hard
enough. Why can't we pay in installments? The GMC allow this even though their fee is far less.
the fact that you cannot regulate properly and prioritise the complains and which it is worth or not to be more in depth examined
Why has there been no vetting process for the type of cases that you process?
A lot of which seem to be inappropriate in their severity. My associate has been through such a case and it was silly that it even came to the GDC.
If these cases were assessed on their merit they would not have taken the time and expense of the GDC.
What do you pay in rent for the property in Wimpole street? Why have we been paying for that? What reason does the GDC have for paying rent
in a location like this when the services it provides could be provided from say East Ham. Where the rent/property would be significantly cheaper.
Why do you ask for my ethnic origin? What bearing has it on the decision to increase the Fees?
You have not been entirely open over the reason for the large fee increases
Why are the hearing fees so large? Have these been independently validated as appropriately value for money. If so, please can this report be
made public.
How is the money used? What other venues can you generate the income from as it is not appropriate to charge the vast majority of GDC
registrants who are practicing to the best standards such a high fee.
I would like to see if there are any projections based on the introduction of Direct Access. In the past DCPs have largely been shielded by dentists
from complaints about their work. Has this been factored in to the projected costs for DCP registrants and their regulation?
I would also be happier with an increased fee if the GDC were using some funds to investigate why the number of complaints has gone up so
quickly and proactively advising NHS England and other regulatory bodies on how to commission services that meet GDC expectations.
Would it be possible to stage the increase over 3-4 years as this is a large increase for dentists?
Why the abusers are not being charged more for their ARF for the mess they caused? Why everyone else needs to bear responsibility for their
unresponsible performance and therefore for increased costs?
Whilst an increase is understandable a 64% increase is not . Why has this increase if necessary not been introduced gradually over the years
rather than a dramatic increase at once . It implies poor management .
Why dentists should pay to cover the consistent failures in your organisation!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Profession Regulation has been brought into disrepute and is being used as an instrument to bully and victimise professionals who speak out
against employers in the name of patient safety. Institutional bullying is admitted at the level of DH Health Secretary and Prime Minister and is
only possible if underpinned by participation of the regulatory bodies. This means that patient safety is being denied as clinicians are too
frightened to speak out and Fitness to Practice Hearings are regularly abused to silence senior clinicians. I am currently pressing for a Police
Investigation of Trusts and the Regulatory and am in regular contact with senior MPs who understand my argument.
There is no place for collecting fees from Practitioners. If the Government wants a dysfunctional regulatory service they should fund this centrally
as they have created many of the problems in the first place. I know of no dental surgeon who is happy paying a registration fee to "regulate" the
profession. The regulatory bodies appear to be unaccountable to the profession or anyone else and poor performance does not result in
disciplinary action against them contrary to the situation with registrants.
It is clear that the regulatory bodies are now under political control and do not serve the interests of patient safety. They serve the interests of the
Government. The GDC and GMC have lost all credibility with the public and professions despite the hype and marketing to the contrary. No one
believes this propaganda any more. Revalidation based on (dysfunctional) employer appraisal has no place in an NHS where employers have been
subject to criminal investigation and notorious Investigative Reports I have no plans to renew my dual registration in the UK in view of what can
only be described as Institutional corruption and I now work abroad in a country where clinicians have respect and are not victimised.
Most Clinicians agree with my standpoint but are too afraid to speak out. In fact I know of no clinicians who disagree with this analysis (See GMC
Website - How well are we doing).
Effective Regulation is important and I would urge the GDC to look carefully at what it is really doing. It needs to do this with transparency and an
open mind, in the interests of Dentistry and most importantly to make patient safety a reality with an overt rejection of Political Spin.
I am happy to assist the GDC in any meaningful way if there is a desire to address these issues to create an organisation with impeccable probity.
Yes. Information about whether you have explored cost cutting options on services you provide or the payments you make to third parties
involved.
You may consider optimization of your organization structure, pay freeze, staff reduction etc.
Maybe something could be done in relation to the criteria based on which complains against dental staff turn into full scale investigations,
involving lawyers, hearings etc. If less cases develop to these stage (based on pre-set criteria) the cost will be less.
It will be extremely useful if you publish in detail your expenses. For example, how many percent of your budget go for salaries, for third party
(lawyers, experts etc) fees, and other expenses (rent, properties, allowances etc).
I haven't had a pay rise for 5 years. If I demanded a 6.7% pay rise I would be laughed at. Dental nurses are leaving the profession in their droves.
They earn more working for Tesco's. When is the GDC going to work towards helping nurses and respecting our profession rather than
marginalising us?
It is unclear why the resource needs for the GDC are so much greater when compared to their counterparts in New Zealand and Australia or when
compared to other regulatory bodies in the UK.
Here are a few comments for the PR people involved in this consultation/being paid by Annual retention fees.
1.This survey is biased. It is a rather limited consultation effort
2. I think it would be useful for people to have a space to comment on the validity of the GDC arguments/justification for tax/fee increases .
3. It would seem that the justification stems from the usual legality and bureaucracy with no real benefit for the vast majority of
dentists/consumers.
4. Perhaps the taxpayer (NHS funding) should pay for dental regulation as it does for other essential services and non-essential services provided
by private corporations.
5. Perhaps, also, the GDC could move to more modest premises, perhaps in Cornwall, Wales or Scotland allowing salaries and overhead to be
reduced significantly.
Austerity
Dentists who are registered with the GDC but aren't practicing should not have to pay the full ARF.
The percentage increase in complaints is misleading. It would be useful to detail the exact amount of complaints per year. Furthermore there was
an anticipated increase in number of complaints pushed through before the changes to the "No Win, No Fee" service many companies used to
process complaints against registrants. With those changes now having taken effect, there should be some normalisation to the number of
complaints per year. Therefore the figures are being used as leverage against the profession in order to increase revenue for the GDC, which is not
justified and entirely inappropriate.
how about paying by direct debit...when it is suchn a steep rise!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The other options for raising funds.
The amount of money spent on cases by: specialty, country of dentist qualification and offence committed by category.
There appears to be no other box for comments. This is too large an increase in one step. It may be in proportion to a GDP that owns a practice
but as a Specialty Registrar earning a fraction I cannot afford £576 at Christmas never mind £945. A monthly direct debit would help but the
amount is still too large.
There may need to be a tie ring system based on wage a dentist earns £30000 to potentially hundreds of thousands in practice. A dental nurse
warns around £18000 but a hygienist may earn £50000 and they pay the same. An SpR earns £35000 so less than a hygienist or therapist but pays
about 7 times more.
In insurance you pay more when you are at risk or have a claim about you. Also I think the GDC HQ is in prime time London real estate.
There would be uproar if many groups of workers had to pay £945 per year to register for their job. My wife as a doctor pays £390 to the GMC.
The amount dentists have to pay for indemnity cover to be considered too; as a percentage of a part time dentists salary. Also other profession's
fees eg pharmacists, medics, opticians etcetera is the sum comparable? Also the increase in pay nhs dentists have received in 4 years is 0%
therefore effectively every year They are taking a big pay cut.
an examination of trends over a long period of time.
An examination of possible cost cutting measures ( local government , in which I also serve, has made 14% savings in one year alone for instance
by outsourcing back office services , with no efect on the services).
If the number of complaints falls, will the ARF fall?.......I think not.
Further details of 'investments'. Could this not be used to generate more income and keep costs for practitioners down? No information on
savings that GDC staff are required to make, such as usage of cheapest methods of transport and hotel/subsistence payments. Are universities
expected to contribute to quality assurance of the courses they provide? Will direct access have an impact on the number of complaints against
DCPs?
You have not said how you might reduce the drain on resources by re-directing back to practices and Area Teams the complaints which should be
addressed at these levels. Patients access GDC too lightly as it involves no cost and no risk. It seems in many cases a short cut to possible
compensation. All stress for the registrant and a chance of money often for cases which might previously have never been considered by the GDC
before attempted in house/AT resolution
Why you do not cut your costs and move out of central London
i would suggest that the patient,the public and the professionals who complaints to pay some fee,not only dental professionals,as i suspect some
of thees complaints are insignificant or baseless.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The GDCs whole approach to this problem is flawed. The GDC has simply looked at its increased workload and decided the only way to manage it
is to charge registrants more money. The GDC should, alongside looking at the retention fee, be publishing proposals as to how it can deal with
this increased caseload more effectively and efficiently.
We have a number of suggestions:
1. The first time a dentist sees any complaint against a registrant is when it gets to the fitness to practice panel. This means all cases, however
spurious or irrelevant, are dealt with at an expensive and time consuming stage. The re-introduction of a “screener” would help with this time and
cost burden enormously, bringing down the cost of running the GDC as a whole and making sure fitness to practice panels are dealing with more
relevant and appropriate cases.
2. The GDC has its premises in a very expensive and exclusive district of London. The order to raise funds, the GDC should sell its Wimploe Street
HQ and relocate to more cost-effective premises on an ex-industrial brownfield site in, say,
Middlesbrough.
3. The current GMC retention fee is £390. Clearly there are more doctors than dentists but it might be expected that the proportion of complaints
is similar to both bodies meaning the annual retention fees should be similar, as they have been up to this point. The GDC should publish the data
from the GMC to compare with its own and look to the GMC for advice and guidance on managing its caseload without resorting to huge fee
increases.
4. It is not in the interests of public safety to have an ineffective regulator who does not even have the where with all to put forward proposals to
manage its own caseload more efficiently. Simply putting up the fees and carrying on as you are is not acceptable. The GDC must publish
proposals as to how it intends to reform itself and become a leaner, more effective regulator.
In addition to the above points, young dentists are leaving university with huge debt burdens since the introduction of tuition fees. This may be
compounded by a pay cut which has been proposed for newly qualified practitioners. To charge this group of young dentists £945 will make this
already worsening situation intolerable. We urge the GDC to consider reduced fees for those who are newly qualified. If this simple request is not
possible, the GDC could at least have the decency to introduce the option of monthly payments so costs can be easily spread over the year.
Our prediction is that the profession will deluge the GDC with comments such as these and the consultation will have an overwhelmingly negative
response. Sadly, we also predict this will have no effect whatsoever and the GDC will increase its fees anyway. We believe the GDC has published
this document in order to pay no more than lip service to the profession and will act as a law unto itself without a care for the welfare of it
registrants, particularly junior practitioners and those in comparatively low paid junior hospital posts. Unless the GDC shows a clear intention to
reform itself alongside increasing fees it risks losing the goodwill of the profession and also of health ministers and the government at a time
when all other organisations are having to tighten their belts and work more efficiently within a tight budget.
P.s. Why is there an equal opportunities monitoring form attached to this?
Information as to why complaints have increased and from whom. Other sources of revenue possible. Why do you feel it is appropriate to pass
this cost on when sources success you have failed 7 out of 10 points in 'regulating the profession'
More specific information about where it would be used.
The increase is totally unacceptable and poorly justified!
How much money is used to provide GDC panel members with first class rail travel and hotel costs for every day they are in London, when travel
and accommodation costs should be kept to a minimum.
Yes, how the money is actually spent in bringing the fitness to practice cases, just now it looks like someone is lining their pockets somewhere.
Also I want to know how many hospital based dentists are subject to these cases compared to the high street GDPs and how specialist groups
differ also.
A full explanation as to why you have watched this happen for the past 4 years and then hit us with an outrageous ARF rise which is completely
out of kilter with any other outlay, pay rise, interest rate etc that I can recall. As you have given no other opportunity in this woefully inadequate
survey to actually articulate views, I will also say here that you should be targeting those who are inducing the complaints (a bit like insurance
premiums) rather than hitting a salaried dentist like myself who has barely had a complaint in 26 years of practice. Stand by for a serious backlash
from the profession if you go through with this proposal.
It is not fair to increase the ARF for all dentists while most of the complaints comes from private patients. NHS dentists should be exempt from
this rise.
Increasing a fee by 64% is totally unreasonable and beyond belief. A dentist who only works part time is penalised. The fee is too great at £576
already, and the excuse of if not having increased in four years is invalid as the previous increase was vast also. Any increase in fees needs to be
capped at a certain percentage. I understand the resource needs, however really strongly feel the costs need to start being covered by other
means additionally.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
How much is spent on travel by the GDC?
How much does it cost to actually register me - the admin cost?
Why is the GDC in London paying high rents?
Why should a completely legal and ethical professional pay for those that have compromised themselves?
A 64% increase is unbelievable. Why is it not going up in line with inflation?
Who is the GDC accountable to? How do you justify your costs? I totally agree that a body is required "to protect the public" why is it that the
public can not fund this if it is in the publics interest? Perhaps a public body would be better at managing its resources as the GDC is obviously
failing to manage its resources adequately by admission from its own accounts.
As a regulatory body why has there been such a huge increase in complaints against dentists?
Is it too easy for a complaint to be made with no comeback for malicious and false claims?
If our dental fees are only increased by 1%
If inflation is only increasing by 3-4%
No mattar how much the number of cases has increased the work load you cannot justify such an increase in GDC fees.
It is not clear considering reserves have increased over some of the assessed period why it is predicted that complaints will sky rocket in such an
extreme amount.
No information has been given on The level of pay of those on GDC payroll. No information on the expense accounts available to those running
the GDC. Has an external audit of GDC costs been done? Why does the GDC need to operate from an expensive Central London address? What
percentage of these higher fees will be spent on lawyers? How does this serve the public/dental profession? What commitments to speed of
resolution of cases can the GDC make given this incredible increase in fee.
yes. How to become a robber
What percentage of claims and associated costs are made against uk graduates compared to those from overseas, or where English is not their
first language.
how can it cost that amount, you need to give a more detailed break down of such costs. a 50% increase is ridiculous.
I am gobsmacked by this massive hike in GDC ARF. I am unsure what to make of you financial assessments when you have not felt it necessary to
increase fees for the last 4 years only to suddenly find fees need to be increased so drastically in one year? I am a full time NHS general dentist
and with the basic Dental Protection indemnity fee for an associate of £2600 plus the new increased GDC fee of £945, it equates to a total of
almost one full month's salary for me!!! I can't think of many professions who would accept it is necessary to pay a month's salary for the right to
work! This does not seem right that the dental profession has to bear the burden of increased claims, many of which are likely to have resulted
form working within a contract which was forced on us by the government. I feel there should be governmental assistance in meeting the cost of
increased claims.
Are the figures independently audited?
What does the registrant gain from the Gdc? It appears to only serve the public. This should be publicly funded.
a clear cost cutting agenda
Before raising the prospect of a frankly ludicrous increase in registrants' annual retention fees, I would like to know what the GDC is planning on
doing to improve it's own standing given the PSA report that paints the picture of a clearly failing and flawed system.
I would also like to know what assets the GDC is in possession of and why their sale has not been considered in order to help pay back some of
this "anticipated" £18.0m deficit.
The issue is the increase in the number of FTP proceedings that are going on. You do not describe how you will reduce these without legislation
changes. Savings elsewhere are sensible and appropriates but do to deal with the vast bulk of the money required.
LEADING QUESTIONS DESIGNED TO GIVE THE "RIGHT" ANSWER AND TRYING TO PREVENT PARTICIPANTS FROM BEING ABLE TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS
IS NO WAY TO ORGANISE A FAIR CONSULTATION ON AN OUTRAGEOUS FEE HIKE.
Insufficient information has been provided on budgeting and austerity measures being employed by the GDC. Instead of simply accepting the
apparent inevitability of increasing costs we need to explore why complaints are at an all time high and aim to tackle these at an earlier stage, and
it would be in the interests of the public for the GDC to become involved in this process. The Council must appreciate that a 64% increase in ARF is
extreme and unfair, and does not correlate with the ARF increases of our medical and nursing colleague. Why is there such a discrepancy? The
GDC should undertake an independent review of the current running of the organisation and aim to restructure with a view to streamlining
complaints handling. Much like a magistrate's court for misdemeanours, could smaller cases not be handled locally?
Whether the statistics have been independently audited and by whom
The costing methodology producing the budget figures reported and whether this has changed in recent years
The analysis of themes and causes of complaints and hearing
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why has the annual retention fee stayed the same for 4 years when the numbers and costs of fitness to practice hearings have risen? Surely this
shortfall has been coming for several years and there should be an explanation of this. It would have been prudent to raise the ARF 4 years ago by
smaller increments rather than doubling it for dentists in one single increment. The public may retain confidence in the GDC but my confidence in
the GDC as a dentist is not exactly high as a result of this mismanagement. Unfortunately we have no option unless we choose to leave this
profession, rendering this consultation absolutely pointless. The questions below constitute a way to make a statement of intent look like a
consultation, which is also unfortunate.
Information about overspend other than increase in complains.
As clinicians we have increased referrals and demand on our service and yet we still find ways to meet cuts and have to make tough decisions. I
suggest you do the same and stick to your budget.
There is no mention of what the GDC are doing to prevent the exponential rise in complaints against the profession.
There is no mention of common sense methods to deal with complaints at an informal level before the escalate to a full GDC complaint.
There is not a fair representation of what countries the complaints are coming from ie I believe that most complaints are made in England and
therefore this should mean that Scottish Dentists pay less.
1. How much money is wasted as a result of invesitgating spurious claims, and how much money could be saved if you had a screening facility
which could pick such time-wasting, resource wasting activities
2. How many cases reported to the GDC are investigated, compared to the numbers in similar organisations e.g. the GOC, GMC, etc.
3. How much money could be saved if the overpaid cronies at the GDC were relocated to a less costly, less exclusive location and had their grossly
over-inflated salaries reduced.
YOU ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
YOU ARE UNFIT TO ACT AS THE PROFESSION'S REGULATOR
specify/provide transparency of:
how many registered dentists have received complaints
how much each case costs to be pursued by the GDC at every level.
what percentage of dentists receive the complaints or require the GDC resources to assess and/or pursue a case of fitness to practice
budgeting, financial forecasts
As a part-time dentist working for the Public Dental Service, why am I being charged an ARF the same as a private dentist doing high risk
procedures?? Surely the fees should be done on a sliding scale, taking into account scope of practice!!
The number of complaints that lead to formal disciplinary action and how these have changed over the past 5 years - i.e. are dentists behaving
badly? Are there an increased number of complaints relating to registrants from overseas?
A fuller breakdown of the GDC's costs in investigating complaints
Possible alternative sources of income - e.g. a fee to make a complaint that is refunded if the complaint is upheld (to dissuade spurious
complaints)
If the duties of the GDC are dictated by Parliament, why is it not government funded?
Why can't the public pay its there to protect them.
Why is the increase so ludicrous , way above inflation.
The increase in complaints is mainly down to the present imposed NHS contract with it's inherent flaws and totally unrealistic financial basis
leading to a minefield of potential treatment issues plus an ever increasing beauracratic burden plus a general public who everyday are
bombarded by incorrect media information and backed up by misinformed internet socail media sites. Get the politics of dentistry correct in thre
UK and these complaints would reduce dramatically
Which subset of dentists is mainly responsible for such an increase in fitness to practice hearings.
This fee increase is purely to cover the increase costs to investigate an increase in patient complaints - this is not what my registration fee should
be used for and I am totally again the proposed increase.
Why is there no government provide financial support? As you are acting on behalf of the taxpayer, it would be sensible to think that there should
be a contribution from that pot of money. If Parliment require you to provide certain services, Parliment should be ready to financially support
those services.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Yes, how much you have spent in the last year on redoing the gdc premises in Central London. If you're trying to save money, refurbishing new
premises in the most expensive area of the country seems ridiculous. Also, there is no box here in this "feedback" to actually comment on what
every registrant will want to comment in, the frankly insulting jump in the ARF. Compared to medics, lawyers and other professionals this is way
out of proportion. Aside from the problems I would have as a newly qualified dentist paying this money upfront (and I dread to think how the new
cohort of foundation dentists will afford this, having their pay cut as well), I find it insane that hygienists and therapists, who now have direct
access and therefore increasingly level duty of care than dentists, pay the same amount as dental nurses. I would like to see a clear set out of
exactly how much money the gdc has collected from the ARF, and exactly where all that money was spent, rather than statistics of the average
cost of claims and fancy diagrams that actually do not show any useful information.
You have not mentioned the inflation rate, nor the lack of NHS dental fee increases, in the same 4 year period. This fee increase is utterly
ridiculous and cannot be justified. It smacks of mismanagement on your part that the GDC costs have escalated. It is reprehensible to expect
dental care professionals to absorb these extortionate increases
Easy access to the account information via website and details of exactly what the ARF is being spent on
A section exploring if there could be different amounts for varying salaries, especially for FT positions that will also be suffering from the 2000
pound pay cut.
A more detailed breakdown on amount of gdc staff and their salaries, and how these are affected in the closure of the financial gap.
I think a lot more needs to be done to address the reason of WHY there is such a huge increase in complaints to the GDC and what groups these
complaints tend to be about. This never seems to be discussed. It would be interesting to know whether there are significantly more complaints
about dentists with degrees from non UK universities (i.e. dental degrees not quality assured by the GDC in the first place) and if so I think there
needs to changes in the requirements prior to registration.
This consultation appears to be fixed there is no opprtunity for anyone responding to proerly express their views. Rerun it.
GDC is actively seeking to erxpand its role by attracting more complaionts about dentists a many of which are trivial, vexatious and could easily be
rejected at an early stage. By simplifying processes to do this and avoiding the active encouragement of peopole with trival complaints costs
cxould be reduced.
Exact costs of where this 63% increase is coming from and why this is the same for all dentists of varying salaries.
I think this is atrocious the cost was high enough as it was in the first place!
This is yet another increase in cost to the practise of dental surgery in the UK. It is a shame this will cause more uncertainty, in addition to the
ridiculous nature of the complaints culture we face, especially to young UK graduates and future dental students considering a career in Dentistry.
After talking to several of my peers we have come to the decision that it is no longer viable to practice good quality dental surgery in general
practice within the NHS and potentially even the private sector. It would be our choice to leave the profession altogether rather than compromise
on patient focused quality care.
Somewhere down the track someone or some organisation needs to be realistic about what this is all about (i.e patient care and patient safety).
Unfortunately the powers that be are slowly drowning the very people who work within the system striving for excellence. I suspect, however,
that any change will come too late.
Looking at the DCP’s I suspect with the direct access it would only be fair to charge DCP’s more as the GDC is potentially regulating far more
individuals now and has to be fair on how much they are charging these individuals rather than putting more burden on dental surgeons.
What are the other options available? - has the consultation discussed options such as, obtaining the money from other sources? Is it time for the
patients' also to contribute a small amount to the GDC and to maintain that high standard of care monitoring the GDC currently provide.
It was documented in the consultation that there has been a massive increase in fitness to practice hearings. Has the cause of this been
highlighted and addressed? The consultation should look at the root cause of the problem in a lot more detail. There has been some attempt to
address the cost of the hearings and cost saving measures have been implemented. These have not attempted to identify the unusual increase in
claims. A different tact should be implemented before requesting an increase in ARF fees.
It doesn't support dentists the GDC. It serves the public. Therefore it should be publicly funded.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The data was very brief. No details were released as to what was the breakdown of reasons for patients to complain.Was it related to legal aid
encouragement which has now stopped.
Also which areas of dentistry did most complaints relate to?
And finally were there serial dentist offenders and a huge number of "innocent dentists" who are being made to pay for services to regulate the
few bad eggs out there?
Why are dentists being charged so much more by the GDC than doctors are being charged by the GMC?
Dentists have the CQC fees to pay, in addition to GDC and as such are doubly regulated. Surely the CQC could take over the roles of the GDC in a
more cost effective manner.
Also the dcp charge is paid by the dental practice for the majority of dental nurses. The cost of all the annual GDC fees for DCPs and dentists
added together, at an average sized dental practice will total approximately £4000. This is obscenely expensive for a service that I have never even
had any need to use and neither have any of my immediate colleagues.
I do not think you are doing a good job, you are inefficient and politically motivated and have never been interested in promoting goodwill in
those from whom you remove large amounts of money
Alternative methods of generating funds.
There is no part of this response form which allows for comments from the dentists/dcps. The information provided is clear and accurate from the
GDC stance but there should be a box for us to explain our reasoning as to why this is a difficult fee raise when our pay is virtually static and parttime dentists are being penalised over and above their full time colleagues by having to pay the same amount but working less hours.
I understand that a certain amount of funding is needed in order to carry out the fundamental roles of protecting both the public and patients. I
also can comprehend that if the GDC fails to manage future complaints and fitness to practice issues effectively that yes the publics confidence in
this profession will certainly diminish. I understand increased funding needs to come from somewhere, i suggest spliting DCPs into further
subgroups and different ARFs allocated that more accurately reflect responsibility and roles within the dental profession.
There is no where on this form actually available for feedback!! (Conveniently!!!) GDC is a public service and therefore should be part funded by
public money. If other public services increased compulsory fees by 64% there would be riots so why do the GDC think that its ok for dentists??!!
How is it that doctors only need pay £390 a year retention but yet ours will be nearly triple that! Its disgusting!
No
The effect on the GDC if the fees weren't increased?
The advantage to the dentist by paying more?
I feel it would be appropriate to point out that not all dentists earn the same amount, I myself will be working for £28,000 in a training post in a
hospital with no on call. The new fee would be asking for 3.3% of my gross income while I work salaried in the NHS, how is this justifiable? I think
this paper mostly highlights how un-economic the GDC have been in running fitness to practice hearings. I can support a small increase in the AFR
but I am not happy with "Making up the difference" due to the poor running and economic planning of my governing body. I would prefer to see
a more complete breakdown of costs, and more importantly justification and suggestions for cost saving than:
Prosecution costs £33,000
Counsel fees £4,000
Venue costs £8,000
Fitness to Practise Panellist costs £19,000
Staff costs £14,000
The rest of the paper simply explains that you are over budget in different ways and graphs.
I would like to highlight again, not all dentists earn the same..
I hope that there is some consideration in this before raising our ARF to over twice that of the GMC
How potential savings could be identified eg move from west end of london
I only work 2 days a week have 3 children under 5, I am the sole earner in my home while my husband is a student and work almost solely NHS, so
once paying ARF and dental protection fees, BDA, childcare fees it's almost not worth it! I'd be better off as a hygienist. Especially as dentists in
the nhs have not had any increases in uda rates if anything they have gone down! To make such a large jump in the ARF is not fair to those
struggling financially perhaps it can be more staged.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
How costs/ spending is allocated and the breakdown of the hearing costs rather than just the figure quoted.
Whether there would be discounts for people in higher training and those who work part time or very few sessions.
If the fee can be paid monthly via direct debit rather than a ridiculously large sum in one go
What are the proposed cost increases for the next few years as the number of complaints and hearings is likley to continue to increase.
proportion of complaints that were upheld
GDC has not published its Annual report on its expenses for 2013-14. The salary and all incentives given to registrar and chief executive and
executive team have to be displayed
This should be on homepage not under sub tabs where one has to keep on searching .
There is no clear case by case expenditure expense for every case. It should be published under hearing.
The legal costs and costs of so called expert witness has to be published.There is no transparency in GDC itself where a culture of domineering
behaviour of people with executive powers and hence this bunch is not accountable.
There is no point in undertaking consultations if you don't listen to one particular
You have provided no information on specialists fees.
Why do you you not increase penalties on those who have been found in breach of guidelines rather than all registrants?
Why are you increasing DCPs fees by just over 6.7% and dentists by 64%?
Why do you not make the ARF a monthly direct debit.
As a registrant, I don not feel confident that you protect professionals working at high standards.
Your staff are very unhelpful on the phone, and have been for years.
Your offices are on Wimpole street - why not move?
Your fee structure could be based on income - those who earn more could pay more. I have been training for the past 3 years, yet paying the
same as your neighbours working in the West End who earn considerably more
Has consideration been given to NHS dentists who are full or part time who earn significantly less than their private colleagues especially when
working part time and especially when NHS salaries for associates are being capped and other costs such as lab bills are rising. Could the GDC give
consideration to this as 64% increase for dentists ARF will compound financial concerns when salaries for NHS dentists are uncertain moving
towards the new contracts
Why have complaints risen so dramatically? Could FTP issues not be streamlined even more to strike out the more spurious complaints?
Honest analysis of the fitness to practice cases.... ie lack of communication being the most common problem- what is being done? Instead of
being only reactive and dealing with increasing cost, what is being done to prevents this increased cost, and protecting the public. Surely reducing
the number of cases should be addressed. I would like to see what proportion of cases involve repeat offenders. I would like to see where the
dentist trained.
Why do you keep the expensive premises in Wimpole Street?
How can you justify an increase of 64% when the profession as a whole is suffering economically. I can understand your role as an organisation
but do you not think we are overly regulated ?(with the added charges from the CQC).
Why should we pay you, to make our working lives more and more difficult. Shouldn't you ask the government (patients) to fund your activities?
I think it's an absolute disgrace that you are increasing the ARF by 64%!! When the UDA uplift is 1.6% this year which is generally not passed on by
principles...certainly not my principal anyway...how can you justify the increase of 64% when 7 out of 10 standards you are not meeting??
Also, why is there not a 64% increase for DCP registration?
no
How much money was spent on investigating complaints that eventually turned out to be just a waste of time for everybody? Why there is no
system in place to charge fees for both parties (complaining patient and registrant) like the one in the court system? Why when somebody makes
a complaint, the investigation is financially supported by all registrants, who have nothing to do with the complaint, by the means of the high
registration fee? Why are we being told that the fee hasn't gone up for 4 years, when we all know the UDA value has not gone up for 4 years, the
cost of the private treatment has not gone up for 4 years, there are more and more regulations and money wasting paperwork and policies we
are imposed for 4 years, and the cost of indemnity insurance has also gone up constantly for 4 years?
Exact breakdown of money spent by the GDC to ensure that money is not spent on expensive lunches or 5 star hotels, expenses which are footed
by honest and hard working dentists.
Fitness to practice cases should also be resolved at a local level initially and only the severest cases be settled in expensive cases that cost the
hard working registrant a lot of money.
Why is the GDC charging dentists such high sums of money when dentists do so much good for the public and help treat their pain and improve
social wellbeing.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
You should be funded by patients who claims too.You should be
funded 50%by professional and 50%by patients or the Government on behalf of the patients.We as professional shouldn't stay for 100% of the
funding.
How much money could be saved if their was a better way of triaging all the complaints first before they went to fitness to practise proceedings?
Isn't there a way of differentiating between DCPs such as dental nurses/technicians etc and hygienist/therapists who will have different levels of
responsibility/duties/professional liability and hence also will expect to have possible increasing number of complaints with direct access as well
as having greater income?
Also, what means would you be expecting salaried dentists to expect to pay such a steep rise in ARF? Without instalment payments - you would
need to get the view of salaried dentists, compared to dentists working in private sector versus GDPs working mainly in NHS - again levels of
complaints may be different in the different fields.
In certain civil courts - the 'guilty' party should have to cover the court costs ...why do the majority of those that are professional and abide to
regulations etc have to cover the costs for the minority that do not. Have other avenues been explored in raising revenue from those people
whose cases/complaints are upheld.
More information on the PAS report.
Much more detail regarding the exact expenditure.
It would be useful if this 'consultation' document actually enabled us to present our concerns regarding this change, rather than yes/no answers
to fairly irrelevant questions. It is quite clear by the slant of these questions that the GDC have made up their mind already to overcharge dentists
and the 'consultation' is a sham.
Why are there so many complaints making it to court level.how much do you pay judges,solicitors.
You are not protecting dentists at all.we are paying for you to encourage people to complain.
It's a disgrace
Why do the tax payers not pay for the GDC to protect themselves?
How you can justify such a huge increase for ALL dentists no matter what their hours, income, level of complex dentistry. Very unfair on groups
such as part time female dentists who have reduced their hours due to having a family.
I would like to know why you cannot cover the extra costs with fines given to those registrants who are found guilty of misconduct. They should
have to pay the costs.
How much effort has been made to keep the lawyers fees to a proportionate level?
How many of the increased number of complaints are found to be spurious which could have been better handled in a more local format?
The fee for ARF is already too high!
Further breakdown of costs required. mentioning an increase in complaints is not enough.
I am appalled at the suggested increase. How can you possibly justify doubling the fee? The GDC's role is to 'protect the patients' and yet the
dentists have to fund this role. The system invites patients to complain and then is surprised when they do - and then charges the dentists for the
privilege! It is Alice in Wonderland'.
I would welcome the GDC looking into WHY complaints are up. I suggest the following factors may be relevant. If I am right then the way to 'fix'
the system is to deal with these problems rather than just being reactive at our expense.
1. The increasing demise of the 'family dentist'. The dentist with long term regular contact with the patients and their families. This is due to
corporatisation.
2. Communication and cultural subtleties may increase the amount of problems between patients and foreign trained dentists.
3. I know a colleague at the Local Area Team and he informs me that there is no 'ombudsman' available. When a patient calls the Local Area
Team, they are referred straight to the GDC. In previous years the local dental officer may have had a quiet word with the dentist to help resolve
the problem.
Now we have protocols and unaccountable quangos that seem unable to apply common sense to problem solving.
How sad that our 'taxes' keep going up whilst our income drops and the demands on us also rise unreasonably.
Total account of all monies received since 2010 and it's expenditure. Including figures on the refurbishment of the gdc building
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why DCP's all get charged the same ARF when their level of responsibility in terms of treating patient's greatly differs and their rate of pay is
considerably higher than a dental nurse.
Also, you have not increased the fee for 4 years, but then increase a dentists fee by £369 from last year. This is a huge 64% increase. Why not
spread the cost over the 4 years, rather than not increasing it at all, considering the number of complaints have risen each year and will continue
to do so..
I would like to know what expenses are claimed each each via and p & l report.
Wage bill of those employed at the GDC
Informations provided doesn't reflect increasing ARF at £945.
If GDC confront with an increasing number of complaints from patients then should ask for funds from NHS, for NHS patients and from other
organisations, for private patients not from dentists. Most of the complaints are not based on a real issues and they reflect the anyone's freedom
of complaint with their personal point of view. Only the dentists found guilty following a complaint should be penalised by increasing their ARF
individually.
Moreover the GDC is an organisation who defend the patients not the dentists so it can not increase the fee based on the number of complaints
against the dentists as the organisation does not represent us, dentists. For this situations the dentists pay indemnity.
In the last five years since I work as a dentist in UK the costs of living increased substantially from a VAT of 15% to 20% as well as all the other
costs for example ARF and indemnity and all bills ,all this while my income is still the same like five years ago. When the value of the UDA will
incrise we can talk about higher ARF. In the mean time I strongly believe ARF should be less then £576.
Regarding the ethnic origin: Does it metter in this survey?
You have mentioned that there is an increase in cases against dentists.
What areas/specialties has this occurred in?
Do you collect any fees/compensation from the complainants if the dental professional is found to be wrongly accused?
Do you compensate the dental professional for loss of earnings or loss of good will due to the accusations?
I believe the ARF should not be the same for all dentists.It should be higher for specialists or those undertaking riskier procedures.Also it should
be different if you are in general practice or salaried services.
Also the GDC needs to allow the payments to be broken down into monthly payments.
As a salaried dentist with a family and a mortgage it is very difficult to hand over this kind of money in one lump sum at the end of the year.
Now it is almost doubling payment is going to be very difficult.
You have not explained why the number of complaints has gone up. You have not explained why those trends are expected to continue. Although
you broke down the costs of an enquiry, it is not clear why the costs are at that level.
You should be doing more to prevent the bad care that gives rise to claims, and more to prevent vexatious or poorly justified claims. Your cost
savings are fudged across several years, and are not related back to the costs per enquiry. You make no mention of the costs of buildings or
personnel in the organisation.
more information on reduction in running costs and plans to reduce costs further
The proposed increase is unacceptable- why such a situation has arisen is only answerable by previous administrations at the GDC. I will be taking
this up with my local MP as such an increase is unjustifiable. This is made worse with the current economic climate- while all other organisations
have all efforts on reducing costs it seems the GDC has efforts elsewhere with the proposed ARF increase.
I genuinely hope this doesnt materialise. As it will certainly cause further animosity towards the GDC.
Why do you think it is fair dentists should be paying more to find further complaints, surely the government should be?
Whether the fitness to practice hearings are actually finding that there is an increasing problem in the number of dentists and DCPs who are
indeed unfit to practice or whether the increase is mainly due to unfair or malicious reporting by patients. If the latter then surely the fitness to
practice system is not working to protect patients, but is only allowing those patients who are trying to act maliciously to carry on with such
behaviour. The profession should not be expected to pay such a huge increase in fee if the systems it is paying for are not achieving the stated
goal of protecting patients without threatening the professional integrity and livelihood of hard working, honest professionals.
How dentists are judged when complaints come in
I think it's absurd. We pay the Gdc for the right to treat patients and yet the Gdc do not stand in any way shape or form
For the dentist, always acting in punitive ways towards dentists. What about unfair complaints? Why is it so easy for patients to access Gdc for
unnecessary and often unfounded complaints. Who is protecting the dentists? I cannot believe that a sudden hike in price is reflective of sudden
negligence or incompetence of dentists but rather of ridiculous unnecessary complaints encouraged in the public domain. There should be a filter
before things get to the GDC or a fee for patients to actually file a complaint to put of silly complaints.
-
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The GDC has turned into a Spanish Inquisition and lost all justification for its existence as a regulatory body.
How much is spent on individual cases?
What proportion of cases can be resolved locally? How many are in fact recycled locally like the GMC does?
How many cases could be dealt with by the ombudsman and protect?
Why are there a limited number of dental
Professionals within the Gdc to indeed deem the establishment a self regulatory body?
I do not believe this is a transparent document.
Why are you based in London.
How much do you meeting cost.
I want more information on the internal running of the GDC.
If it's not government funded do the government support you?
European Dentists who receive no vocational training, and allowed to practice in the uk without exams are the source of majority of these
complaints.
They should either take exams and training before allowed to practice, or pay higher ARF.
THE INCREASE OF ARF is RIDICULOUS- what is the % of the difference?- it is so high that it is not acceptable. I can understand you can increase it
roughly £100, but £369 ???????????? What accountant work out these ridiculous figures???? Can you imagine we can increase our charges for
Patients so drastically??? So for instance instead of £450 per crown (standard fee in UK) we can add additional £369 so Patient will pay £819 for
the same service???? And what is very important- we are NOT providing massive amounts of this kind of work in this financial climate !!! Why do
we need to pay for somebody elses mistakes???? (you say that amount of claims is increased). Everybody should be solely responsible for own
mistakes!!! We are struggling with other expenses that are raised every year (but they are raised not in a such ridiculous way as ARF 2015). Could
you please answer my question: how can we cope with such ridiculous increases, trying to keep our charges at reasonable levels to make Patients
happy and make the private treatments affordable for them ???? We tried to apply for small NHS contract, but were refused (explanation was
given: not enough funds). We have good reputation and still it does not help greatly in this difficult financial climate.
How you intend to become a better and more efficient regulator? How you intend to ultimately reduce the ARF? Surely the funding for the GDC
needs a public component to it as well as money from registrants, after all you are a public body. Such a huge increase is ridiculous and actually
unaffordable for most of the dentists I know. Unfortunately this another Bureacratic Organisation getting tied up by very expensive red tape.
yes - if it is public interest that is in stake, public should pay for it. It is the same than ask a defender to pay for the accusation lawyer (that is what
really happens as a complaint from a patient will lead to a dentist being under a "inquire" and he is not compensated for false/wrongful claims). If
the Crown wants you to be the "judge", let the Crown contribute for it. Or, if you really want to avoid false accusations, just make sure that if the
dentist is cleared from charges, the patient pays a fine for the accusation when he isn't right (you could even do a small refundable charge when
the complaint is submitted).
Moreover, a 64% increase on Dentists ARF? ARE YOU MAD???!!! I would agree that you raise it with the inflation, but 64% is a joke as a proposal.
We are not talking of raising from £5 to £9 maybe you messed up the zeros!
Dentists have already to pay around £1000 for indemnity and you want them to pay more £1000 for "regulating" them? I'm sorry, but that is a rip
off.
Why there is no evidence of support for the profession in addressing why the increase in complaint rise.
Area of cost cutting such as moving premises/out of London don't appear to have been considered.
The proportion of the increased number of complaints which are with merit and non-vexatious. An increased number of complaints does not
necessarily translate to an increased need to fund them by the profession.
Be honest with GDC actual expenses - what exactly has our money been used for and how efficiently, why is the GDC headquarters based at such
an expensive location that presumably we are paying for.
This fee increase is disproportionate and excessive. The UK is already the most litigious place to work for a dentist and the direction the GDC is
headed in with this is unhelpful and will be unsustainable.
What justifies a 64% increase?!
We need to see a clear breakdown of how registrant fees are currently spent and how the new registration fees would be spent.
If the government is really interested in protection of patients and the public it's time that the taxpayer paid their share towards GDC funding.
You have actively encouraged patients to complain directly to the GDC. All complaints should start at the dental practice and attempt to be
resolved locally. THATS WHY ALL PRACTICES HAVE A COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE. The GDC should only be dealing with the most serious and
unresolved complaints. You have mismanaged your role and are to blame for the increase in complaints you are dealing with. Complaints about
NHS should be dealt with by the LATs
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Efficiency plans implemented since 2010 and to be implemented in the new budget.
The budget that has indicated the requirement to increase ARF
A- cost saving
1) please consider relocation as the current location might be expensive to rent/buy and maintain.
2) Please consider reducing overhead costs. How many staff are employed? How many are paid staff? How many are actually functional?
B) Revenue generation
1) Please consider increasing the nos of safe registrant. At the moment, a large nos of capable oversea registrants are changing careers or
returning to their countries. Some have 5 years UK experience!
-Please consider looking into unsolved exam cases.
-Please consider allowing experienced temporary registrants to work as locum sho in max fax.
Please consider an audit to identify reason
Why there are many lawful cases?
Please consider the protection of the registrants as well as protection of the community.
As a dental nurse in a large practice, we all struggle to pay the fee yearly, I myself cannot even afford my petrol and I have debt because of this.
Have you listened to the dental nurses or are you only concerned re money!
There is other ways of raising money to fund your organisation and surely you must know this!
Why are you still in London? Move somewhere cheaper. Why are you not protecting the public and getting rid of the illegal tooth whiteners and
beauticians carrying out facial aesthetics with injectables? Why don't you weed out the ridiculous cases which should never get to a hearing
wasting so much money? Why doesn't the increase in fees reflect the rise in NHS income for dentists (I.e very little?). To the outsider you appear
very inefficient. Why not try a fixed income with ever increasing demands on funds and time like us?
Why not have the courtesy to reply to a registrant when illegal practice has been reported and keep them updated. If you can' t stop this them
what good are you?
A breakdown of the 110% increase in litigation has come from? How many complaints & hearings have come from UK graduate dentists or EU
graduates? Are the majority being punished for 'cowboys'? How are you regulating the EU dentists- training, abilities, dentistry provided? How is
it that they are able to work in the UK with no DFT when your own graduates who follow a programme & standards set out by yourselves in
guidelines have to do the year to ensure competency, when other dentists, who have undertaken programmes you know and regulate nothing
about, are able to come to the UK and provide dentistry to patients. Your strap line is 'protecting the public, regulating the profession' just how do
you do this when you allow unregulated dentistry to be performed on patients? Also, are the complaints that are being taken to hearings valid?
Or are frivolous complaints being taken to hearings due to the dentistry, note taking, patient management being held up to an inachieveable
model of what should happen in a practice, already under enormous stress and strain to provide NHS dentistry? If you hold people against such a
model, an error in the notes etc may be found in every complaint, and cause the application of common sense and understanding of what is
realistic and acceptable to be lost, leading to hours of time being spent on silly complaints and silly mistakes.
No
What is the size of the cohort of registrants who are being referred the GDC? Is there a pattern or common features to dentists who find
themselves before the FTP panel?
Is there a case for risk analysis of the registrants who cost the most and early/firm remediation for that cohort, or increased ARF for them if a
pattern can be identified
You have provided no explanation regarding1) The costs of your legal services and whether you are attempting to get best value in its overall sense.
2) The proportionate costs regarding the administration of GDC registrants who have entered through IQE -for which the GDC surely has liability
regarding post-registration actions.
3) the costs of maintaining activty in London as opposed to an alternative location. A full costing of alternative options based centrally in the UK to
be convenient for all registrants would be useful.
4) A detailed and full justification of all costs and expenses in running the GDC in its current status.
5) An acceptance that as the annual income of new graduates is falling to dramatic new levels and costs (registration, indemnity etc) are rising
that GDC increases of such levels are totally unsustainable for the profession.
6) Detail regarding any potential future rises and the timescales involved
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
No information has been given as to why all cases, no matter how spurious are investigated in such detail. Surely a panel could apply common
sense and weed out the claims that are not worth investigating further and in doing so save huge sums of money. It is interesting that Dental
Protection report no more dentists are removed from the register than were before you changed your investigation process, this would seem to
support my argument that you are wasting huge sums of money investigating cases not worth investigating.
What could possibly require 18 million a year EXTRA in funding?
the registration of other healthcare professions. why does a dental nurse pay more than a registered general nurse???
please look at the salary difference between a dental nurse and an RGN.
some dentists pay their nurses ARF but with the huge increase on dentiste this will stop.
Although you have not raised the fee for 4 years i have not had a wage increase and none is planned untill 2016 when it is up for review.
The proportion of cases involving dentists and DCPs and whether you predict this might change under future direct access arrangements. AS
DH/Ts' practice approaches that of dentists it seems reasonable that their ARF would be closer.
Is there not any way that costs could be recovered from indemnity companies? That way, those involved in cases would pay indirectly for the
action.
A copy of the accounts, staff, their roles and salaries
I concur that due to the increase in complaints but increasing the level that nurses have to pay is not the right way. Nurses receive the lowest pay
out of CDP s and I feel that other members such as dentists therapists and hygienists whose income is substantially more should bear more of the
cost.
There has been no consideration for the large section of the dental workforce who work part-time, often in relatively low- paid salaried services
and for whom a fee of £975 can constitute as much as 5% of their income.
Should this not be taken into consideration with a fee proportionate to hours worked/salary earned?
Why there is an increase in the number of complaints. Why you continue to be occupying an expensive property in Central London at our expense
when you could relocate to a less expensive part of the country and save millions! If patients were charged a small admin fee say £20 to register
their complaint I believe it would weed out a lot of trouble making patients.
The GDC regulates dentists but does not take into account our rising costs with indemnity, etc too. As a part time working mother it does not
seem fair to face the same costs as a full time worker.
Bear in mind that the increase in patient complaints is in part due to a rise in popularity of no win no fee solicitors. Whilst some complaints are
legitimate, many are not. Complaints do seem to rise around christmas and holidays when patients may want more cash. Why should we be
penalised for this? The GDC serves patients far more than us as dental professionals yet we have to pay the price for it. To raise the ARF by 64% is
completely unjustified. This increase does not make sense!
There is no opporunity to write these anywhere else.
# Those in high risk practices should pay for their practice
# ARF for dentists is too high as the 64% increase seems to annul the fact that there has been an increase for the past 4year!
# There has been not much of a salary increase to compensate for the sudden 64% ARF rise
It would have been useful to have more details about the nature of complaints which have contributed to the increase. For example what are the
most common reasons why patients/members of the public complain and which groups of professionals are invovled proportionally (e.g. dentists
vs DCPs, private vs nhs)
Which groups of dentists/DCPs are you taking the complaints about? Is it dentists working for the corporates by any chance? Is it dentists who
trained outside the UK?
The reason we have so many complaints from patients is threefold:
1) The pressures placed on dentists to meet the myriad of new regulations and regulatory bodies is unreasonable especially in light of the changes
to commisioning going on.
2) The GDC have not adequately quality controlled dentists who trained overseas working in Britain. Even simple checks like ensuring their English
is good enough to effectively communicate with patients have been missed.
3)Corporate bodies place unreasonable demands on their dentists to cut corners - the GDC should do more to ensure that this is not possible
£945 is a ridiculous increase, GMC retention is only £390.
And STILL no option for monthly Direct Debit.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I find table 2 on page 9 of the Consultation Document very interesting, and concerning.
Given the relative stability of the FTP hearing figures over the period 2010-2013 it is worrying that the number of FTP hearings are estimated to go
from 160 in 2013 to 638 in 2015 - an increase of 399%, yet the number of complaints is only estimated to increase by 34%. This suggests that an
increasing disproportionate number of complaints are estimated to go to FTP hearings in the next 2 years.
The GDC do no tprovide enough information in their tables to justify these increases, they suggest that they have a backlog of cases to clear, but
do not tell us how many. Is their backlog so great that they know they have cases currently which will not come to FTP before 2015?
A breakdown of who the complaints and fitness to practise cases were brought against i.e. is there an increase in dentists or DCPs or both.
The costs surely should be paid by the "defendent" if they are found "guilty", and not by the professionals who strive hard to maintain the high
standards expected by the public.
The option to pay this increased fee in quarterly/ monthly installments as other institutions provide such as GMC, indemnity services...
This is a significant fee to expect someone to pay as a single lump sum.
Options of alternative income sources or reduction in workload rate
Further information about why so much money is needed to handle complaints and investigate and more information about whether there is a
system in place to analyse how many of these complaints are actually worth investigating.Its not fair to charge the dentists more because you are
investigating every complaint of little or no merit and causing the person whose funding you stress and aggrevation unnecessarily.Who is there to
support us against patients who think its their right to complain about matters of insignificance when we are doing the best we can to provide the
best level of duty of care.
I do not feel dental nurses should have to pay the same as other DCPs eg hygienists who earn a lot more
I suggest that ARF- should be calculated simillar to BDA membership levels.( depend on income, position, risk of complain etc).
I think ARF-should be calculated as a % of the gross income, not a flat fee for everyone eg..:part time dentist, full time dentist , nhs dentist
,private dentist, and dentist- practice owner - all should pay a diffrent ARF .
For me the proposed 945 ARF dentist fee is a 2% of my anual gross income-, and 2,25% of my net income,
When ARF for DCP- is only 0,42% or less of their gross annual income.
I suggest that ARF should be increased for dentists who had any GDC complaints etc, or they should cover expenses themself , as it looks likes
some dentists are carefree and others have to contribute to defend them by GDC.
ARF fee is too high for dentist .
DENTIST ARF FEE is too high
ARF for dentist should stay as it is
No
The proportion of increased GDC expenditure that relates to non-UK dental graduates
Why is there such an increase in complaints? As this cannot be sustained.
I understand the need to increase the ARF due to increasing costs, but I object to an above inflationary rise.
The rise is for projections to only next year. This is short sighted in my opinion. What is going to happen in 2015, are we going to be told that the
£945 ARF is going to be increased again by 64%?
I believe our profession is at a crossroads, do we continue to encourage complaints and accept that all UK dentists pay for the GDC to administer
them or do we somehow curb the increase.
I think the fee should be denpendent on your salary.
Young nurses on low wages are paying the same amount as senior nurses !!!!!!!
The fee increase is disproportionally large. Dentists are currently regulated by numerous bodies each with their individual fees. The average
dentist simply cannot afford such a dramatic rise in fees within the current economic and regulatory climate.
A streamlining of GDC procedures/hearings etc would be a far more productive means of reducing GDC costs rather than such a drastic fee rise
why has the number of FTP hearings raised 85% from 2013 to 2014 if the number of complaints raised in a lower rate than 2012 to 2013.
Yes. Why are all the dentists being bullied into paying this extortinate amount when medical retention fees have remained consistent. This is
unacceptable. The extra amount should be charged to the dentists against whom the complaints are made and not everyone!
Cost breakdown of FTP cases in more detail
I think consideration should be given for a mechanism to charge those registrants who misbehave more when they apply for re-registration; i.e.,
they should bear the rising cost for their misdeeds!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Reasons why there has been an increase in complaints need to be investigated.
Need to address how the GDC will improve their failing standards as the PSA report concluded the GDC had failed to meet seven out of 10
standards governing registrants’ fitness to practise.
In these days of financial crisis, all big well run companies have dealt these situations with looking to cut unnecessary items to control
expenditure. Reading the statement provided by the GDC seems the financial department is not run well at all.
GDC...
1. Need to cut the ridiculous high amounts they pay expert witnesses. Look to cut some of these silly amounts in salary.
2. Cut all the unnecessary items
3. Having a location in Greater London is totally unnecessary, moving location to an easily accessible part of the country is required. This one
move will considerably improve the GDCs finances. If will reduce the subscription costs to all members. Which is what the GDC should look to be
providing.
Why the 64% increase for dentists and only 6.7% for DCPs?
More detailed list of expenses
Explanation as to how you reached you projected resource needs
Yes.
Please explain the following:
1) How the GDC can reasonably think that 15% of registrants being investigated per year is an acceptable number without calling into question its
own ability in judging dentists suitable for registration in the first place.
2) How the GDC thinks it can justify its ARF being over twice that of comparable professions.
Stationery costs involved in reminders for ARF
Why are the costs for venue so high when you can rent a hall for £90.00 a day? Are hotels being used to put people up in addition?
Why have the number of fitness to practice cases increased? is there a group that invokes more complaints? Is there a gap in training, clinical or
language?
This is far too much to charge for registration, young dentists are struggling as it is already.
I would like to witness a patrol of the GDC like straumann implantology do and monitor interaction between professionals.
I recommend a inflation increase only 3% or less only.£123.6 is 3%
not £128-00. as stated.
It should not be only Dentists and DCP that have to fund the work done by GDC. The funding has to come from the Government and the public
since they are the one's that are mainly benefitting.
The amount that all professionals are paying presently is already the highest amount paid anywhere in the world!
Given the apparently excessive daily expenditure for each fitness to practice hearing (as copied below), I request a more detailed breakdown be
made available of the actual costs, for example fees paid per panellist per day including travel and subsistence expenditure and the salaries of the
staff making up the "staff" costs. I think that anything less than full transparency here would be unacceptable.
In addition-I haven't seen any consideration of moving the proceedings to the cheapest possible location? Is £8000 for venue fees truly good value
for registrants what facilities are required as a minimum and what facilities are currently used, what alternative venues were considered? In my
view these details must be provided for registrants to scrutinise.
Why is a reserve of £30M required-again full and transparent details please.
Overall there is a desperate lack of detail and transparency that is unacceptable.
"The most costly part of the Fitness to Practise function is where we hold a full Fitness to Practise hearing
involving a registrant. An average hearing lasts 4 days and costs £78,000 (£19,500 per day). The costs incurred
in an average £78,000 hearing break down as follows:
Prosecution costs £33,000
Counsel fees £4,000
Venue costs £8,000
Fitness to Practise Panellist costs £19,000
Staff costs £14,000"
Why a proportion of costs can't be passed on to complainants? Why those who have no complaints against them are subsidising those that do we already do this through our indemnity cover?
Why, when contract values are all but frozen( and amount to a pay cut) you think part-time practitioners can afford a 64% hike in fees which they
have no choice but to pay ?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
How much is the GMC going up in comparison to the GDC?!
Why do dentists have to potentially pay £945 and Doctors GMC £325.....? Makes no sense as Dr surgeons are far more at risk...
Over burdened , Bureaucratic, organisation which need to streamline it self . You cannot justify such an immense increase in the ARF. Dentist sare
also under pressure with fixed contracts and no chance of increasing earnings on a large scale in NHS .
1-Number of staff and their salaries and their duties/roles
2-costs of premises
The cost of the proposed public consultation to encourage patients to raise concerns. The projected increase in ARF required in succeeding years
should the number of complaints increase as a result.
Why the GDC does not receive tax-funding as it is being handed the responsibility of regulating the profession from the government.
costs for the hearings, involving salaries and rental
this is the only area on this feedback to make any comment..there is no group for dental slave! on your DCP list.
I disagree with anything associated with the GDC
that includes their dental Tax
The percentage of non uk graduates who have complaints made against them versus uk graduates
As there is no text box for Q 4
i wish to confirm that I strongly disagree with this VAST increase in fee when GMC registration for a consultant is £395
This fee strategy will also discriminate against the part time practitioner, many of whom will be females with young families
A proposal of 64% increase only demonstrates a failure of the systems the GDC has in plan which should not be funded by dentists who are
already squeezed on every side by legislation.
More detailed breakdown of costs and expenses
No
why hygienists and therapists who earn significantly more than dental nurses pay the same ARF
I think this is a very unfair amount to charge dentists.
No other healthcare body charges this much to regulate their profession. I think there is a need for research into why complaints are increasing
and find ways of reducing this. Pre hearing cases should be better filtered to reducing need for full case hearings.
no,
Breakdown of complaints by year qualified and country of qualification.
Explanation of why NHS dentists should pay for private complaints
As DCP we have not had union consultation. Also we have not had a wage increase or cost of living increase for over 5 years.
Most DCP who work part time find it already difficult to pay £120 per year. The increase of a further £8.00 a year is again going to be difficult. We
need to work sometimes over 60 hour week to meet general living standards.
Analysis of why more people are going to fitness to practice hearings and itemised, detailed breakdown of all GDC expenditure
More transparency and breakdown of ALL figures for GDC
There is nowhere else on your form to write this - I am a part time dentist (13 hours a week) working within the NHS. I work part time because I
have children, one of whom has special educational needs.
To say that I am absolutely enraged that you do not have a part time band for registration is an under statement!! Please can you explain to me
why you have not got this in place as the GMC do.
Thank you
A more thorough breakdown of all the fitness to practice expenditure and not just 'panel £19000'.
The costs for the hearings appear disproportionate.
why do you waste resources investigating complaints that have yet to go through a local resolution process?
have you had your budget cuts externally audited for efficacy / alternatives?
will you lower the arf if the number of complaints goes down?
Can you not introduce a Section 60 ammendment to the Dentaists' Act to allow for the raising of venture capital on the bonds market or AIM?
Why don't you move out of central London?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I have had no opposition to previous ARF levels and appreciate the fact that it has not increased over the past few years; however, this is an
incongruous increase. It seems to me grossly unfair that dentists earning seven figure sums pay the same ARF as dentists like myself on an NHS
salary. After all, DCPs pay much less than dentists and rightly so in view of the wage difference.
May I respectfully suggest an alternative method of setting the ARF such as a sliding scale based on earnings, e.g. salaried NHS practitioners ,
independent NHS, mixed NHS/Private, Private in ascending order?
I believe
Details of the suitability of the complaints. The GDC seems to spend a lot of time dealing with issues which would be more appropriate dealt with
at a local level.
I feel that the percentage increase in fees for dentist registrants is unreasonable compared to the increase for DCP's. I understand that this has
been calculated based on claims brought, and I also understand that DCP's earnings and responsibilites also perhaps reflect this. However, if the
GDC did not lump all DCP's in one group (which I personally feel is an unsuitable grouping anyway given the large differences in roles, skills,
responsibilities) they could raise extra revenue by increasing what I consider to be the middle group of dental professionals which are clinical
dental technicians, dental hygienists and therapists as these are the groups with direct responsibility for patient care. This would in turn subsidise
the dental nurses and reduce the fees for dentists. I have long thought that paying the same ARF as dental nurses is inequitable and feel
embarassed that I pay the same as my dental nurse colleagues whose wages are vastly different.
A breakdown of who is getting all the complaints so that those of us who you have NEVER had to spend money on can see who we are paying for!
I bet it's the corporates who employ so many non UK dentists and whose work or lack of I see every day in the Community Services. Why are you
not going for the source of the costs and giving those of us with an unblemished record a 'no claims bonus' discount! I for one find this increase
absolutely horrific and down to the GDC not controlling the quality of non UK practitioners. Bring back the RDOs who should be inspecting them
and not CQC who don't look at the quality of the treatment. This could be the final straw for me. This could mean me leaving the profession early.
This is the straw that broke the proverbial camels back. I also just don't believe that you have the support you claim because I have spoken to
many dentists and NONE not one said as you claimed in the survey. Shame on the GDC. Why do you not take a leaf from the GMC who support
their registrants?
As a lady dentist for 22 years, my income has fluctuated during this period due to raising a family and hence effecting working hours. Dentistry in
the UK has changed over the last 20 years and we are NOT all in highly successful private practices or practice owners "minting it" . To propose
such a large rise in the ARF is just not fair on the average associate/part time dentist.
How do you protect the dentist from the mushrooming of solicitors and patients that see dentists as cashcows? The ARF of £945 is already
decided on, making this consultation to carry no weight.
It would be interesting to see justification of why the fee for dentists is so much higher than that for doctors
Also I would like to know how many of the compaints turned out to be malicious from disgruntled members of staff. Perhaps in future
complainants making complaints that prove to be unjustified should pay for the investigation fees
the GDC does not physically examine patients but only base their findings on radiographs and patient complaints. The patient should be physically
examined before the dentist can be accused of neglect. There is absolutely no support for dentists and I feel that out hard earned money is used
without care. A bit more support for dentists and care professionals would be appreciated.
£945 is a fortune for dentists pay in one go. We have to pay for dental insurance and the bda too. At least these bodies help and support dentist.
It is unacceptable to pay the GDC so much and not receive anything in return. I personally can not afford such a large sum to pay the gdc, I have
children and work part time - it is disgraceful
FOI on all aspects of costs, including expenses for staff and fees which are taken from indemnity
You have not shown us your accounts or explained the need to have such expensive premises or explained why you already charge more than the
GMC which will also have seen a rise in complaints.
In short we cannot be convinced of your efficiency without further detailed information.
Moreover it should of course be the public and patients paying for your services through taxation since it is they who are the beneficiaries, not the
dental profession.
The present system can in no sense be called self regulation.
Finally, the term "consultation" is an insulting misnomer as the proposed disgracefully high hike in fees would seem to be a "fait accompli" or will
you be publishing the results of the consultation demonstrating how the outcome has been affected by the views of those consulted ? I suspect
not, in which case one can only say there is inadequate openness and transparency in your organisation.
Exact breakdown of all outgoings and expenses, particularly salaries paid to individuals.
How did you get to this estimate of 18m?
How much does it cost to run a Hearing?
What steps have been made to reduce the costs of the hearings?
Do all allegations need to go through the full process and have the same high cost?
Why are DCPs registration fees not going up by 64%
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I do not feel it is fair that Dental Nurses have to pay the same as Hygienists and Therapists
Dcps Working part time on minimum wage should not have to pay this charge. A lot of people will leave as it is not worth the head ache that
comes with the job. Should b being paid to work not paying to work. Ridiculous
The costs seemed directed at increased number of complaints. However it would appear that this majority is with overseas practitioners. is it fair
we pay the price of this
How is it that the GMC charge a mere £400 in comparison, surely they deal with far more complaints
Understanding why there is such a predicted increase in complaints. Investigating other ways of raising funds including spreading the cost when
there is proved to be no case to answer.
There needs to be better regulation as to who is allowed on the GDC register, particularly regarding overseas dentists. Many Fitness to Practice
hearings are for overseas dentists - perhaps this should be looked at before increasing the ARF by 67%.
Your costs you say are only recoverable from the dental professionals. Surely if the number of complaints against the dental professionals is
increasing and you have made it so easy for people to complain, even about the most frivolous nonsense, which always needs investigation, then
all complaints should incur a charge to be investigated of, say £100. Should then complaint be upheld, then the dentist should reimburse that
money to the complainant. But should the complaint be found to be unsubstantiated, then the complainant should forfeit this fee.
This would mean that for 5000 complaints, the GDC would collect £500 000 to offset against its expenses. And it would cut down substantially the
silly complaints that are now being placed. This is not an unusual procedure as one has to put down a deposit even when using the services of the
small claim courts
Exactly how many members of staff do you have for the 4 day hearings and how much are they getting paid, because what you have relayed
seems a bit excessive
Are all complaints about dentists?
The reason for the dramatic increase in FTP hearings
How does the "dentist" group break down? Look at income. Look at risk.
It is not fair that a part time DO with the CDS should have to pay the same as a full time mostly private fee dentist doing implants etc.
Why should NHS employed dentists fund a private dentist policing scheme? increase the cost to the private high risk treatment dentists. Private
dentistry should fund the private scheme.
I do agree that the service has to increase but it should be done gradually, I believe that £945 ARF is quite high and it has been raised more than
110% at once
How much of your workload increase arises from dentists who are 'persistent offenders?' Surely some form of banding system whereby those
'persistent offenders' pay a higher rate would be more appropriate?
How do you justify a 64% increase in GDC retention fee for dentists when dentists have had a continually increased workload over the years for
almost no increase in fee revenue? Your proposed new retention fee is extortionate and would indeed be more than double the fee paid by
doctors to the GMC. This would seem to imply gross mismanagement on your part.
You are protecting your own interests rather than the profession. You failed in 7 counts out of 10 of the Professional Standards and penalising the
dentists. Shame on you. It's daylight robbery. Shame on you.
As a registered dental nurse working for £7 an hour I think the gdc need to look at pay bands for nurses in private practises! We work in a high
infectious environment and strive to provide the best care possible for our patients and to support the dentist we work with I think this should be
reflected in out wages! Let's face it people in retail etc earn a lot more than we do and do not have the expenses we have for us to practice!
Since dentists no longer regulate themselves it is inappropriate for the cost of regulation to be borne by them and should be paid by the people
benefiting - the public.
Transparency about expenses claimed. A breakdown of how so much money is spent on cases.An explanation how the situation has become so
dire that such a large increase is needed.Why direct debit to pay by instalment is not possible - The GMC does this and only charge£390.
The percentage of complaints against dcps and dentists.
Dental nurses are relatively low paid members of the dental team & the cost of registration means some excellent nurses are left with no choice
but to leave the job they love because they can't justify the amount.
Cost of dealing with an individual complaint, how much the board members will take home from the money paid by GDPs and DCPs
I don't mind paying the fee. The 5year cycle iv just finished... I can say I have learnt ANYTHING new from the CPD! Waste of time. Cut that out... It
will save u millions!!
GDC should also provide resources to represent registrants. Patients and public have lawyers who already offer on no win no fees basis.
I would like to see the steps being taken to reduce the number and cost of hearings, and the cost of this consultation exercise and whether any
response will make the blindest bit of difference. The CQC cost and GDC cost are set to rise before a sustained recovery and are you trying to put
dentists out of business????
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
there seems to be no attempt to investigate the causes behind increased claims/expenditure ie you expect dentists to pay for your failure to
address these issues
I dont agree with the new fees at all
No
A 64% increase in ARF is wholly unacceptable. No professional regulator charges this extortionate amount , not even the medical regulators who
regulate doctors that save lives! If anything it should be reduced, and you should find other means to deal with your shortfalls at no cost to the
dental profession who are not to blame .
I really think there should be a different amount for those nurses that work part time.
Your fee increase is in acceptable!
Not in line with inflation but your trying to account for your mistakes.
The dental profession will not accept this. You do not even allow monthly payments , nor do you charge proportionality for those who work part
time , are on maternity leave , or in education and these groups will be the most affected. Thus far you have been nothing but unhelpful to the
profession! You provide no support in helping the profession in reducing the amount of complaints , now that would be a starting point! Rather ,
you probably help propagate even the unnecessary ones and jeopardise our livelihood. The profession should be regulated by the profession!
The General Medical Council sets a much lower ARF
The blame culture that the GDC seems to be encouraging is the same for Doctors
Most Dentists pay their nurses ARF so they are being penalised twice
what has the gdc done to reduce the reasons for complaints?? systemic problems in nhs funding are largely to blame.
Why is fee increase so much greater for Dentists? With direct access I believe you will have increase in complaints against hygienists .
Other options for raising the revenue needed, other than the somewhat unexplained choice to raise ARF by 64%.
Would it not be possible for the scheme of GDC registration to work in the format of car insurance etc, whereby those who have never been
involved with the GDC are rewarded by means of a 'no claims' reduced fee.
How these figures have been calculated/projected
Specifics about how fees are calculated
Yes - I want to see greater clarity regarding spending , expenses, salaries , hours worked . I believe their is a lot of waste, inefficiency and
incompetence in the GDC and very little respect for GDC amongst dental professionals.
Explanation of why exactly Panel Members are paid so much in Fitness to Practice Hearings.
Explanation of why Dental Nurses are in the same category as other DCP's considering that they have to pay for their own training, CPD, Travel to
CPD, Registration and Indemnity fees and yet are employed for the most part and cannot claim these against tax as they are not self-employed.
Why are Dental Nurses categorised with Hygienists, Therapists and Technicians when they work only under the supervisoins and to provided
assistance to a dentist, do not work in the mouth, cannot prescribe or adminster treatment, do not have the same responsibilities and duties that
could potentially harm as patient as these other groups. Explanation as to why salary and terms of employment are not taken into consideration.
Explanation of what exactly the GDC does for Dental Nurses (as far as I can see it is exactly nothing and of no personal benefit at all to have to be
registered with the GDC).
Publish salaries and expenses claimed by lay members
And so does a dental practices needs outstrip its resources. If you at the GDC have more administration and a backlog of complaints to clear you
should work harder and faster and for less money like us dentists do.
I think what is tantamount to a financial mugging of our livelihood by yourselves at the GDC is not going to help the cause of professionalism in
dentistry. Your proposed fee increase is preposterous, disproportionate, irresponsible and malicious.
Why are complaints rising?
What are the complaints about?
How many of these complaints actually turn out to be valid?
How can the number of complaints be reduced?
These are key questions which need answered. The solution is to reduce the number of complaints in the first place. You are the regulator. Work
with dentists and patients to do this. What changes need to occur for this to happen?
What other overheads do you have? Where else can you save money? How much money would be saved if you moved out of London, say to
another city like Birmingham or Manchester. The UK Government if trying to distribute wealth throughout the country so everything if no so
'london-centric' Maybe you should do this. The BBC has be moving some of it's services to Salford Quays. The GMC also have offices in other city's.
Talking about the GMC - why are their fees so much lower then ours? What are they doing more efficiently then the GDC? Maybe someone needs
to engage with them to find answers.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
As a DCP who only works part time I feel that others like myself shouldn't have to pay the same fees as someone who works full time, as many of
us do not earn as much as others. Dental nurses working in an nhs practice are in minimum wage in some areas and this is alot to ask for in my
opinion and some of my colleagues aswell.
I work part time and I will find it very difficult to afford to pay the ARF if the proposed increase goes ahead. I think that the increase is going to
seriously affect the already low morale of dentists in this country.
The extent to which GDPs are being called up for ligitation providing specialist treatments after going for a one day course such as 6 months smile
or Invisalign. This is driving up all our costs.
I dont agree with the distribution of resource !
How can a justification of nearly a thousand pounds for membership to this body be acceptable. I feel betrayed and outraged ! I put faith in the
GDC and surely common sense will prevail when looking at the cost of nearly 1 thousand pounds a year !? there must be a decrease in regulation,
or a better case triage system to keep costs down ! People can not afford this and it is also quite insulting ! How come no other profession health
care body (worldwide) has such astronomical costs !!!?
I understand that the fee would have to be increased at some point, and it doesn't surprise me. My only annoyance with this is that Hygienist still
pay the same as a normal dental nurse. How is this fair! They earn ALOT more money that a dental nurse, and they have ALOT more responsibility
in their work. So surely they should have to pay more!!!
Dear GDC,
I am dissappointed with the proposal to raise the ARF by 64% for dentists to £945. This clearly is a huge sum to pay for registration. It is
encouraging to know that you are trying to make savings where possible. As you mention the bulk of the cost of running the organisation is in
investigation into fitness to practice. This appears to be exponentially increasing and affecting all health related matters including the wider NHS.
My worry is that even if the immediate shortfall of funds are met; will there be further consultations explaining that £945 is no longer enough in
the near future, for example. I don't think the GDC services are sustainable in their current state and perhaps we should look at what services
should be provided by those members within the profession to support our patients.
I also hoped for an explanation regarding the difficulties in providing tiered rates for those on lower salaries as is offered by the GMC. I will begin
studying medicine in September and as such hope to support myself with locum work in the local OMFS department. I expect to earn a salary of
around £9000 from this work and you will appreciate that the raise in ARF is even more significant when it is potentially 10% of my income.
What preventive measures are being taken by the GDC? Could the increase in cases be due to allowing foreign dentists with inadequate skills to
practice? How are the complaints usually made?
The GDC views on how to reduce the number of complaints , why is the GDC attempting to increase its remit when by its own admission its
unable to cope with its current activity at the fees already provided . Why are medical doctors paying so much less ?
Why are dentists who do not receive complaints being penalised and having to pay a ridiculous amount of money all in one go. Not all dentists are
millionaires, I don't work full time and yet have to pay the same as someone who does. A gradual increase in ARF would be much more acceptable
and one that is in line with the rate of inflation. Absolutely outrageous, and what can we do? Either pay it or be struck off!
Your true cost for the palace in Wimpole Street.
Go a reasonably priced retail park, in the home counties.
Why on earth it is so expensive PER DAY to have a hearing. How you justify charging dentists a 67% increase in this fee but yet do nothing to
protect associates who have had their percentage pay across the board cut by at least 5-10% and who are about to lose their commitment pay too
and NHS fees are still pitiful for something that is supposed to be a professional healthcare service. Just something else to cause extra stress from
an organisation that seems to care little for the majority of their honest registrants who are working flat out and trying to do a good job. £565 was
extortionate as it was. Another kick in the teeth quite frankly.
Absolute bloody joke!!!
Steps that are taken by the GDC to reduce FTP costs. Particularly, to insist that patients have firstly complained to the dentist / dental care
professional whim they have a concern about. This is particularly important, I feel when only a single complaint has been made of a clinical failure
/ patient dissatisfaction. I feel these cases could be easily fast tracked to reduce stress on dentists who have received a complaint and reduce
frustrations for patients.
I feel that consideration should be given to increasing the ARF further for new registrants.
I feel that the surplus funds of the GDC should be used to clear as much if the current backlog of cases as possible rather than current registrants
footing the cost.
I believe that complainants should have to contribute to the costs of investigations if they have not taken all steps possible to resolve a complaint
prior to involving the GDC. I realise that this may not be possible as it may stop genuine complaints. The alternative is to consider public funding
of the GDC as it's primary objective is to protect the public.
feels very sorry to hear this news. why so many complaints, which was not there before?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Figures are stated without independent corroborating evidence.
This is a sham. All these questions are biased.
Funny how all this has happened since dentists were strong armed out off the GDC, that certainly correlates.
Yet another example of those doing the work being bullied and manipulated by bureaucrats.
The GDC should stand as an independent, impartial guardian of patients best interests and the profession.
These changes smack of a desire to make it so bad that dentist willingly agree to its dissolution with governance being provided by, oh say the
CQC, monitor or similar?
As dentists in the nhs we face a similar problem. Escalating costs of running a business with cqc etc all going up above inflation and we have had
1.6% increase in contract to give 1% pay rise and we are told to make efficiency saving to cover the rest. I think we would happy with similar rises
in arf.
where is all the money going? - i.e. how much in lawyers' fees, accomodation for hearings etc
What is being done to reduce the increase in cases
The main reason given for such an exorbitant rise in fees is an increase in cost of Fitness To Practice proceedings . I believe the GDC needs to
investigate the reasons for such an unprecedented rise in complaints against registrants within its own procedures for handling complaints and to
investigate the reasons for the GDC's very existence in light of the CQC presence . Asking dentists to pay for proceedings against them is
unacceptable . The level of fee increase is beyond comprehension . This will only serve to make access to dentistry for patients even more
economically difficult than it already is . At present , the GDC reminds me of an ever growing organism with a never ending need for continuous
financial nutrition ... at the expense of the very registrants keeping it alive .
I do not know why you do not have different fee levels dependant on income and work carried out. Why should I as a part time nhs dentist with a
fairly low income pay the same as a fully private dentist placing implants or extensive cosmetic work. Surely these courses of treatment carry
more risk for complaints. How is the gmc able to set different rates dependant on speciality and much lower rates? How many dentists do you
estimate that you will lose from the register by going ahead with this fee increase? I know I struggle daily to continue with my chosen career
especially working under the current NHS contract where I feel I work extremely hard for a small financial return. This would squeeze my finances
to a point that I feel it is not worth me continuing to work part time as a dentist and that my family would benefit from me finding an alternative
career path.
Why do Medical Practitioners only pay £390 ?
Their ''mistakes'" can end someone's life. Highly unlikely to happen in the dental profession.
Perhaps you should be more robust in rejecting spurious complaints fuelled by speculative ambulance chasing lawyers.
Perhaps you should ask why the NHS rewards speed not quality and therefore encourages mediocrity.
Why is it dishonest to tell a patient the truth that if I treat them privately I can do a better job ? The under funding in the NHS really is a problem
for those of us who wish to take our time and work to the highest possible standard .
The fee hike for dentists is really wrong and outrageous, we have had such an increase in your costs and and the cost of living, please please don't
not go ahead with this rise if ARF.
How much you could save by moving to a non London based HQ and revenue that could be raised by selling London real estate and moving to an
out of town location
Revenue that could be raised by hefty fines for those prosecuted that cover all costs incurred
Revenue that could be raised by increasing fees on a risk basis (insurance style)
Increase registration for DCPs who earn more eg Therapists and hygienists
What preventative measures you are undertaking eg working with Area Teams to improve performance/ complaints handling/ conflict resolution
training/ mediation / making UDA values fair to remove perverse incentives any other measures so that cases are dealt with or avoided before
they reach you
If gdc is based mainly upon nhs complaints, gdc should encourage nhs to provide funds.
Why should good ethical dentists pay for, crap allowed in by gdc to work and then pay indirectly their costs.
Treat dentists as guilty prior to conviction, lack of speed to resolve situations, set fees to lawyers to cut costs
Too many lay people and not enough dental support.
Basically a money making scheme to protect public from dentists , maybe bad dentists should pay fees if an enquiry is launched.
Gdc are uncompromising , unhelpful and unprofessional and a new body should be instituted , and the whole lot fired
I am an SHO working in a salaried position. If I have to pay £945, that is half my monthly salary and I won't be able to pay my rent that month. I
have never had a complaint in 4 years since graduating.
The cost should be staggered for new graduates/ salaried service.
Why is there such a disproportionate increase for dentists as opposed to DCPs?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
No
Audited accounts.
A more dentist-friendly approach
Taking the lead / example of the GMC
No the GDC should not be spending as much.
GDC should just regulate/register the profession and let the wrongdoings be tried in the courts, like everything else. The GDC is taking on too
much and the burden is being shifted to the registrants, however, if it is protecting the public, it should be funded by the public.
Disclosure of payments made to barristers, dental advisors and GDC panel members on a day basis for hearing cases brought to a hearing.
A business plan to reduce these costs.
Expenditure on court cases
Reduce the number of cases coming through to the GDC and micro manage cases locally
Manage cost
Levy cost to offending dentist
You explain the reasons behind the increase but fail so say why it is a 64% increase. Given that your current funding gap is 15.7%, the 64%
increase would increase your income to a level well beyond what is needed to cover your expenditure.
I would also like to know what figures are used to create your predicted incomes and expenditures for the following three years if ARF stays the
same. If they are extrapolated figures, then why are they so non linear? The estimated funding gap initial increases by over 100% to 2015, yet
there is then only an approximate 10% increase in funding gap year on year thereafter. This again begs the question; why a 64% increase in ARF?
I would also be very interested to see a more detailed breakdown of the hearing costs, especially the remarkably vague £33000 "prosecution
costs"?
The fitness to practice panellist costs are intriguing:
I see that for a a 4day hearing the five fitness to practice panellists are paid £19000 which works out at £950 per day. A great deal more than an
average associate dentist, and also nearly the same as the new ARF!
Maybe I should become a panellist, then I maybe able to afford the disgustingly extortionate proposed ARF.
where does thousands of Ore candidates money go.
Stop registering EU dentists without assessments, the complains will then go down.
Be more clear about it
Patients have a right to complain but should not be able to go straight to the GDC. This is where all the minor complaints are ending up and is
likely to be the reason for the 110% increase. It is completely unfair for dentists to have to fund lawyers and complainants, dentistry is stressful
enough worrying about a GDC claim without worrying about how to pay for that complaint as well.
If your complaints have risen so much you should be able to streamline the process to keep costs lower, it appears this isn't happening and feels
like a figure of £18 million has been plucked out of the air, we need more transparency on where our money goes, good dentists are being
penalised to support bad dentists in their crimes against patients. How come it costs much less for medical doctors to have the same type of
council why are you not able to replicate their example. You are also unfairly discriminating against young dentists who are already at risk of
seeing their income reduced and creating a financial burden on them we need to see how you will support dentists on a lower income so that
their registration fee does not price them out of the market of dentistry.
1. The cost of basing the GDC offices in London and any overheads associated with this ie. the general outgoings not related to the costs involved
in regulating the profession
2. Do the registrants pay for these overheads?
3. Why are the number of complaints increasing?
4. if the ARF does increase, will there be the option to pay monthly/quarterly?
yes. How much dentists income especially in the NHS has increased over the last few years. I am a performer and I have had no incentives from
the DOH i.e pay rise. In light of that how do you propose a dentist should pay. Also if a dentist is currently not working should you give any
discount for that.
Why there has been such an increase in complaints and why the GDC can't change and adapt its practices according to what it and it's members
can afford instead of doing more of the same ineffective thing for more money.
The GDC should consider charging its costs to individuals who are convicted of malpractice - this would seem a more appropriate way of
recouping its expenses.
I also believe that since the GDC exist to protect the public and regulate the profession, then the GDC fees should be met (in part at least) from
public funds.
Duel qualified individuals like myself who do not practice dentistry but have to remain registered for the purposes of trainees will consider leaving
the GDC as we remain registered with the GMC. There does not appear to be any concession for individuals like myself.
Thank you for you continued hard work in regulating our profession.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Take into account a lot of DCP don't get paid that much to cover the cost of the ARF . They don't get a wage rise and a lot work part time hours
they still have to pay the same so with the ARF , cost of uniform , insurance and CPD courses to do after work in your own time online or at
hospitals cost of travel and parking , or sometimes paying for the CPD core subject for the year at am organised event . It is a lot out going
expenses just to work.compared to what a lot of nurses get paid all ready a lot have left the profession am sure now the ARF will be going up I can
not see any incentive for nurses to stay in dental nursing especially when there hard work and ongoing efforts are not reflected in there pay.
How after the truely dreadful report from the PSA into the GDC performance you intend to respond.
Failing to make 7 out of ten of your own standards!
It is quit unfair this money is too much , specially for those who not working they just registered
As this is the only text box I will write everything here.
I find the fee increase ludacris. For someone like myself who, in 2015, will have a mortgage and young family (and also a healthy student debt) I
feel that the best part of £1000 pounds to "do my job" a big loss of income.
I find it interesting that the £31.6M used on FTP hearings only covered 290 cases, when it is clearly enough for at least 100 more. I appreciate
some cost more than average, but there is also going to be a proportion that costs less than the average.
Finally, £15M in a rainy day fund?
You inform us ftp costs £ 19500 per day- this seems outrageous. How much of this is pocketed by solicitors/barristers- we all know in any public
enquiry it's the fatcat lawyers that come away smiling.
In these days of out of work lawyers surely it should be possible to drive a much harder bargain.
Perhaps the GDC being based in London is a disadvantage as overall costs must be higher there than anywhere else in the country- why do you
think the BBC moved to Manchester?
There is no box below for free text so I have to reply here- I have been registered since 1980- I have NEVER had any complaint against me yet I
have to pay the same fee as a year one graduate- surely there should be a no claims bonus- it's certainly a good incentive for those more wayward
colleagues to tow the line. I resent subsidising the usual suspects who seem to have track records of disciplinary action. Perhaps if penalties were
much more robust it would discourage said offenders and make them more patient friendly.
I am also registered with the GMC who are quite frankly a lot cheaper and better value for money.
I also have to ask why I am under double jeopardy- surely there should be a reduction for those already administered by another professional
body? You cannot justify the astronomical fee you are proposing- the current fee is ridiculous enough for what I receive in return- a glossy mag,
certificate and my name on a website- poor value for those of us none offenders with an excellent track record- to keep us on side we need some
dispensation for good behaviour!
I would like further analysis of the significant increase in fitness to practice cases. Why has there been such a sharp increase? What are the
common findings? Where are the deficiencies in training either in the UK or elsewhere that result in such unsuitable individuals being registered
with the GDC? How many of these cases are repeat offenders? What measures are the GDC taking to ensure this escalation of cases stops?
How much of the prosecution costs go directly to legal firms and have any steps been taken to reduce this massive expenditure.
What will the GDC do if fitness to practice costs escalate further in the next 5 years - will you increase retention fees by another 64%?
I would like to know how much money is used "hosting" the committees and for the premises used. Surely there is some cost cutting
opportunities here. Stop flying the fitness to practice committee up and down to london, i'm sure there are some lunches and catering that can be
scrapped if you plan to do things via video link? You could also downsize or move out of london which has the highest rent in the country.
You should be looking at what the majority of complaints/tribunals are about and be trying to prevent these. Dentists are completely
unsupported by their own council in my opinion and we are paying for the privelege to work only which is ridiculous.
The GDC had the worst report out of any medical regulatory body recently. How on earth can you justify this much cost to regulate us when it
appears that you can't even function properly yourself.
On another note - taking the money right before Christmas? No option to pay monthly? The medical council offers this to their own clients and
they are paying around a 3rd of what we pay. How can this possibly be allowed to happen.
I am very disappointed and sincerely hope something is done to prevent this.
Should be means and risk tested.
I work part time in NHS, IN Wales with a lower than average UDA VALUE, as associate .
IT'S TOTALLY unfair that I pay same as others. I've worked for 20 years and feel my annual fee, is a waste of money, considering what I have
received on return.
no
More detailed breakdown on individual costs. Staff, accomodation for example.
No
I really think the new fee should be set according to the amount of work the dentist does. It is ridiculous that the same fee should be sought from
a full time private dentist and a part time salaried dentist. The Defense agencies are able to do this easily enough.
Why are the complaints not dealed with at a lower more local level as it is for GMC!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Complaints has certainly raised, but reasons why should be explored.
Is dentistry really working worst, or are patients complaining about nonsense matters as complaining process is being encourage?
Acces to new registred dentist should be strongly controlled
If percentage of complaints that deals on an impaired dentist are so low (0.001%), maybe cost of dealing with all the increasing complaints should
not be assumed only by dentist
Dental foundation trainees are having a salary cuts and are likely to have increased student debt compared with previous years therefore the
increase in ARF will be a further blow and is unacceptable for this category of people.
Why you are not making the ARF means based? I do not understand why part-time salaried dentists who are on a relatively low income, in
comparison to private dentists have to pay such an extortionate fee.
You have not mentioned where the majority of complaints are- i.e general/private/community practice. I think that the fee should be made
specific to the area in which one practices. I.e if private dentistry incurrs more complaints then it should have a higher ARF, just like dental
insurance.
An increase of 64% in ARF is a very harsh blow. It feels like the dentists out there who are practicing ethically and responsibly are having to bear
the brunt of legal fees for those that are not- a ridiculous situation which needs revising.
How payment would be taken - a huge increase in fees not spread over a year , because the previous excuse of the cost of using a system of
payments through the year is too expensive , does not seem justified.
An increase of this size when our salaries haven't increased plus all our other expenditure rising seems very unfair.
Perhaps finding further ways to reduce GDC costs could be examined.
Daily costs for investigations seem very high.
no
JUST REMIND ME AGAIN WHY ITS SUCH A BIG HIKE......
TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS....YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MONITOR US ,WHO REGULATES YOUR INCOMPETENCE!
Hi I have cleared my ORE exam in September 2013 and fully registered with GDC. I am still looking for my first job. I am paying my ARF without
getting any job,on top of that if there is any increase in the fee makes my position tougher.
Thank you.
Exactly why do you suddenly require £18million at this point. Has this amount not been increasing over the past years- and so the retention fee
could have increased steadily rather than all of a sudden a large deficit is found by yourselves. The Council is failing to run itself efficiently- which
was highlighted in the PSA report, and so I would like to know why exactly this figure has not been addressed earlier.
Also, I would like information on the background of these dentists who are causing this increase in complaints. Are they UK trained? Would it not
be more prudent to charge the high risk dentists a higher rate than assume all dentists are a risk to the public?
Further, why can this amount not be settled in installments. Our indemnity is taken monthly, a much more reasonable process. I think it is
irresponsible in this current climate to expect practitioners to pay such a large amount of money in one go at that time of year forcing people into
debt, when their tax bill is almost required. I feel you are being unrealistic, unethical and frankly thoughtless to the dental community.
You state the public will lose confidence in us, I am sure they will even more after this debate reaches the Houses of Parliament in a few months
time.
The increase in dentist annual fee is outrageous.
It is nearly doubled!!!
Two reasons you should not increase the fee for everybody:
1. If you are facing increase in the number of the complaints it is due to allowing every dentist carry out dental implant treatment. Not every
dentist even with some qualifications should carry out dental implant treatment.
2.You have allowed so many dentists flooding into this country from other EEU member countries. You have no quality control over this.
Why should I pay more for other dentists and your organisation mistakes???
You should increase the dentists annual fee who have more complaints against then. More complaint, higher registration fees as simple as that.
there is a comprehensive list of savings but a breakdown of which areas the funds are spent would be useful also.
if the fee is raised to £945 will there be an option to pay monthy rather than lump some? so close to christmas this is a large amount to pay and
the previous amount was difficult for some people to afford so close to an already expensive time of year
move the GDC out of London - it is much cheaper to do business in other parts of the country, there is no need for you to be based in London.
Exactly where the money is being spent and why there is such a shortfall
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Shameful retention fee for dentists
I feel this increased fee is unjustified and should be charged to the dentists who give you more work, not to all the category
I feel such a huge increase for dentists is unjust. There will be plenty of arguments proposed by other professionals regarding whether we should
be looking at WHY there has been a 110% increase in complaints over 4 years rather than fire fighting those complaints by hitting us with a 64%
ARF fee rise.
My concern, as a young dentist, is that this rise, coupled with increasing student debts, pay cuts at Foundation and Core Training levels, will put
too much financial stress on young dentists in the formative years of our fledgling career.
This may lead to greater stress, more mistakes as we are pushed to hit targets to achieve financially, and thus be at risk of even more complaints.
Too simplistic. You seem to gloat in the number of members you have struck off in your newsletters. What about defending members against the
public sometimes?
Why won't you consider a pro rata fee for part of the year? My indemnity organisation does it to the day, let alone the month. I am due to retire
in February - it's a lot to pay for 2 months!
why so many dentists are being picked up for dental irregularities from 10 years ago and has that any relevance to current practice?
We all make mistakes and learn from them.
Surely the effort should be made to weed out minor errors against wholesale fraud or really bad dentistry?
A clear account of the income and expedenture
What is the GDC doing to change the NHS remuneration system that has lead to supervised neglect and a driving down of standards which is
ultimately Leading to complaints
What salary cuts have been made to all the GDC staff to also pay towards increased expenses
What other avenues of fundraising has been investigated including lobbying the government - to what extent has the GDC pursued these
avenues?
Why has the GDC not "incrementalised" the ARF according to how many hours we work, what our average salary is, whether we are studying or
not etc
Many thanks
The administrative and running costs of the GDC needs to be greatly REDUCED
insufficient clarity as to what steps are being taken to reduce costs e.g. filtering out unnecessary complaints before proceeding to a full hearing,
why the need to maintain a prime expensive central london location, why are no steps being taken to adopt a risk based approach (like car
insurance companies do) to registration costs; more risk e.g. non UK qualified should pay more. Without this sort of info there is no way you can
provide a clear account of resource needs; it's a statement demanding more money for continued failure. The layout of this consultation alone is
indicative of the fact you know already the response you will get from the people you are asking
To be recognised as nurses,and paid for it,simular to a RGN.
We're registered too! And helping patients,all along fighting against cross infection!
We deserve be recognised on same level.
How much is spent, specifically on "regulation". Where this money goes and for what?
This is a huge hike in fees for dentists. How can young dentists expect to be able to afford this? There is obviously a problem with certain
registrants and the GDC appears to be mismanaging this. The rest of the profession is paying the price.
Understanding where all funds come from and how complaints are fully funded.
Understanding where all funds come from and how complaints are fully funded.
yes a full breakdown of costs.
cost per hearing, cost per council member. if savings could be made by moving out of central London. breakdown of per hour costs of running
The break down I where this extra money will be used and required.
How much on average does one hearing cost?
How many of these cases are actually resulting in prosecutions? And is it a cost effective way to protect patients?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
No information about why it takes so long for Fitness to Practice cases to be cleared has been given and there is no information about how this
will be improved.
There is no mention of trying to ascertain why the number of complaints has risen so dramatically or working with the professionals on the
ground to address this.
There is no mention of reducing staffing levels/improving IT systems to improve efficiency. The GDC has traditionally been over-represented by
lay people (workers with no dental experience) and this appears to have got worse, not better over the last few years.
There has been no response or action plan to address the damning findings of the Professional Standards Authority report into the performance
of the GDC. Until the GDC addresses its own inadequacies and puts right the issues raised in the report, they are in no position to sanction an
increase in the ARF for any amount, let alone 64%
my only concern is you don't take into account the dentists that are working one or two sessions a week it is too much for them
please for on behalf of all those part time dentists out there please take into account that some of us are only doing one or two sessions a week
and for us pay such a huge amount is going to be very difficult please make it means tested to make to fair and please for those who take a career
break but wish to remain on the register also it should be less
How many complaints are arriving via 'No Win No Fee' lawyers?
Full accounts of the GDC should be made available to show dental professionals where money is being spent and to justify why a failing, inept
organisation has to increase it's annual fees in order to rectify it's own financial mismanagement.
A proper reason why you actually need this increase?!
I am outraged and disgusted at such a large increase in the annual retention fee. Your organisation should be streamlined to improve it's
effeciency and moved to part of the country where the running costs could be reduced.
Transparency on monies spent .
There is no space in this response to provide comment .
The increase in fees for dentists is excessive. Fines for dentists may be a means of increasing revenue.
What percentage goes on paper pushers wages and what percentage is actually put to good use?
The amount of public money wasted on GDC investigations that proved unfounded.
As an expert witness, I have seen first hand this excessive waste of money - cases brought to the GDC which have been previously rejected by the
investigative committee!
It is too easy for anyone to complain to the GDC which then starts the ball rolling and the cost increasing at ridiculous levels. It is a scandal. A high
proportion of GDC investigations are not fit for purpose in my opinion.
1) A full explanation of the cause of the enormous increase in fitness to practice cases (and therefore costs) since 2010.
2) An explanation as to why a complaint can now be brought without the requirement for a signed affidavit. This system acted as a check and
balance on less serious complaints, keeping them out of this costly system.
3) Information regarding alternatives to increasing the ARF and raising funds and limiting costs in other ways. These could (and should) include
relocating the GDC from its expensive central London location. The sale of this high-value property could make up an immediate funding shortfall
and the costs of being based away from the expensive South-East would be greatly reduced. A limit needs to be placed on the number of cases
that can be passed on to the fitness to practice committee and that only the most serious cases should be considered at this level. This could be
made achievable if the requirement for a signed affidavit before a case could be brought was reinstated.
4) Evidence that the impact of the massive increase in ARF has been properly assessed and considered. A 64% increase in costs would be
considered entirely unreasonable in any other scenario - my patients would not accept it for one. It is an excessive increase for full-time
practitioners but for part-time dentists - many of whom are women - such an increase is likely to seriously affect their ability to remain in the
profession. That is discriminatory, unfair and entirely contrary to the interests of dentists and patients alike. A significant concession for part-time
dentists is now an absolute necessity. If professional indemnity can be administered this way then there is no valid reason for the professional
regulator to be incapable of this.
costs if move out London - hourly rates of pay for staff council etc
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An audit on complaints to assess if there is a correlation of age, training institute or year of qualification related to who is most likely to come
before the FTP panel.
The GDC is a body to protect patients and the public. Therefore it should be funded in part by the government/tax payer as there is none in the
UK who does not visit a dentist.
What is the analysis of the complaints: e.g. for dentists age, where qualified, how long qualified, type of practice, nature of complaint? There must
be some common element/s to account for such an ongoing increase in complaints. Are complaints being investigated unnecessarily or triaged
inappropriately? Are complaints being encouraged from the public and is this reflected in the outcomes of the processes? What sorts of
complaints are being made against DCPs and does the proposed rise for them match their costs?
Is the fee for being on a specialist list going to go up?
What efficiency reviews being considered at the GDC regarding e.g. staffing and internal processes?
It is not right to pass a mandate to a regulatory body that whatever the costs, the members will meet the bill and have no choice, especially if
working part-time and during the Christmas period.
This jump in fees is far too excessive and the GDC must pressure the Government to put into place the changes that are described in the
consultation document that are needed to help the FtP processes.
Total breakdown of the cost savings if you relocated your business to another part of the country.
Why we are being taxed to work!!
What about part time staff, surely there should be a staggered ARF for all members of the dentistry profession, for someone who only works 1
day a week, the increase in the DCPs ARf is huge
1.WE NEED A TRANSPARENT AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AS TO OUR EXISTING COSTINGS AND PROJECTED COSTINGS.
2. THE PSA HAS INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED YOU AND SAID THERE WERE SERIOUS FAILINGS, WHY SHOULD WE PUT MORE MONEY IN TO A FAILING
SYSTEM
3. THE DISPARITY BETWEEN WHAT YOU INTEND TO ACHIEVE I.E PROTECTION OF THE PATIENT AND THE DENTAL PROFESSION IS WIDER THAN
EVER AND IT HAS TO BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS
4. PLEASE CONSIDER CHARGING THE PATIENT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT WHICH CAN BE REFUNDED IN THE EVENT THE COMPLAINT IS UPHELD. THE
EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL DO THIS AND DO NOT SEE WHY WE CANT
5. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THE GMA WHO REGULATE OVER 244000 PEOPLE DO NOT SEE THE NEED TO INCREASE THEIR FEES SO DRASTICALLY
WHEN SEE A COMPARABLE NUMBER OF FTPS
I think you will be pricing dental nurses out of the job / career market with the planned increase in the ARF. Many of my colleagues find £120.00
hard to deal with, but £128.00 is a bit too much, unless you are intending to raise dental nurse salaries in line with the A.R.F.
Much more information about why Fitness to practice Panels are so costly - detailed breakdown of the 'average' costs, not just 'prosecution' costs,
detaiuled information about legal fees - how many lawyers, how many days, daily rates, detailed average expenses, Information about the costs
of travel and subsistance / allowances for GDC staff, legal teams, winesses etc. Are these in accordance with 'normal' NHS practice - eg 2nd class
rail fare?? £55 per night for overnight accommodation etc. Detail about he other staff costs - again how many, what rates etc.
Information about the costs of running GDC from London, the ammount that could be released by selling the London Offices and relocating.
Information about longterm savings of moving the GDC out of London, eg to Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester or Birmingham and avoiding 'London
rates' both office costs, staffing costs and accommodation costs.
Information about why you intend to continue to charge all registrants for the costs of the private complaints system - when only those who
undertake private work benefit.
Information about the relative costs of regulating those not on specialist lists and gthose on hte different specialist lists, to consider charging
differentially.
absolutely outrageous behaviour from the GDC!
Just charge those under investigation! Or stop investigating every minor problem!!
You live a fantasy land! £1000 is 2 weeks wages for some dentists!
Why don't you all take a pay cut and do it volentarily if it is that important to you all!
I would like an external body to review the GDC's expenditure and performance.
I would like to suggest that you charge the GDPs the full cost of investigating them should they found to be at fault. This way the good dentists
wont be charged for the cost of regulating the bad ones.
I would like to suggest that trainees working under the supervision of consultants should be charged less charges than GDPs working on their on
own.
I would suggest that you add arab or middle eastern in your ethnic groups as well
There are an alarming number of complaints in the dental industry in the United Kingdom. It is one of the mukiest industries I have come across.
Please do something about it otherwise you will have to increase the ARF every year. Please address this problem on a war footing basis.
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Explaining the structure of GDC and the pathway for complaints.
Reasons why the GDC has to based in London, the most expensive city in the UK.
The proportion of overseas/EU dentists that are being investigated.
We should all refuse to pay the increase then you would be forced to rethink
I am a dental nurse and am disgusted at the amount we have to pay for our ARF. We have less responsibilities than a RGN yet have to pay
exceptionally more for our ARF. What you fail to take into account is that the majority of dental nurses work in the private sector and earn nigh on
minimum wage, how are they expected to meet day-to-day living cost and the currently inflated ARF, never mind the extravagant increase you
propose.
This fee is unreasonable and unnecessary considering we do not receive anything in return for this pay-out. Trying to justify it by using complaint
handling / processing as justification for extortionate rates is insulting to all dental professionals. I am strongly opposed to the current fee never
mind the proposed increase.
Regardless you have us all over a barrel if we wish to continue employment in this profession - which the GDC is well aware of!
The increase in your "resource needs" is a consequence of the increased number of complaints. The cause of the massive 110% increase in the
number of complaints is what needs to be investigated, not more funds to pay for the reprimand of the increasing number of offenders. It is a
blatant warning sign that, despite the ever increasing burden of regulation on the practicing dentist, the standard of the actual dentistry being
delivered the public is falling to an unacceptably low level.
All the questions in this questionnaire are irrelevant. The GDC seem to have missed the point and the dental profession is falling apart.
A separation of the role of the Gdc of
A. Monitoring the suitability of professionals that want to join register
B Dealing with the complaints that result of your inadequate assessment of the professionals that you allowed to join the register.
It is clear you have not performed your duties adequately with regard to maintaining standards and safeguarding patients.
Dentists who's register this once belonged to are not consulted and have little presence on the GDC
How did you calculate the value of £945?
Why can not a dentist pay in installments like a DCP?
I think somebody needs to look at why so many more complaints are being generated and whom they are against. I fee lit is hugely unfair to
subject the whole profession to such an increase in fees, when the majority of us never have or will incur a single complaint. for me a price hike to
£945, plus my specialist registration fee and indemnity approximate to nearly a months salary-all just to be able to do the job I have trained for 15
years to do. its absolutely ridiculous in my opinion and needs to be redressed.
What is the proportion of complaints for DCP's compared to dentists.
Justification for the raising of the amount by 64% regardless of any specifics about the 'risk' of an individual to receive a claim.
I am asked more questions which decides my 'risk' when I insure a 1994 Vauxhall Nova than I am about my 'risk' to the 2,500 or so individuals that
I provide dental care for.
You are driving hard working, ethical dentists both into early
This should be something the GDC should engage with talks with indemnity providers about. Why should I have to fork out a set, ever increasing
price each year when my 'risk' of a complaint of paying out compensation is lower than 'Dr scissorhands' next door.
I would also find it useful to find in this procedure, how many actual dentists and DCP's were consulted in the process any their processed
opinions and a publication of the findings in the GDC gazette or on the GDC website.
This may give you a slight reflection into how disgruntled the majority of the dental profession are with the ever rising costs of being able to go
about their daily job without paying in my case near enough £3500 before I can even set food in a dental surgery.
Exact cost per every complaint that doesn't end with Fintess to Practice case.
The breakdown of your expenditure on FTP for local and overseas registrants. and the exact breakdown of your costs for the FTP.
GDC is responsible for regulating training and maintaining standards. You should look at why the number of complaint cases are on the rise ? Is it
the undergraduate training, foreign dentists,corporate culture etc and address them. Increasing the ARF is not the solution and the rise well
beyond the inflation is certainly not acceptable...so out of touch you are!
What measures the GDC have taken to reduce the number of complaints e.g regulation and ensuring quality in training and revalidation.
An account of how the GDC finances have got into this mess. Better use of the complaints service, which seems to be the most cost effective am
of the GDC, may have reduced the number of complaints needing full fitness to practise hearings. If this was a commercial organisation it would
cease trading if it raised its fees by 64% - has the GDC considered radically restructuring and getting dentists on board instead of continually
seeming to be against them. Dentists wish to protect the public interest too!
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I think dental nurses are on a low income and don't have a banded system like general nurses do. A fee structure based on a nurses income would
be more suitable as the majority of nurses are already paying insurance and there own cpd on top of this.
I can see that the gdc needs more funding but I think a fairer system could be thought up?
It is all to make dentist life more difficult for peanut we are receiving.thats not right. Most of patients are over protecting them self. I think we're
the people that nobody respect and protect us.
What proportion of complaints have gone to full hearing? Is this constant/increasing/decreasing. A colleague had a full hearing because she could
not replace a crown on a carious tooth. £78000 was spent on this incident, which she was cleared from. If there is an inability to prevent cases like
this, then only financial pressure seems to be able to focus minds.
Have you considered relocation as a means of saving costs?
No
Why is there no funding from the taxpayer?
'If we do not have sufficient funds to bring these cases we would fail in our duty to protect patients and the public'.
As this is a public service why does the tax payer not contribute?
No indication of how income from other sources could be increased.
As a dental care proffessional, my practice has not had a pay rise for approx 5 years plus and had no inflation. I feel it is unfair to rise DCP ARF, and
it is unfair for part time and full time nurses to pay the same. I also find it very unfair how hygienist and therapists pay the same as nurses, when
they get paid very diffrently.
I feel if it is raised, you will find a lot of dental nurses will no longer reg.
I'd like a breakdown of the costs of the inefficient way claims are handled and how GDC have come up with this exorbitant ARF hike? 64%. You
should all be Members of Parliament! This ridiculous hike will come straight out of a fixed NHS budget and will impact on patient care. Why is it
SOOOO much cheaper for the medics. And they can kill people.
salaries of GDC staff
redundancy pay outs of GDC staff
price of keeping a large office in central London
% of complaints due to foreign dentists
money paid by people found guilty of breaches to fitness to practice.
Why is there such an astronomic increrease in disciplinary cases? Continuation of this trend will see unsustainanble funding requirements. Such
rises may prompt early retirements from the manpower pool and increased defaults on payments and I fera the symptoms are being treated
rather than the cause.
probably yes
As DCPs our registration is 33% more that general nursing staff and the DCP pay is a lot less than nursing staff. Overall
percentage of pay it is a great deal more for DCPs. I think the fees are already too high and would oppose this rise completely
Outline potential savings if the GDC were to move premises out of central London.
If the GDC exists to regulate and protect patients, why should our ARF not be subsidised by the public purse?
Efforts to reduce the cost per case and why the GDC needs so much more than the GDC from registrants
The number of frivolous cases brought by the public. Research into whether if the public had to pay a deposit before bringing a case, it would
result in fewer frivolous cases and therefore reduce your costs.
How on God's Earth are you so inefficient that it costs you £128 per DCP to send them a certificate and register their existence. I'll do it for £100
!!!!
Your expenses broken down.
Your case for staying in central London.
The amount of money wasted by the GDC.
I think it is a disgrace that there is discrimination against low paid part time females dentists in the community dental service (about one third of
our staff in the Northern Trust ) who earn less than DCPs but have to pay the same retention fee as high earning private dentist on Harley street.
We are already struggling to pay the present retention rate never mind an increase. If the GDC can organise a separate group for DCPs , I am sure
it would not be that difficult to set one based on income. I think the view of the Equality Commission would be interesting as this problem mainly
affects working mothers and I would like to know what percentage of the group making these decisions are male. It is about time that dentists got
together and as a group refused to pay for this joke of " self" regulation.
I disagree with the increase in ARF for both dentists and DCPs.
I would like to add that RGNs and Doctors pay very little compared to dentists and DCPs
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I am a dental nurse and do not have higher education behind me.
Your document is not written in plain English for all of us to understand.
The public should you ask them are horrified that low paid dental nurses who work under the instruction of another professional ie they
personally make no clinical judgement on their own are expected to pay £120 soon to be £128 per year.
I understand there are a lot of dental nurses and that means you gain a lot of £120 per year but it simply is not just.
If we were clinically allowed to make decisions like dentists and therapists and hygienists then I accept the fee.
Please stop bullying us we are under appreciated by our fellow colleagues, we are under paid and many of us are leaving due to this and non
suspecting youngsters are coming in as apprentices and are being paid £2.75 per hr for the same work as those who have worked in the industry
for 20 years with lots of experience who are still only earning £8 per hr.
I personally have been keeping a eye on the job market and see that dental nurses wages are now being advertised 2K per year less than last
years wages.
Dental nurses are not your target audience we do not earn sufficient funds.
However as you can not un invent the process please at least make dental nurse fees less than hygienists and therapists. Please take into
consideration the hours that each dental nurse works.
Investigating outfit is useless -- too many lay worthies on groups
No efficient sieving system by qualified dentists who know what they are talking about . Your legal team should work harder and justify their
charges
I do not agree with this dramatic increase. Compare this to medics who pay significantly less. As a specialist trainee I work within a supported
environment, pay for a masters at £12000 and on a considerably reduced salary in comparison to many GDP's. I think there should be a means
tested/level of risk like your indemnity.
Another consideration is that dental therapists only pay £128 but due to direct access can carry out many treatments without the prescription of a
dentist. Should this not be reflected on their ARF. Is it fair they pay the same as dental nurses for example.
I think the GDC need to consider who they place on the register as many registrants in front of the GDC for misconduct have been given their
degree abroad. Should their be tighter restriction on who is placed on the register.
Unfortunately I feel very let down by the GDC and I do not believe the 65% increase is warranted.
I feel that are fee is already too high based on our job role. We are already paying a 1/3 more than General nursing staff whose pay is a lot more
and whose job carries a lot more risk.
I feel the ARF increase is completely unfair, for the majority of honest dentists working within the UK, striving to do the best for their patients.
It discriminates against women, part time workers and newly graduated dentists struggling to generate an income to establish themselves in
practice or fund further postgraduate training.
I would give my full support to an initiative to establish a robust and effective complaints handling procedure for the private dentistry sector, to
effectively resolve complaints before they require intervention from the GDC.
Have other options been considered, such as an increase in fines for those found in the wrong following an investigation?
A "no claims discount" policy would also ensure the dentists generating the majority of the complaints carry the financial penalty, not the dental
community innocent of any wrong doing.
I would like to know how much money is spent on fitness to practice hearings and complaints that end in the individual not having their fitness to
practice impaired?
I would like to know what is being done to resolve problems early to avoid costly hearings?
I would like to know whether there will be an increase in the fee for specialist lists and the number of complaints made for individuals on
specialist lists?
What contribution to the costs of hearings is made by defence societies and those accused?
I would like to understand how this shortfall can be so big. This is a huge proposed increase in fees. GMC retention fees are £390 per annum. Are
the number of complaints higher for dentists than medics as a proportion of total registrants? How does the GMC keep costs down yet the GDC
seems to have lost control of costs?
Yes dental nurses get paid a lot less than a general nurse but we pay a lot more to be registered why?
we are already paying a 1/3 more that General nursing staff whose pay is a lot more and that fee is already too high
Consideration must be given to different methods of early resolution before a full hearing is started. Failure to do so is likely to lead to a
campaign calling for mass resignation of the entire GDC for failure to manage the process
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Other options that the regulator has considered.
Specific detail on what the increase revenue gained from the fees would account for, rather than a broad overview.
The reasons why more funds would lead to a more effective regulator.
There needs to be a section for general comments in this form.
Question 5 is worded in such a way to place blame on the registrants for the fee increase, further damaging the relationship between regulator
and the profession
How many of these complaints have been upheld and why not ask the dentists implicated to pay if complaint upheld or the complainant if
complaint rejected.Surely indemnity needs to cover this rather than penalise the majority of good registrants.
I am astonished that you can increase the fees by 64%, The fees we have at the moment are considerable higher than doctors pay. I work part
time and the fees are a considerable proportion of my income. I AM NOT HAPPY
What are you doing that is so different to the GMC who charge doctors a fraction of the costs you are proposing to charge dentists? GDC waste
other people's hard earned money!!! If the public need protecting then let the public contribute
YOU HAVE FAILED IN YOUR FINANCES AND HAVE CREATED UNNECESSARY EXPENSES. YOU SHOULD ASK THE GOVT TO FUND YOUR
ORGANISATION AS YOU ARE PROTECTING THE PUBLIC, NOT THE DENTISTS
In my humble opinion as a Dental nurse, i struggle already to meet the ARF of £120 (which incidentally may not have increased in the last four
years, but did jump from a roughly £90 fee four years ago to the £120 it is now) and ANY increase impacts me greatly, especially as i only work
part time (22hrs pw).
Every issue of the Gazette i receive has a 2-3 page spread on the back of dentists (of predominantly foreign nationality), who have been penalized
for improper conduct of one type or another.
Very rarely do i encounter a dentist of British nationality being taken to task over the same sort of issues.
This would tend to imply that perhaps instead of raising OUR fee's to enable you and the public to take legal action against these dental
professionals, perhaps a more stringent vetting process should be implemented prior to these dentists being allowed to treat the general public.
Working them in a hospital environment under close supervision to ascertain whether they are fit to work (which some of them clearly aren't
according to the gazette) would not only be far more beneficial for the public who already fear dentists, but also far more cost effective in the
long term as undoubtedly there would be less need for unnecessary administration roles within the GDC itself.
I do not earn the hourly rate that a Dentist or Therapist/Hygenist does, and having a home and children to look after like many of my
counterparts, my money is largely spoken for before i even manage to pay out nearly £100 per year for verifiable CPD on top of my ARF.
Sometimes it feels like it costs me £200 plus a year just to be allowed to carry out my profession!
Dental Nurses can barely afford these fees as it is. To suggest increasing the fees is just rubbing salt in the wounds.
I personally would like to see some sort of scheme in place to give nurses FREE access to online verifiable CPD organised by the GDC seeing as the
idea originated from yourselves to enforce the rule of us having to do 50hrs in the 5yr cycle. It all costs money and if you continue to raise the ARF
and employers continue to pay us less than £9.50 an hr, soon we will be unable to afford to work and there will be a shortage of nurses as a direct
result.
You need to cut funding and move premises out of London. You need to ask the government and patients to pay for the service we currently fund.
I am a salaried dentist who got 1% pay rise this year. How can I possibly afford a 64% rise in the ARF. It is blackmail and outrageous. Shame on
you. I am quite happy to accept a raise in line with inflation but no more. Get it sorted
Breakdown of fitness to practice complaints by trade and for dentists by country of qualification.
Comparison with the gmc where it is noted that the arf is one third the proposed GDC level.
Explanation of what the GDC is proposing to do to curb the no win no fee lawyers who are encouraging speculative claims.
DCP costs are standard. Those in active clinical roles ie therapists and hygienists should pay higher rates to represent the increased risk of
complaints against them, especially with direct access.
% of efficiency savings extremely low in comparison to other goverment departments in current financial crisis (for example NHS and police
force). How can this be justified?
How you assess suitability of registrants. Are they in fact adequately trained and qualified in the first place. If there was more scrutiny of
applicants the cases brought against registrants would surely be minimised
Yes ,an average cost of each case dealt with.
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I would like to know why there is an increase in fitness to practice and disciplinary hearings. Who are the main offenders? It has been shown that
there is a lack of training and ability in general dentists at this moment and I know there are consultations being discussed presently. It identifies
problems in two main areas: undergraduate training and the ability of many non uk practitioners.
As a FD trainer I am seeing an increasing lack of practical abilty in newly qualified dentists as each year passes. There is no standardisation of
undergraduate teaching across dental schools and I feel that the GDC needs to adopt a grass roots approach and deal with this issue, producing
adequately trained and confident postgraduates. It is also quite evident from the GDC gazette that over 90% of the hearings are non uk dentists. It
is also clear that they have limited ability and are responsible in part for the increase of NHS provision to secondary care. I feel that even allowing
for EU work rules non uk dentists must have a basic standard of ability before they are allowed to work in this country. If the GDC were to address
these issues and try and get to the cause of the problems there will be less consequences long term and thus reducing your costs. I also think that
any charges incurred during disciplinary hearings or fitness to practice should be borne by the individual dentist or indemnity and not spread
across the profession. I think an increase of 64% is wholly unacceptable, and demoralising especially in current climes of unrest within the
profession. Maybe the GDC should consider an increase in dental pay due to the costs incurred by the CQC, HTM0105 and governance which we
have not seen any renumeration for
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re the ARF.
I find myself being retired from clinical practice due to ill health. However, I remain registered as a dentist due to my appointment as a Chair on
the Fitness to Practice panel (Dental Member)
I am very concerned regarding the proposed ARF increase as I no longer practice clinical dentistry. I note alternative arrangements available to our
medical colleagues for individuals who remain on the register but have given up their licence to practice.
I understand this to be a rare event but I wonder if the GDC is able to consider a similar facility for individuals who do not treat patients but
continue to be responsible within the profession. (Others may include DPA's, consultants in dental public health etc etc)
I may have to reconsider my role on the FtPP if the ARF rises to almost £1000 - potentially uneconomic in the absence of any other source of
income.
Please check this link for the relevant section on the GMC website.
http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/registration_applications/relinquish_options.asp
As I consider I pose no greater risk to the profession than a DCP I await your comments with interest.
Why there is an increase and how the money is to be spent. How you justify charging newly qualified and long qualified clinicians the same and
those who regularly rely on the GDC and those who have never the same enormous amount
I know in the consultation it said that the payment/hours worked would not be taken into consideration on ARF but is it fair that a full time
nurse/hygienist is paying the same as myself working one day a week, because I enjoy it and want to stay in touch. There are a lot of part time
workers who you will slowly drive out ,or maybe that's what you want, !!!frustrated.
More details on who the claims are made to, %of dcp and dentists and how much each cost.
More detail about the groups of dentists and DCPs (eg gender, age, ethnic group, type of DCP) who have serious complaints and fitness to practice
cases made against them and upheld and therefore are the cause of the high costs of the GDC.
Complainants should be required to pay a fee to have their complaint about a dentist/DCP considered with the understanding that if their
complaint is upheld, they will receive a full refund of that fee.
Astonishing increase
Dismayed, no longer have faith in your organisation.
What proportion of the cost of proceedings is incurred by UK trained dentists (as opposed to registrants coming from overseas?).
What measures are you taking to reduce the number of complaints which will incur significant costs?
What if the trend in number of complaints continues? the costs will eventually become untenable.
The GDC is a totally spendthrift body. To reduce its expenses it should leave London employ staff on wages at regional rates. It covers the whole
of the UK and should not be based in London. The majority of Dental Professionals do not live in the area around London but most GDC members
do.
This should be funded by the taxpayer as they are the ones being protected!
This should be funded by the taxpayer as they are the ones being protected!
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Taxpayer should pay as they are being protected.
what measures have been made to get government financial support for the 'resources' that are required to bring dentists to 'justice'
I feel it would be incredibly useful for this questionnaire to allow people to express their opinions on this important issue without leading, closed
questions which makes this impossible.
I feel that a 64% increase in ARF is ridiculous when we have only had a 1.6% pay increase. I feel further efficiency savings should be made and
other income sources found.
The annual retention fee should be income-assessed. It is not fair that dentists earning significantly larger salaries in private practice should be
paying the same as those e.g. In the community dental service.
The annual retention fee should be based on INDIVIDUAL RISK as is the common sense theme in dentistry guidelines and insurance/protection as
a whole. As a part time NHS dentist with a young family, doing my best with the UDA system and having not had a pay rise since I graduated in
1999, having never been subjected to a complaint that has progressed to GDC level, I feel very unhappy that the burden of meeting increasing
costs due to complaints is falling at my door.
I think the proposed 64% increase in the level of the ARF is absolutely outrageous and totally unjustified in the face of falling incomes failing
practices heavier and heavier regulation which is more and more expensive to comply with and rising unemployment amongst young dentists.
Experienced practitioners will retire as soon as they can. This is a disgraceful way to treat the profession.
The ARF of an implantologist, who earns £2000 per case and who is more prone to receive complaints and thereby costing the GDC more, should
not be the same as a VTE dentist who works for free till he gets a performer number... Or as a dentist who is still looking for a job.
As a body you are utterly incompetent and should be scapped!
How the GDC is going to streamline its fitness to practice process and make better use of its funding
I am a part time salaried community dentist. I am currently on maternity leave and will return to work three days a week shortly. This arbitrary
64% rise in fee will mean a substantial proportion of my salary will go towards these fees. Given the highly critical PSA report I find this increase in
fees appalling. Even the GMC does not charge non postgraduate doctors such a large sum of money for annual maintainence.
I think as a regulator the GDC has to take into consideration the different salaried groups within the dental field when settling on a annual
retention sum.
Why have the Gdc not been able to do their job properly?- who regulates you!? Unacceptable increase!- as a newly qualified dentist it's really
difficult to make ends meet, but almost £1000 is a unreasonable increase. Emphasis should be on trying to focus I patient complaints resolution at
early stage to avoid escalation of cost... If you increase a pot of fund infinitely, the it'll be spent! Hence funding for Gdc needs to be capped!
Why do you need to continue to rent very expensive offices in central London?
Why are do you not allow a reduced rate for part time dentists like the indemnity organizations?
This is an unacceptable fee increase. Other european countries pay a fraction of what we already pay. If you wish to increase our fees by 64% our
pay should also increase by 64%
I would like to see where the GDC costs have risen by 64%? In no part of the document are any costs increasing by so much. I understand that
dentists bear a higher burden but still cannot see why they must increase their ARF such an amount. Your graphic shows and increase in
expenditure of only 17% for 2015.
I would like to see a further breakdown of costs for FtP hearings i.e. room hire, hourly legal fees compared to rates for legal aid, rates paid to
experts and the reimbursed expenses for those staff, legal & panel members attending hearings.
I believe there should be more funding from the state and not from the dentists and the dental professionals
Why you feel it is acceptable to raise dentist ARF by 64% when inflation is only 2-3% - why are you not ensuring an attempt at local resolution has
occurred before you decide to have a fitness to practice case - this worked well in the past
Arf for dental nurses too high. We don't earn the wages to afford all the financial outlays expected of us now.
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What it costs to have the GDC housed in presumably a very expensive central London office. With property prices as we are being told why can
the council not move around and "sit" in the provinces. There is no need to be based in London except presumably for your convenience and with
scant regard for dentists outside London. For example it may be informative for dentists to see the GDC at work so they can see what you do for
this absurd increase, it is far too costly for most of us to come to London to visit. We do not all have expense accounts.
What are the levels of remuneration of the staff, again if not being pain London rates a significant saving could undoubtedly be made.
I also believe a sliding scale of charges would be more appropriate based on hours of clinical work. The defence organisations do this why do you
not do this. They presumably feel that less hours equals less risk, surely the same logic applies to you. Additionally why not have what may be
called a "no claims bonus", so dentists who are found guilty of an offence in your eyes, once or maybe more than once have a higher premium
than I guess the majority who never are called before you.
Possibly also remove the ability of the great `British public being allowed to complain direct to yourselves, and have minor stuff dealt with a a
local level. Or as suggested above local level means you moving, not everyone to you. Travel also being by cheapest means possible. That is the
rule that applies to us working dentists.
I realise that this consultation document will have no bearing on this ridiculous increase of 64% but you probably do not consider the views of
most dentists.
Consider for example an ageing dentist only maybe working one or two days a week , a rise like this may make such a person consider retiring
with a great loss of experience to their patients and the profession. As you may gather I am totally against this level of increase, we get 1% uplift
in fees perhaps try living in the real world.
Why should dcp increase be 6.7% and dentist 64%. this is more than nine fold difference
Respondents should not be asked their personal details to ensure confidentiality
Why is there such a parity in increase for dentists compared to other registrants?
What about reducing gdc own running costs to save money?
Having just seen a full page advert funded by the General Dental Council in a newspaper supplement advising patients to complain if not totally
happy with their care I am stunned that the GDC can waste huge sums of money like this when telling dentists that they face a 64% increase in
ARF. I demand to know how much money has been spent on this campaign and who is responsible for it.
What do you need the extra £18million for - how will this improve the extra volume of complaints - when it is the GDC who are increasing the
level of complaints? What about next year and the year after how much extra will you need then???
How much is being spent on per member of the fitness to practice panel per hearing including travel, accommodation etc. how many days a
hearing lasts on average. Are most of the dentists being investigated uk graduates or European etc. how is the GDC benefitted the average
dentist?
Absolutely unacceptable to charge dentists £945 to practice their profession, appreciate funds need to be raised for litigation, but as professionals
we can all agree litigation in the UK has become disjointed from reality, not everything should be referred to the GDC. Considering leaving the
profession or practicing in another country
You are greatly conducting and investigating frivolous claims. Cases and claims that should in reality be addressed either at practice level or at
worst solicitors via the indemnity organisations of the dentists. This is the real reason for the mammoth annual costs and really why a shake down
of the GDC is required at grass roots. The solution is not on the contrary to unjustly sting the dental professionals with a whack that will only in
reality be like giving blood to a leach. All this will do will encourage your existing notion and culture of litigation against dental health professions.
Clear numeric and quantified uses of your resources
Information detailing exact expenses.
A full financial report so every nuance of expenditure can be scrutinised...£30,000,000 spent on refurbishment?
Why is the GDC based in London when it would be so much cheaper to be based elsewhere in the UK? Why not base it in Newcastle?
Why should dentists and DCPs fund the trial and prosecution of other dentists and DCPs? We already have indemnity insurance. Why do dental
nurses have to pay the same fee as hygenists and therapists?
Why is the GMC registration fee 1/3 of the proposed ARF for 2015?
The body in charge of regulation and bringing fitness to practice cases encourages patients to bring cases and asks dentists to pay for the
privilege. Do those in charge at the GDC think they can bully hard working dental staff? Start behaving with the same professionalism that you
expect of us.
The number of complaints passed onto the Investigation CommitteE that could have been resolved/dealt at a local level. The number of
complaints which would fall under the remit of NHS Business Service Authority or Local Area Team that have been processed and investigated by
GDC instead.
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Questions 4 and 5 are very badly worded if you answer yes then you are effectively agreeing to the increase which I am not, if you answer no then
it sounds as if you want to pay more which I don't so I have answered neither. I think as an organisation you have not done enough to cut costs,
you are bringing far too many members of the profession before formal hearings often for one case when much of the incidents could and should
be sorted out locally, you have done nothing to regulate those placing implants which I am sure constitutes a lot of your business, you seem to
expect perfection from us but according to the professional standards agency you are falling way below par on a range of different areas-so who
is regulating you? I think the profession as a whole has lost faith in you as an organisation but you have a monopoly. You refuse to allow monthly
payments you refuse to reduce fees for people under a certain earnings threshold and for those who work part time the GMC do all of this and
only charge doctors £390 pa. You pay ridiculous amounts of money to lay members to sit on panels to consider things they know nothing about
and you continue to maintain a London office and pay your staff London weighting you should be less London centric and move out of London and
stop requiring all persons associated with all the panels you run to attend in person -move with the times! I have never been in trouble with you
and hope never to be but what I do know is that you are letting us down badly and you expect us to pay 64% more for the privilege.
1.Why are the costs of fitness practice procedures extremely high? There seems to be a massive jump from a simple in house resolving of
complaints to the gdc dealing with a case. Surely there must be in between methods which can be much more cost effective and reduce waste of
gdc resources
2.what is the driving force behind the increase in complaints as this doesn't make sense in view of the improvements continually made in
dentistry. The same issue is arising with indemnity costs for dentists which again can be considered to be linked. Again the cost of solicitors fees
in dental cases is a worrying concern.
3.How is such a huge fee increase justified as this can't be justified for dentists who have to run their practices efficiently especially on the NHS?
The GDC should have been more efficient much earlier and simply increasing fees isn't the answer, and if there are law/regulatory obstacles then
these should be addressed first rather then burdening every member of the profession.
4.my understanding is in comparison with other regulatory health bodies the GDC fee is far higher than other healthcare members pay their
respective bodies
5. The professional standards authority report highlighted many issues at the GDC. How can it be fixed by simply increasing the fee, what other
measures are taking place, will the increase simply result in more wastage?
Why it is deemed necessary to continue to punish new graduates, those who are weakest financially and most in-debt?
Information regarding the reason why taxpayer funding cannot contribute to this since it is a public service. We essentially pay to allow people to
complain and launch litigation against us and also have to fund our indemnity against these very claims.
I think you are a waste of space disproportionately harsh compared to most other professional regulators including the fsa and claim to be
independent when infact is effectively government regulated it might aswell be government regulated atleast then the tax payer would pick
up the bill lift the corporate regulations to f I t the contract the government imposes most of the bad work comes from there but still far easier
to blame it on the individual dentist
In costs too much to regulate because the profession is over regulated
A clear breakdown of why the PSA failed you on eight separate areas, with fitness to practice system one of those highlighted. Gross inefficiencies
should therefore be identified.
The increase in ARF would affect the most vulnerable I.e graduates. Please consider exempting the graduates from the increase in ARF fee.
The percentage of problems which are being caused by non UK dental graduates employed by the dental corporates as 'assistants'.
The evidence the GDC are ensuring these 'assistants' are being properly supervised as required by the Dentists Act.
The number and sites of assistants who are practicing on their principals number - eg corporate dentist managing an area where their 'assistants'
are spread over a number of surgeries up to 25 miles apart, especially where one manager may also have NHS practicing numbers across a
number of Health Authorities and Trusts. A situation common in the London Area as my work for one Trust in 2006-7 revealed.
A 64% increase in fees is astounding. The GMC can carry out it's role without such vast expense. Why can the GDC not control it's costs? The
profession is speaking now. We will not accept it. As a minority of dual qualification registrants, if the GDC proceed with this proposed increase in
fee they will not be receiving anything from me. I will remove myself from cartel.
Perhaps some indication of how you can justify dentists footing the bill for a failing institution. Perhaps also some justification for not charging
the illegal tooth whitening salons and for allowing the number of FtP cases to increase. The vast majority are associated with NHS practitioners
and, just as in private care, could easily be dealt with in a more cost effective way. We cannot continue to encourage the blame culture like this.
GDC are utterly ridiculous. Absolutely no protection whatsoever for clinical staff. You have left us at mercy of every idiot with a mouth or an
Internet connection to say and do as they please
Info on what other income the GDC had and how much that accrues.
Valid reason why we cannot adopt monthly direct debits.
Yes it would be good to know where it came from the actual ARF fee as in my opinion the GDC is only a requirement to be registered but nothing
else, not helping the Dental Professionals, and disclosing our personal data which should be private.
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The reason why extra volume of complaints and Fitness to Practise hearings has increased. Has there been an equal 88% rise in bad practice by
dentists between 2010 and 2015? If so why is that? Do dental schools/hospitals bear any responsibility for the poor standards of dental
graduates? The written and oral exams are vigorous, but the clinical skills standard that a dental student needs to achieve in order to qualify as a
dentist perhaps should be raised. Are the recently qualified dentist carry the larger share of the complaints? Should the dentists found guilty in
Fitness to Practice hearings contribute more towards the costs? Simply increasing the ARF without knowing/investigating/ addressing why
complaints are increasing and why cost of fitness to practice is going up astronomically, is failing the dental profession; and seems like collective
punishment. Surely the GDC's urgent responsibility is to find ways to identify and address the causes of increase in complaints. ARF for dentists
with Irish dental council is 200 euros. ARF for dentists with GDC as it stands is incredibly expensive and unacceptable. On the other hand the legal
business involved in dental litigation seems to be booming and going from strength to strength with no end in site.
Why is the cost of a 4 day hearing more than the annual income of many dentists?
The real reason for the 60 something percent hike in gdc retention fees for dentists!!
Yes the different costs of different legal services when tendered should be provided and why the ones chosen are not the most economical ones
A clear and detailed breakdown of WHY this fee has increased as much as it has and compare this to the comparable fee that the GMC has.
Why the cost increases are so sudden when an obvious rise has been evident over a 5-10 year period.
Why the gdc is failing in all areas.
Why the gdc is an inefficient system.
Why the costs are so high yet the outcomes normally irrelevant.
Think about the effect the raise will have on dental nurses who earn a lot lot less than dentists
It is a complete disgrace to propose an increasing of the ARF. I as a dentist have never felt any support from the GDC yet I will need to fund thie
organisation. For what reasons? So that the patient can complaine even more?! Dentist need protection from GDC not patients!
It would be useful to know exactly why you think that charging a RIDICULOUS increase in fees is going to solve anything, especially considering the
investigation into the GDC has shown that a lack of money is not the primary reason for its many failings. Why are you suggesting that a dentist
needs to pay three times as much as a non specialist doctor for the SAME thing? Is dentistry inherently more dangerous that medicine? Because
that's obviously a fallacy. There is no accountability for this outrageous fee suggestion.
I think there should be a 3 tier charge according to patient contact and responsibility.
Dentists
Hygienists and Hygienist/therapists.
Dental Nurses.
Dental nurses should have a reduced ARF.
I feel the GDC are put in an incredibly difficult position. I am a dentist and I appreciate that in this modern era we as a profession like our fellow
medical colleagues are more prone to complaints particularly as succesive goverments continue to raise patient expectations with the advent of
the the internet patients trying to self diagnose etc. Also goverment funding over succesive generations has been cut. All of this adds to an
increasingly difficult situation for both healthcare professionals and their respective regulators. Overall I do feel the GDC is doing a good job, on
balance however I think there should be more dialogue over how it should be funded be it tax payer or other means.
It would be useful to see a better breakdown of the costs. Also ask the dental professionals about ideas for helping reducing costs such consider
cheaper offices outside of central London.
You don't do anything for Dentists who work legally, honestly and hard except for charge us an extortionate amount of money to "regulate" us!
It's disgusting!!
The increase in fees is totally unjustified . It is unfair for those of us that work minimal hours not to be able to pay pro rata fees . Also to be able to
split what is already a hefty fee, (in December ,typically a month of lower earnings and high expenditure) throughout the year would be
immensely helpful .
The public will happily contribute as this council has been put in place to protect us
Far too expensive. The GDC haven't explained why the ARF is going to cost three times that of medical doctors, who are undertaking actual life
threatening procedures. And why the ARF is already the same for dental nurses as it is for medical nurses, who are actually delivering care (as
opposed to assisting in it) and astronomically more likely to be taken to task over their actions.
The reason why the GMC's ARF is £390? And ours is already £576 and set to rise?
Why are you ripping us off?
Have you seen the rate of inflation?
Do you live in the real world?
The details of all fitness to practice hearings versus cases that have been allocated to resolution at a local level.
Howuch money is spent per fitness to practice hearing.
The number of FTP hearings postponed or cancelled at short notice and why
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
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Paying this extortionate fee if like being crucified then billed for the nails.
More information and tranarency on how the GDC actually spends the income from registrant's fees.
I would like to know if the GDC met the essential standarts requirements as per government report.Also I am interested to know why do you have
age,sex, race as part of your questionaire?
The question misses the point and should ask registrants whether they have confidence in the GDC.
I can not see any clear account of GDC any where and I get very minimal response or information from GDC.
Explain how the average cost of a full hearing is £78,000
I would like a fully comprehensive investigation into the incompetencies of the gdc. I genuinely feel that the gdc is complety out of touch with the
profession and the daily dynamics of being a dentist. Raising the ARF by 64% is absolutely disgusting and ultimately the patient will pay, The very
group you are trying to protect. I Work mostly for the NHS and this year I got a below inflation wage increase of 1%. For the gdc to ask for 64%
extra when I get this tiny increase is laughable. The ARF is not something that we can shop around for or choose between different regulatory
bodies, so we expect that the regulatory body that we are tied to should be run as efficiently as possible. It is archaic that we are forced to pay for
an organisation that sets its compulsory fees by its outgoings. This is akin to a dentist buying a Porsche and then charging £945 for a crown simply
because he or she must set their fees to their outgoings. The gdc is completely out of touch with the stresses and difficulties involved with being a
dentist.
The GMC dealt with 4.4% of complaints based on 233,721 registered doctors in the UK in 2012
A like for like comparison of 5.7% with the GDC based on 39,894 Registered dentists in the UK.
A difference of 1.3%
If the GDC argument is such as that proposed, let the increase in cases be truly reflected by this difference and not some arbitrary figure. I
challenge the GDC to publish a report to show just how the 64% increase price hike was derived and be completely transparent.
The whole system is a bloated mess. The bottom line is...how does it serve the public interest in taking 2 years to resolve complaints at massive
cost in this manner. The diversion of resources is a travesty and needs to be addressed. The number of complaints being forwarded results in our
public image being diminished, a demoralised profession and an obscene waste of money.
why does a day of a hearing cost so much money? Why are the costs paid to lawyers not capped to stop them taking extortionate amounts of
money out of the system? Why not have the GDC headquarters somewhere central because 1/ it's fairer, 2/ life doesn't revolve around London
and 3/ it's cheaper to be out of the city. Why not have two tiers of investigation like tier 1/ quick and simple there is nothin to answer here, let's
keep costs down, get it seen to, kick it out and then you don't have to follow through every single complaint from start to finish and tier 2/ when
there is something significant to answer to and in that case by all means use the money to investigate it. Why are dentists which make up a large
body of the council so far detached from dentistry and real life? If costs have been going up every year, why not increase the fee every year by a
nominal amount instead of suddenly jumping 65%...that's just simple business sense. What marks value for money with the service that the GDC
provides?
Your response to critiscisms by the regulators
It is ironic that you have been criticised for poor record keeping and you determine a dentists ability to work dependant on their record keeping.
Hypocritical. Then you have the audacity to increase ARF. You need to put more dentists on the panel. Pen pushers are clearly unable to run
anything efficiently and accurately.
possible reasons for increase in FTP cases.
I wish that you consider lowering the ARF for dentist not practicing in the UK.
How does our ARF compare to other professions? Also in 4 years time will the fee increase to £1500 and so on?
Breakdown of accounts
Not really I just feel you're resource needs identified are not fully justified and your reasoning is flawed. This therefore makes question 1) null and
void.
The fee demands are too steep.
why is expenditure so much? please give a breakdown of payments etc.
Surely the gdc being located in an expensive location doesn't help with expenses.
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Are complaints NHS based as I am a private practitioner and we have our own complaints procedure
My colleague was found speeding this year. The courts gave him a fine and penalty point but the gdc still wanted to waste time and valuable
resources discussing his case to come to the conclusion that the courts dealt with this sufficiently and no further action needed to be taken and
that if in future anything would happen involving him there would be a black mark against his name. I feel this was a complete waste of gdc
resources and money and therefore are am completely a rise in ARF BECAUSE I FEEL YOU ARE WATTING MONEY ON UNECESARY THINGS
Why do we have to pay for your failures? If you exist to protect patients then ask them to pay for it. We have to pay for insurance to protect
ourselves
Reduce costs and raise money by selling your overly expensive building. Restructure the organisation. Implement better triage of cases that reach
the GDC hearings. Implement clear guidelines for what can and cannot be escalated top a hearing. Audit your activities to check it's providing
value for money.
Realistic appraisal of GDC running costs and 'real world' management/reduction in these costs. i.e. breakdown of London premises costs and staff
wages.
Why you are allowing multiple breaches of the dentists act regarding the supervision status of dental assistants working for dental corporates.
Why you are being investigated for treatment of an internal whistleblower by the PSA.
Why you have no risk strategy for costs regarding FTP cases.
More details regarding the fitness to practice hearing expenses. Venue costs £8,000???? (for 4 days???)
Fitness to Practise Panellist costs £19000 ??? Staff costs £14,000???? (for 4 days???)
Why are we charge 3 x what a specialist doctor is charged to be registered to its council?
The GDC spending is out of control. If you were an industry you would be bankrupt. Your operating costs are too high. You pay yourselves too
much. You have to radically change the way you operate. You have alienated the profession you serve. The profession hates you and has no
respect for you. You have driven up costs for every dentist in the land, which will inevitably be passed onto patients. Instead of persecuting and
terrorising the profession you should be taking a more active role in guiding and educating. You should also be more careful checking standards
and competency of overseas dentist. Bring FTP hearing costs down. They don't have to be run like law courts with expensive lawyers. £71,000 for
an average cost of a FTP hearing is a obscene. Your organisation should be subject to a FTP hearing for be wasteful and inefficient.
Break down of costings for staff, buildings etc
What you actually pay employees sitting on GDC committees. Including expenses.
Please make clear efforts being made to lobby the government to invest more in dentistry and also measures being taken to prevent complaints
ever reaching the GDC.
Many dentists would like the luxury of raising the charges to cover there costs but can't due to the manner of working within the NHS.
Instead businesses within the NHS have to absorb increase costs within the business.
Increased ARF will just further stretch the system.
A statement of your full accounts and also increases in pay which have been made to various people working in the GDC
The actual cost for each complaint, and the necessity to investigate every complaint. The person who complains should also be charged a fee.
This will generate revenue for the GDC. It is not right that we should totally support the body that will accuse us of malpractice. We essentially
have to pay twice. Once for the regulatory body that does not support us, and once for the defence body that does. I can not raise my fees for
my patients by such an astronomic amount, yet my costs have risen dramatically. This is akin to a hostage situation with no way out for dental
professionals except de registration!
Why are the costs so high? For example why is it necessary to spend £8000 for the cost of a venue? Surely a less expensive venue could be found,
and why do staffing costs amount to £14000? I feel the exact breakdown of these costs should be provided. Also are costs greater because
hearings are held in London. Could costs be brought down is hearings were held elsewhere in the country?
Why the GDC have allowed themselves to be swamped by minor complaints and petty fraud which should have been dealt with by a low-level
complaints team within the NHS rather than being referred by the lazy NHS system to the equivalent of the Supreme Court. These complaints
should have been dealt with by re-referring them back to the low-level complaints team for simple resolution rather than turning into a witchhunt involving microscopic dissection of a perfectly acceptable dental practitioner's professional life. There is no justification for the persecution
of the profession which leaves people in fear of their livelihood and puts people in the position where suicide is a prefer all option to continuing in
practice. If the GDC is truly 'protecting patients, regulating the dental team' then it should be publicly funded and publicly accountable. If it is
funded by the dental profession then it should be run by the dental profession but publicly accountable. The GDC is not currently fit for purpose
but, regardless, it should address all the shortcomings noted in the PSA review before assessing the cost of the Retention Fee, which bears no
relation to the retention fee of other august bodies.
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generally not happy with your performance
A better breakdown of costs. You have a large premises in central London & have dentists working for the GDC coming in from the length of the
country which must be very costly, I'm sure these costs could be reduced.
Since you are aware the UK is becoming more and more litigious (second only to Israel I believe?) it would also be nice to know how you're going
to curb this / deal with it in the future rather than just planning on more and more court cases?!
Clear & concise breakdown of costs & expenses. It would be wholly unfair and unjust to simply keep increasing the ARF fee because your costs are
spiralling out of control. Other sources of funding and efficiency measures should be explored
In Saturdays 5/7 Telegraph Magazine there was a one page cover of encouraging patients to complain directly to the GDC.Why do you engourage
people to complaine when the reason for ARF increase proposal is that GDC cant handle all teh complains?? This advertisement gives completely
wrong view of complain procedure and is throwing petrol on non existing fire. awful!
We would like a breakdown of what our fees actually pay for as it's unfair we are compulsory paying a fee to work and u actually want to double it
just like that in one year !! we pay enough other fees and on cpd course fees just to be allowed to work .really it's too much
I jyst read the advert in Telegraph. Disgraceful.Why would you publish that?Are you ambulance chasers?What kind of disgraceful behavioyr is
this?Whers are your accoounts ?Why woyld you ask me about age,sex,race or whatever?What kind of discriminatory policy is that?I personally
think a big wave of change is coming your way-in this structure you are simply uncapavle to protect the public.The only thong ypu seem to protect
at the moment is your salaries.Disgraceful.
Increased fee?For what?So you can continue make the proffesion look bad,that is what you do-with your incompetence, non compliance and
sheer greed.
A more transparent explanation of how cases are assessed at the investigating committee stage to decipher whether they should come to panel
or not. More stringent measures to NOT allow baseless cases to come to panel thereby making massive savings.
Money spent on each case on average on solicitor fees.
Money spent on advertising for the DCS
STOP PLACING ADVERTS ASKING FOR COMPLAINTS WHEN YOU'RE INUNDATED BY UNREASONABLE COMPLAINTS
Full report of current expenditure and justification of GDC expenditure on advertising itself in magazines (at our expense) to generate MORE
complaints when apparently you can't handle the volume you're getting? The way the GDC behaves just now causes the loss in confidence, it has
nothing to do with the professionals themselves.
I would like to know how the GDC intends to put its own house in order before attempting to perform daylight robbery from all of its registrants.
They have been proved to be incompetent.
no
Further necessary cost savings which need to be implemented. eg moving from central London. If it is possible to hold the Hillsborough inquest in
a converted warehouse on an industrial estate (at a cost of pennies/sq foot as opposed to thousands of pounds/sq foot in central London) then
surely the gdc can move to a new location. Digital technology does not require a central location.
The GDC complaint culture is rather demoralising to the profession, gets passed to the patients and completely the wrong approach.
The teaching and acceptance onto register should be more strict and this way less complaints happen.
For example an implant should be done by a specialist, not anyone who has gone on a weekend course to be able to practice in the patients
mouth.
The root of complaints should be addressed rather than encouraging and dealing with more and more complaints.
If you are utilising most efficient use of your resources. Ie what is being done to reduce costs? Can you justify existing use of these resources for
example are there cheaper alternatives for premises, why are you using the barristers you use? WHY IS THE GDC ADVERTISING IN THE TELEGRAPH
encouraging complaints; surely a way to reduce costs is to encourage local resolution of complaints, with GDC hearings and people losing their
livelihood reserved for truly serious issues and not the first option.
Also what oversight or accountability is there for how the gdc uses their resources.
Under no circumstances can you justify increasing the ARF by such a ridiculous sum. Perhaps you could show the members how you are planning
on saving money in the future. Also I cannot for the life of me understand how you could even think about running a full page advert in a national
newspaper encouraging private patients to complain to you especially when you complain about a lack of funding. As a fee payer, I completely
object to having my hard earned money contribute to this and any future adverts of the sort. I'm wondering if you are here to regulate us or
persecute us. It's disgraceful.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
This organisation is not fit for purpose. It has completely lost the confidence of the vast majority of its registrants.
Perhaps the fitness to practice committees need to be more selective in their case selection. Why is it necessary for the GDC to use these
expensive law firms to waste registrants money. Surely a simpler, less expensive arbitration solution must exist!
The current situation is an absolute joke. You are being held to ransom by expensive law firms.
Reform!!
Detail breakdown of expenditure
Further to you recent press adverts encouraging complaints: You are a disgrace.
You are regulating a profession to protect the public.
You are NOT a commercial / Fair Trading organisation.
You are NOT a bunch of ambulance chasing lawyers.
You have lost the trust of your paymasters who now have no confidence in you.
A full itemised run down of all expenditures, especially, that way we can see exactly how much money you are wasting
I think it would have been useful to be told the exact numbers of dentists and dental care professionals. I also think it would have been useful to
have been told the percentage of dentists with complaints raised against them and the percent of dentists with multiple complaints raised against
them. I also would have preferred to see the source of the predicted needs for the future.
Local Area Teams have a remit to identify and investigate perfromance concerns and complaints against dentists. As part of this process they can
screen performance and apply measures for improvement and management much in the same manner as the GDC.
Has the GDC considered, as an exercise in cost reduction, referral of complaints against dentists, DCPs and practices for investigation by LATs in
the first instance before escalation to full GDC involvement in cases where this could be deemed appropriate? Thus reducing the burden of cases
to be processed and investigated by the GDC.
How many cases against the gdc where actively solicited.
Respond to the PSA report concluding the GDC has failed to meet seven out of 10 standards governing registrants’ fitness to practise.
Explain why the GDC is completely unaccountable to registrants
more detailed information on day to day cost reduction measures. Expenses, costs of having a London office, why Hygienists/Therapists have the
same ARF when they do not have the same earning capacity
How much you spend of our money on advertising, hospitality and anything else that is not directly associated with each and every case.
Please explain why it is considered mandatory for dental practices to have complaints procedures in place, when you place adverts in national
papers encouraging patients to by pass these systems and head straight for the dental complaints service.
In my opinion this survey is also clearly designed to try and get the answers you want to hear. I trust most of my colleagues will also see through
this and reflect our true disgust at this proposal.
I want to know what the GDC is doing to PREVENT patient complaints rather than waiting for patients' to get harmed before making attempts to
protect them. Surely prevention is better than cure!!! For very many reasons (including financial) it is cheaper to prevent problems than wait for
them to occur before trying to address them. The one thing the GDC had in its patient protection armoury (specialist lists) is now under threat.
With this in mind, I have no confidence in the new GDC structures because you seem to be keen on beating dentists as opposed to protecting
patients!!!!
WHY YOU HAVE GOT IT SO WRONG>?
How do we know how much it actually costs the gdc to defend fitness to practice claims….might you be inefficient ?? how about putting some of
the costs onto those that are found to have a case to answer, admonished,suspended , erased. Why should i pay for other dentists bad practice ?
There is no information regarding how the GDC will go about reducing the number of fitness to practice cases which seems important as this has
increased significantly.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The triage process mentioned in order to discern which cases should be considered appears flawed. Looking at some of the FtP cases, it seems
clear that some should not have made it to the GDC, let alone the stage of the process they got to.
You do not entirely explain the enormous cost of FtP and all other business. Nearly £20K panellist costs for 4 days? Nearly £5K per day? It seems
to be exclusively conducted in London. Individuals are transported there and housed in expensive hotels. You have rented premises to hold
meetings at high London rents. Why not carry out business in regional centres, using regional hotels and their facilities so that at least part of the
transport cost is reduced?
Why is the ARF so much greater than that of the doctors? How much do their FtP hearings cost?
Are we investigating why the number of complaints has increased?
In addition, the adjudication outcomes sometimes appear flawed. The GDC seems very afraid of erasure. This is an expensive process with a less
than satisfactory outcome.
As a Council, you appear obsessed with money and maintain a suspicion that all dentists and now DCPs are only in it for the money.
The glossy Standards brochure is geared towards general dental practitioners and in particular those in private practice.
Of course, we need to protect the public, but financial harm seems to be your concern above all others.
Also, this questionnaire is flawed: you have asked what information would be useful. Hopefully, I have the information, I just fundamentally
disagree that this is how to solve the difficulties that we have.
Should we think about looking at who is having most complaints raised? How much more is my specialist list fee going to be?
The rise in costs seem ridiculous, my regulatory body must find a more cost efficient and fairer way to deal with complaints/issues- it acts in a
draconian manner.
There is a considerable pressure on dentists and the GDC should act in a swift and fairer manner, rather than instigate a raft of legal proceedings.
Perhaps the system that the GDC employs needs to be reformed.
no
As a part time dentist in salaried dental service am considering whether it is even worth working, not had a rise in salary above 1% for years so a
64% increase is too much. Perhaps bandings need to be introduced
Will you place more ads in newspapers, like the Daily Telegraph actively encouraging patients to complain? How much of the new retention fee is
planned for that?
Is any part of the resource planned for dentists not being happy with their patients too?
A totally unjustified rise in fees coupled with poor management of cases as well as employing law firms that are not cost effective
You state that funding is not from the tax payer - yet this is designed to protect the public - This is not a problem of GDC registrants so it is wrong
to pass this levy on to us
Conducting an appalling advert in the saturday Telegraph effectively enticing patients to complain/raise grievances to you without any other
information on how things OUGHT to be resolved frankly shows your attitude as a body towards the individuals you regulate. This is unjust, unfair,
disrespectful and promotes an incriminating stance towards dentists
I would seriously consider your decision making processes as well as your accounting and HR departments as you do not seem to be able to
operate in an orderly, professional or just manner
You might have provided free text options to respond why I am not happy about the increase below.
What I can't see is how you plan to manage a potentially infinite number of complaints, many of which may be spurious.
1. How many cases that are triaged end up at a fitness to practice hearing? Surely if you are planning on your triaging being more efficient the
number of anticipated FTP hearings should decrease accordingly and therefore your anticipated costs.
2. As the GDC acts as a government regulatory body one assumes the GDC costs are covered by government funds. This has not been made clear
in the consultation. Please clarify.
This should be partly funded by the government as it is an organisation to protect the public.
The wage bill at the GDC
Why the FtP case load is increasing in view of the facts that the FtP has been found wanting on many levels. Also savings could be made by not
paying for adverts in major news papers encouraging the public to complain about their dentist!!!!
I have seen little information
Why not be transparent and state the £945 in an email direct to all registrants instead of hiding it in a document.
COMPLETE AND DETAILED breakdown of EVERY cost to the GDC, incuding cost of advisors and consultants, cost and remunerations and perks of
each employee, cost per case, number of cases completed in a day, and THE STEPS THE GDC HAS TAKEN TO REDUCE ITS COSTS
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Professional Standards Authority Performance Review 2013-2014.
The GDC did not meet two of the Standards of Good Regulation
for registration and seven of the Standards of Good Regulation for fitness to practise.
The main reason for the estimated increase in expenditure in 2015 is due to the Fitness to Practise function.
Why are fees for GDC higher than other Regulators:
General Chiropractic Council
General Medical Council
General Optical Council
General Osteopathic Council
General Pharmaceutical Council
Health and Care Professions Council
Nursing and Midwifery Council
(Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland)
The costs of each tribunal is not outlined properly. Who is getting paid what? Why is it so expensive? Supposed savings are outlined but the fee
per case is a disgrace. Furthermore the consultation outlined here is a complete waste of time and is unlikely to provide any relevant feedback on
the ARF uplift - such leading questions do not give registrants the platform to voice any concerns/questions.
How much is spent on advertising for patients to make complaints! It is not surprising that costs and hearings have rocketed when the Gdc is
actively advertising against it's own members who pay a significant amount of money for the privilege!
be more open with how the money used from registrants is being spent.
I think the increase should be according to inflation and not a large increase like this. If the GDC require money they should come with other
innervative ideas rather than just putting the burden on dentist
no
no
I work part time, 2 days a week, the increase in cost is ridiculous, it does not cost this much to maintain me on the register, I suggest you look to
cut further the middle managers who create unnecessary red tape.
We try to provide a good NHS service for patients and this vast increase should not be passed on to us, look to cut salaries in the managerial
system instead.
Information is not the issue. Some insight that the increase is completely out of line with all other similar regulators (Eg GMC) and finacial
constraints that dentists are operating under would be valued! Maybe a move out of London should be considered as it would be significantly
cheaper.
If complaints are increasing, a justification for full page ads in glossy colour supplements seeking complaints should be given.
There are other ways in which the GDC could save money. At present it uses offices in Wimpole Street which is a very expensive area of London
would it not be cheaper in the long run to relocate to a cheaper area of London or even cheaper out into the Regions- Leeds,Manchester etc...
Also would it not be prident to see why there has been an increase in hearings? Is it because there are more people working here from overseas
without a British qualification. Or have standards sudden declined for some reason.
This is more of a suggestion. With regards to the DCP ARF, could this group possibly be reduced e.g. therapists/hygienist banded together and
dental nurses banded seperately. I feel with such a large pool of people in the category that the ARF will increase dramatically. There is such a
differnce between therapists and nurses not only in responsibility but also income that this shoudl be taken into acoount if the ARF is going to be
calculated based on how much it takes to regulate this group.
Exactly how much
Ch do the staff of GDC spend in a year meetings functions etc.
First
Who regulates the GDC, and each time a GDC communication goes out, this information must be included.
2) A detail reasoning as to why the GDC is in London, one of the most expensive cities in the world.
How much is advertising encouraging patients to complain about their dentist costing and how many more complaints do you expect these
adverts to generate? What venues are being used for hearings and why? How many staff members or fitness to practice panellists are typically
needed for each hearing and why? Why are external lawyers used at all, why can the in house legal team not do even more saving more than the
anticipated 0.5 million? What are your costs other than those related to hearings and what can you do to reduce them? Why do you not offer a
low income or part time reduction in ARF as the GMC do?
Why no of complaints has risen so much when Standards are higher than ever? GDC could concentrate on preventing complaints arising rather
than dealing with them.
Prevention is better than cure and less costly and damaging to the profession and patients.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
You have NOT stated how apart from ripping off the membership how you would go about income generation. What plans do you have in place or
planning to do to try to raise further income outside of increasing professional fees for the members who DON'T get any value for money
As staff working for the NHS have not had a salary increase for 3 years, to increase the AFT at this point could put some registrants under financial
pressure, especially DCP's. If you have to increase the fee, I suggest you organise a facility to allow monthly or quarterly payments to be made
rather than a 'lump sum'. Incidentally, the fee for Registered general nurses is £100.
Day to day running costs including staff costs, premises costs.
What attempts have been made to cut costs - e.g. business case for reloaction of premises from expensive London address.
Staff pay freezes?
Attempts at minimising costs LIKE WE ALL HAVE TO DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
Breakdown of complaints - who are the complaints against? Dentists? DCPs? Dentists - UK qualified or EU / overseas qualified?
It would be interesting to know of the number of FtP cases, how many of those were related to UK trained dentists and DCP's and how many were
for those who trained outside of the UK.
There may be a case to increase fees for those coming in to the UK, even those from EU countries, to cover the costs of cases brought against
them as often their training is not equivalent to that of dental professionals who have trained within the UK.
I also believe that dental nurses should pay a fee much less than they are already, it is unfair for them to pay the same fee as Hygienists and
Therapists who earn 3-4 times their salary. Three tiers would make a better fee scale and keep registrants happy.
I also believe that the fees imposed on Dentists and DCPS should not take in to account the cost of prosecuting non-dental professionals for
carrying out dental work. Instead these cases should involve a more reflective fee of the potential harm they cause. Many of the illegal whitening
technicians walk away with fees amounting to no more than a few hundred pounds when the clients could face dental bills in excess of thousands,
yet the ARF would appear to cover part of this and this too is unfair.
I am so upset and angry regarding this increase. As a part-time nhs dentist about to go on maternity leave this hike is astronomical. The fact that
adverts have been placed in the media which will undoubtably encourage more complaints- genuine or otherwise- will likely increase your
projected costs even more.
The GMC supports it's registrants and throws out ridiculous claims. They charge their registrants much less. I don't feel you ( the GDC) support me
as a dentist at all. I feel you make me jump through hoops to maintain my registration and in the event that a patient does make a complaint
about me I am terrified of your processes and inadequacies.
Please consider those of us who work part-time and those on maternity leave. Please support your registered members.
A sudden increase of this magnitude is not acceptable. I am a dental trainee working part time in the hospital. The fee you propose is 80% of my
month's earnings. How exactly do you expect a part time working mum to afford this, mortgage, childcare and a multitude of other bills? I wonder
if you have considered dental trainees in the hospital sector do not have similar earnings to that of a dentist working in practice. Dentists in the
hospital work in completely different settings to that of dentists in practice- which are the majority of your registrants. There should be a separate
fee for dental trainees.
Current costs and explanation as why your costs are so high. What is being done to give value for money and reduce overheads.
What is being done to address the escalating conduct cases within a profession that scores highly in trust and CQC compliance
Should be looking at ways to cut the cost of hearings - £2000 for venue!!!
Should look at how similar groups in other countries do it - at a much lower cost
Also how can GMC charge their members less - do they do a poorer job
Why other professional bodies charge so much less for the same activity.
It would be useful to know the level of complaints which are found to be justified, and whether some of these cases are being unnecessarily
pursued at the cost of the registrants.
I would like to know how the GDC intend to improve the management of the entire Fitness To Practice system not just how it is attempting to cut
costs. This would include how it intends to improve its management of staff.
Breakdown of expenses with regional variation.
Also information regarding lengths of service and ethnicity
A breakdown of how the resources will be used specifically in relation to payment of legal teams and what you will be doing /have done to affect
efficiency of the use of ARF for this purpose
Plans to provide local settlement before a full FTP case
The fee should not be increased unless dentist fees are increased to cover it.
For several years now we have received pay cuts in real terms with so called 'efficiency savings'
It is unacceptable to continue increasing dental practice overheads without corresponding increases in fees , you are simply forcing dental
professionals out of the nhs, out of the profession or into private practice.
stop advertising for thousands of pounds worth of ads to sue dentists even without educating the patient for local complaints procedure
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Yes. How you can justify advertising to people how to complain to the GDC in the Saturday telegraph.
the fee requested is unfair and frankly appalling. the role the GDC should really be taking is filtering out GENUINE complaints and not just trivial
issues that can be easily resolved at practice level. that would reduce the level of 'investigations'. you are punishing the very people who you
PROSECUTE!!! and you feel it's right we pay more for that?
As a dental nurse I feel the fee is too high.
General nursing staff pay one third less for registration and their pay is a lot higher than a dental nurse.
In this current Climate when jobs are scarce we should be encouraging dental nursing as a profession.
Audited accounts showing the total income/expenditure of the GDC including any reserves for 2012/13, 2013/14
Clear budgeted projected income and expenditure for 2014/15, showing variance on budget against previous year
Clear evidence and explanation that complaints will continue to rise as predicted and steps taken to reduce inappropriate use of GDC mechanisms
to deal with complaints that should be dealt with "in house"
There needs to a fundimental review in how the GDC cvarries out its statutory functions, erradicate time wasting from all parties. Be considerably
more decisive in its decision making with regards cases to take forward or drop. Stop the increased use of interim orders as a half way house
There are many fitness to practise hearings, but surely this number could be reduced through tighter regulation? I see many patients who have
had treatment previously from 'an orthodontist', but they haven't actually seen, or had, specialist treatment. Patients at present are very much in
the dark about who they see, and the quality of treatment they get, particularly with the alarming increase in quick-fix orthodontic treatments.
Not knowing whether they are seeing a specialist or not seems to be an endemic problem across the profession, not just orthodontics
What you propose to do about the alarming increase in complaints and FTP hearings instead of just increasing the number of hearings... Why have
they risen? Are complaints founded? Do dentists need more training or procedures altering to reduce this figure? This needs addressing.
money wastage -- and how doctors only pay 350.
ABILITY TO PAY MONTHLY
Where are the main complaints coming from?
Is it Dentist, DCP and in what proportion?
Is there a tendering service for the legal companies engaged by the GDC? Is the GDC getting good value for money from the legal firms?
Why is there an increase in complaints?
Why are your costs so high? All government agencies and services have had their budgets cut, as a NHS employee my wage has been frozen for
several years now and this year we face losing cost of living allowances. I feel the GDC should be making the same efficiency measures the rest of
us face, not charging us more when we are in fact earning less.
Why cases have risen in numbers so much?
for example
is this because GDC actively seeks them
local conciliation is not encouraged
trivial and vexatious cases are allowed to proceed
"fishing trips" in records for other items to add to charge sheets
This is not a consultation in any recognisable form. It is a process set up by an all powerful regulator to try and add a veneer of reasonableness to
actions it has every intention of taking, irrespective of the responses received
Provide detailed information about salaries paid to GDC staff.
-Do you own the freehold to the offices on Wimpole St?
-what is it's current value?
- relocation coats to Swindon or somewhere less expensive
Individual costings and breakdown for FtP hearings and dealing with complaints. Also cost of advertising in national press to encourage patients to
complain
Actual cost of administration, who actually triages FTP complaints and if found in breach why are the people found wanting not paying for this
service Why should those of us who have never had nay dealings with the GDC paying for those who do?
More information on why the complaint rate has increased by 110 percent and why there has been no measures to reduce the complaint rate.
the costs of the venues of hearings
the costs of the annual rent of the building
and costs of all staff employed
you did not take into account that salaried dentists had not had a raise in their salary that will mirror this increase in the ARF
Information on spending and other proposed methods of raising the capital i.e salary cuts
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I and the vast majority of dentists in the UK do not see how you can justify such a massive increase in the ARF.
I think the GDC should take a look at itself and sort its failings before placing the financial burden they have created onto its members who are
effectively being held to ransom.
I am aware that the General Dental Council aim is to protect the patient and I agree with this statement; however I think patients are getting
mislead by lawyers and by this organism. I recently saw in a magazine an advert regarding to "raise your voice as a private patient if you are not
happy with your dental treatment"; I think this is "over the top", all the patients now a days are aware of their right to complain if they are not
happy. However I think this organism is encouraging the "no win, no fee" and to be honest, as professionals, we care about our patients and we
always want the best for them. If this system continues like this, dentists we will be scared to provide treatments to patients "just in case" some
of the risks happens and it is when dentistry will be poorly performed.
Transparency throughout whole of GDC is required.
Yes, need to know how many employees there are and what they are earning. The organization must be streamlined further. You should move
out of London to the cheapest place available in the UK so that rental outlay is much reduced. If the GDC buildings are owned by the GDC, then
sell them and move out of London as i said above. Dentists don't need to be governed from London.
There is no comment box and hence me writing this here
a thorough breakdown on accounts and expenses, such as advertising.
Will part time dentists pay less than full time on the principle that they will use fewer GDC resources? It is not clear why the fee is to almost
double,whilst that of. DCPs is only rising by a minimal amount.
Exactly how much spending is done on advertisement to actively encourage complaints, how much money is spent on salaries within the GDC, the
profit generated and how that is harnessed, how much is spelnt on the GDC Offices and construction of new extensions and/or building expenses.
Will the fee be proportionately lower for part time Dentists? Their claim on time and GDC resources will be substantially less than those working
full time. Why is the fee increase for DCPs minimal and the proposed increase for Dentists almost double their current amount?
Further breakdown of huge costs of hearings.
Examples of future cost saving measures.
Many government departments are facing funding cuts so an explanation of why the gdc thinks it is appropriate to increase charge to dentists by
almost 150% in the current economic climate
no
How much you pay each panellist per day at a fitness to practice hearing, how much you pay for their transport to London and their hotel costs?
Which hotel do you put non-Londoners up in?
How much have you currently spent on the renovation of Wimpole Street? How much more are you going to spend on Wimpole Street? What is
going to happen to the peppercorn lease after 2047? Will there be a rent increase in 2047? How much to?
How many fitness to practice hearings get cancelled or postponed on the morning of the hearing? Due to poor administrative work? 40%?? These
postponements cost the GDC how much exactly?
No
1) Details of the average cost of a case
2) The distribution of cases/ complaints through out the uk in region, identifying the worse and best areas
3) Better justification for the expenses and costs of the gdc
4) How the ARF benefits us as dentists ?
5) If the ARF figure currently will be£945 what is it likey to go up to in the next 24 years of my practising life ? This figure is not compatible with
current scottish NHS associate income!
Specific itemised listing of current expenditure including salaries of GDC workers and outgoing expenditure so that a valid decision can be made
on how well the GDC is spending it's income.
explain why need a £6m refurbishment of a listed building in London.
Why are you actively encouraging the public to complain when you cant handle the complaints you already have?
Why are nonsensical complaints not nipped in the bud immediately?
Why is there no difference in fee with regard to income and hours worked, surely there is a huge difference in risks involved?
Stop punishing and making dentists suffer for no reason and through no fault of there own! Get your money from the person complaining!!!!
What an absolute joke!
The reasons why the profession is so disenchanted with their regulatory body.
You should include mire dental professionals in your commette so that they can distinguish easily between what can lead to a claim and what is
just patients being greedy.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Publication of salaries and pension contributions, expenses claimed for every employee, committee member, legal representative involved with
the GDC.
Publication of advertising costs, in particular the cost of advertising in the Daily Telegraph inviting complaints from the public.
What proportion of complaints and hearings are due to DCPs and dentists seperately.
What allowances have been made for salaried service dentists?
Full and transparent exposure of all your costs, not just references to the complaints procedure. I wish to be satisfied that every area where costs
can be cut are highlighted, i want to know exactly where every penny of the highest ARF charged by any professional medical regulator goes.
After the "The Telegraph" advert I have lost almost all the trust I have on you. Therefore, I do not believe you will manage well the resources to
2015. You claim that the complains have increased.On the other hand you are advertising in order to people complain about us. It is a non sense,
which will lead many citizens to do complain which in normal circumstances they wouldn't. With this kind of actions, your purpose to regulate us
is a waste of our money. To sum, I believe that GDC does not fit our purposes anymore. Therefore we all should have a deep thought regarding
the fundamental guidelines of this institution, and change it if necessary.
- A more clear expense breakdown.
- Information on how money is being used on developing more cost effective processes for arbitration and resolution.
- Online consultations should provide the opportunity to leave feedback on consultations, rather than structured, guided questions which leave
little room for genuine, relevant feedback to be left.
- You should provide information regarding why it is not possible to structure a direct debit or standing order process for payment.
- You should provide information regarding why a tiered payment system, linked to income is not viable.
- You should provide information regarding why vocational trainees are treated as a marginalised community of dental professionals, and are
expected to pay such huge sums, without the flexibility of when to pay.
- You should provide information in the context of incomes relevant to different dental care professionals.
- For example, the 64% price rise you suggest, will mean you expect VTs to provide 60% (or greater) of their income for one month to pay the ARF.
- You should provide information on how this is workable, financially, for such individuals, given living costs.
- You should provide information on your expenditures on rent for GDC premises, to provide perspective/context of your expenditures
why is your current location in London needed? you could relocate as the BBC has done, to save your members money.
The burden of the fitness to practice should not fall on the registrants as the vast majority are not involved. The increase proposed at nearly
100% is way over inflation at a time when dental practice is facing pressure to keep expenses down.
The Council should move out of its expensive W1 premises to a more cost-effective location.
Expenditure on staff and buildings, more transparency.
GDC could save money by considering other cost cutting measures instead of raising ARF by 64% which is not reasonable and disproportionate.
A rise by 15% would be reasonable.
How about telling us how much it costs for your renovation work / rent for your central London offices / advertisements in newspaper
A complete breakdown of cost inc spending over 5 thousand on a single advertisement
How much has the percentage of cases increased. Is it over 60% increase which you are proposing to increase the ARF by?
Why is the ARF not based on how much a dentist works for example part time.
Why is there a disparity between the dentists and dental care professional increase?
Yes, disband GDC ASAP
Current media and expenses spend
How much money you spend on advertising complaints procedures
Breakdown of how many cases that were brought lead to action against a dentist.
Why has the GDC not looked into reducing it's running costs prior to putting GDC fees up?
Would a move from London to premises cheaper not be more suitable?
How can the GMC who deal with a profession who dont just risk harming patients, but killing them, be charging less than you!!?!
nil
The real costs behind FtP hearings and the need for them to be so high.
Why so many complaints go to hearings.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Yes. Wake up to the economic climate and how you are damaging our profession. NO other profession is subject to such vexatious persecution
by its regulatory body by ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING people to criticise our profession. This proposed fee increase is irresponsible and
preposterous, way above inflation and will direct our scant resources away from patient care by further reducing our budgets, not appreciating
the physical, psychological and emotion energy needed to deliver quality dentistry.
By carrying out your proposals you are effectively PRESSING THE SELF DESTRUCT BUTTON for dentistry.
Further breakdown of costs
Why is there is no attempt to determine why number of hearings are on the increase and plans to try and reduce these by dealing with the causes
The GDC spends money encouraging people to complain against their dentist. And then, the same GDC tells dentist that we should pay a 64%
more because people complain a 400% more than 4 years ago.
If gdc wants to increase income to help the public.Why..1. Does it not move to a different location. Out of London. Be more accessable to all.
2. Why spend £6m on development to wimpole st building
A clear overview of accounts including all outgoings, especially amount of spending on advertising.
Better systems should be put in place to spend this money effectively.
The GMC annual retention fee is £390. There is also a 50% reduction for doctors with an annual income of less than £32,000. How can this GDC
exorbitant fee increase be justified when our medical colleagues have such a reasonable level and surely they are exposed to far greater risk than
dentists? I am disgusted by these proposals.
I feel very strongly about this as I work part time and have to pay the full fee.
Complaints
There is no suggestion of different methods of managing complaints. Are patients asked to contact their own dentist to seek help with their
complaint before the GDC commences expensive procedures? Is there an ombudsman service within the GDC to help achieve resolution of a
complaint- again this could be more cost effective than a full GDC investigation for every complaint.
The 110% increase in complaints in 4 years needs closer scrutiny. Is this increase in the total number of complaints that have been received, or the
total number that were deemed to merit a GDC investigation? Are the GDC filtering complaints properly, so that spurious complaints are being
identified before costly investigations take place.
Whilst the figures in the consultation balance, I am very unhappy about the huge increase in GDC investigations. I want clarification on this issue
before approving any ARF increase.
Other functions
I appreciate that costs to run any organisation do not remain static, and the document does illustrate where the GDC has successfully reduced
costs.
Finally
I have not answered the question about my ethnic origin, as I can not see any reason why this should affect my views on ARF. I am sure that I will
not be alone in taking this view.
Whilst the GDC may outline the funds for the activities, it has failed to properly deal with investigations this year. The costs are spiralling out of
control and there is a total lack of ability in dealing with complaints. Injecting more money will not aid this, it will merely serve to pay more
incompetent staff to do a poor job.
I would want a further breakdown of costs. For example how much a standard case itself would cost, where these costs come from etc. I also
want a breakdown on the types of cases to go to the GDC because whilst the number of complaints has gone up by 110% I'm sure the number of
actual problems hasn't. All the GDC is doing is fuelling the current societal pressure to sue, hold grudges and cause undue stress to dentists.
truthful facts about amount of funding and where the exact price hike is going.
An explanation as to how and why the 'management' of the GDC ignored the obvious increase in expenditure for the past 4 years. This increase
has not occurred overnight, given that it is the GDC's own policies that have lead to much of the increased expenditure over the last few years
that it does not say much for the forward planning and financial skills of the GDC management. It was and is obvious to all in the profession (with
obvious exception of the GDC!) that income was exceeding expenditure.
My own experiences of the FTP is one of gross time wasting and poor response from the GDC.
I think the proposed increase is a disgrace and the gdc as a whole unfit for purpose. I will not waste my time listing its shortcomings as these will
be covered extensively by other respondents
You are supposed to help us as dental professionals to ensure that the care provided in the uk is consistent and meeting an adequite standard and
so give patients confidence in there dental professionals. Not to make patients feel anxiouse then advertise your service then harass hard working
people and destroy there lively hoods. Then congratulate your self on what a good job your doing and increase our retention fees to increase your
revenue. There's no reason our retention fee should be more than the GMC's.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Where is our ARF going towards funding our profession?
Why do medics only pay £390 when clearly they encounter more serious or life - death claims than a dentist would?
Why does the GDC need to advertise to the public to urge them on to complain about all aspects of their dentistry if they are notccompletely
satisfied? Surely satisfaction is a subjective matter, and much of the treatment the patient is tempted to complain about would be deemed
satisfactory dental work by a reasonable body of dental professionals.
How was the extortionate rise in ARF decided? Who voted for it, or was it a decision based on one person?
Did the GDC ever consider the opinions of its registrants or the BDA in proposing this change?
Surely the increase in claims is related to media propaganda such as that churned out by the GDC in the magazine, which seems like a ploy to get
more claims through and justify the increased ARF.?
Surely there is a flaw in the way these claims are processed and managed? Why is there such a huge delay in hearings (6 months)? Clearly there is
something else going on here.
My salary working as a hospital dentist does not make it possible for me to pay this huge ARF without having to go without basic necessities to
cover the cost. How can the GDC justify this?
What processes are in place to audit the activity of those who work within the GDC?
The vast majority of dentists will never have to experience a hearing or fitness to practise panel. Does it seem fair that this burden should be
placed on them, who have been practising correct dentistry for all of their career?
What protocols are in place to ensure this criminal rise in ARF does not happen year after year whenever the GDC decide they want a larger
building to work in??
None of the above have been answered by the GDC to any degree of acceptability.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Where is our ARF going towards funding our profession?
Why do medics only pay £390 when clearly they encounter more serious or life - death claims than a dentist would?
Why does the GDC need to advertise to the public to urge them on to complain about all aspects of their dentistry if they are notccompletely
satisfied? Surely satisfaction is a subjective matter, and much of the treatment the patient is tempted to complain about would be deemed
satisfactory dental work by a reasonable body of dental professionals.
How was the extortionate rise in ARF decided? Who voted for it, or was it a decision based on one person?
Did the GDC ever consider the opinions of its registrants or the BDA in proposing this change?
Surely the increase in claims is related to media propaganda such as that churned out by the GDC in the magazine, which seems like a ploy to get
more claims through and justify the increased ARF.?
Surely there is a flaw in the way these claims are processed and managed? Why is there such a huge delay in hearings (6 months)? Clearly there is
something else going on here.
My salary working as a hospital dentist does not make it possible for me to pay this huge ARF without having to go without basic necessities to
cover the cost. How can the GDC justify this?
What processes are in place to audit the activity of those who work within the GDC?
The vast majority of dentists will never have to experience a hearing or fitness to practise panel. Does it seem fair that this burden should be
placed on them, who have been practising correct dentistry for all of their career?
What protocols are in place to ensure this criminal rise in ARF does not happen year after year whenever the GDC decide they want a larger
building to work in??
None of the above have been answered by the GDC to any degree of acceptability.
Response to white paper on reducing ARF amongst regulatory bodies
Explanation as to how many claims are from overseas graduates
You have given no information about how the money we pay in our ARF is actually spent. We would require a breakdown of the amounts paid in
fitness to practice hearings for the last 3 years, including the amount spent on lawyers fees, costs of room hire, staff expenses etc.
Are you proposing that if the number of cases against dentists increases in the next few years we could be looking at paying over £3,000 a year by
2016-17? This is not sustainable and questions need to be answered about the purpose of the organisation.
There is no option for a reduced fee for part time workers, trainees and full time hospital employees. Why do members of the GMC who work
directly with me pay less than half my current fee and will be paying a third of what I will be paying should this rise occur.
At this rate a large number of experienced and well respected dentists, myself included, will be leaving the UK to work elsewhere where we are
treated with more respect. This will not benefit the GDC or the NHS in any way and will only make your situation worse.
Having been registered with the GDC for 14 years I am shocked, appalled and disgusted by this proposal. The only way my ARF will be affordable
to me would be to give up my RCS memberships and in turn jeopardise their future.
I have spent 14 years spending in excess of £50,000 on training to become a Consultant and ensure I am Quality Assured in my practice. I choose
to work entirely for the NHS and only ever have but still my colleagues and I are being asked to pay a 64% increase in my ARF fee when my NHS
income will increase by 2% this year.
How much is the GDC spending or should I say wasting on advertising to encourage more patients to complain? If there is already a 110% increase
in complaints doesn't that show patients know how to do so and further more aren't afraid to do so? Litigation is commonplace in society now,
people complain and sue over everything with no or little hesitation, they know how and it's getting easier all the time. If the GDC is so pressed for
cash it really should not be wasting it on advertising! It would be useful to know the breakdown of costs, where this money is actually going. How
much is being spent on unnecessary things? To simply say it is to deal with the volume of complaints is not a clear account of resource needs.
There is no demonstrable benefit to the ARF increase for the profession itself. The GDC message assumes all dental professionals are no longer
highly principalled individuals working within a caring profession as they were once considered, but instead they are a danger to the public at
large - who, god forbid, might not know who to complain to without having to ask someone/Google should their need even ever arise. As we all
know, if there is a genuine complaint to be made in life, us humans will find away to voice it, we don't rely on an advert in the newspaper to incite
a reaction if we have a genuine issue. The GDC has effectively stated that they will use the additional fees dentists pay through their ARF to help
those dentists, who are already grossly under protected and supported, to dig their own graves. It would be useful to know how immoral and
arrogant an organisation are allowed to become in such an age of equality and democracy before they are held to account for their own
unprofessional behaviour.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
A more detailed breakdown of the cost involved in FtP hearings.
An analysis of the profile of the dentists (e.g. GDPs or Specialists) who involved the most in FtP hearings.
A more detailed descriptions of the measures in cost savings. Proposed future measures in cost savings.
Other opinion (you have not provided any open space for opinions!!)
The deficit should FIRST be brought about by reducing cost for each hearing (i.e. increasing efficiency) and other cost saving measures, but not
radically increasing the ARF for dentists.
The ARF increase is unreasonable and the GDC is clearly spending money unwisely.
A more detailed document presenting what do you actually do for dentists which from my point of view is nothing apart from charging an
exorbitant amount of money with the excuse of "regulate" the profession
Detailed list of expenses. I don't agree a £6000 advert in a magazine to promote complaints against dentists is a way if helping the dental
profession and I don't agree my money being used in that way
Why is the GDC advertising to encourage more complaints, when it can not fund the complaints it has. Why does the dentist have to be more
efficient for the same/ less money, but the GDC can increase its fees willy-nilly?
Outrageous increase. Costs need to be reduced in other ways - London is not the best place fir the GDC.
Advertising for complaints figures
Poor GDC performance. Inefficient use of funds
There is a general expectation that the volume of hearings should be decreasing after 2015 once the last remaining "no-win-no-fee" cases have
been heard, as we would then expect less cases to make it to FTP and be dealt with efficiently by the Investigating Committee. We also see that
the financial reserves have infact been on the increase over the past few years even though the ARF has remained stagnant. Could all of that put
together not suggest that the running costs of the GDC should infact be decreasing after 2015 and that the reserves could support expenses in
2015 and then be slowly replenished with a smaller and more gradual rise in ARF based on more realistic expenditure figures at the time?
Refuse to accept and investigate bogus claims, concentrate work in protecting the profession only
Reduce costs by reducing the amount of complaints accepted to investigate
Trying to match GDC resources to rising complaints is futile. If the GDC is committed to protecting patients then surely a new strategy is needed?
Please investigate why complaints are rising. This would require the GDC to better engage with the profession and work with it rather than against
it.
Stop putting adverts in papers to tell patients to complain. GMC would never do this and makes GDC look stupid.
Under government fair standards a doubling of fee will be frowned upon and I think all dentist will sign petition
All dentist have indemnity protection
Complaints are dealt with insurance
Gdc is there to register to practice
Stop taking on task that are not yours
Placing restrictions on dentist does not need lavish London places with big rent
Gdc is not a lavish business company !!!!!
These decisions can be done in a small room , do you not think!!!!
Justify your lavish expenses to all dentist and government
The cost of the GDC putting inappropriate adverts in the national press.
The cost of maintaining the GDC London address. Relocating options should be considered.
The reasons why you have chosen to increase the dentists fee by 64% - surely it should be in line with inflation. DCPS only have a 6.7% increases,
Which proportion of complaints which are investigated are viable complaints?
How aware are the general public of the true role of the GDC? (ie as a place to check their dental professionals are registered and register
concerns, not to complain about issues that should be dealt with by the dental professional/practice in question - late appts etc)
Why can the ARF not be paid at a different time of year (not at Christmas) or by monthyl DD?
Where did you declare money spent on ads in the Telegraph mag designed to drum up complaints about private dentistry? And how much did this
cost us? This should be paid for by the private sector for whom £945 is peanuts.
You did not state that you would be actively seeking more complaints by advertising in the national media
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
you need to explain why, despite UK dentists being amongst the most regulated in the entire world, you are having to deal with such an increase
in complaints against the profession. I simply cannot believe that the standard of dentistry in this country is decreasing at such an alarming rate
How much money is being spent on encouraging complaints, like the recent advertisement?
How much money is being spent on educating registrants to keep them out of trouble rather than the amounts dealing with them once they are in
trouble?
A breakdown of the investigations by referral source and a breakdown of complaints/investigations that actually were relevant to patient safety
and ended with a professional with either conditions to practice or erased.
Information regarding ''repeat offenders''
I feel the nurses fees are too high, we are higher than registered nurses
1-Exact details of registrants contribution to cost of recent refurbishment.
2- Cost of encouragement of patient's right to complain to the GDC if they are not 'completely' happy with their treatment in a recent advert in
the Sunday Telegraph.
3- Cost of running a prestigious address in Wimpole Street, London when an address outside of the capital would be more cost effective.
4- Research into legislation to make patient's incur some costs if their complaint is not upheld.
5- Reasons for poor administrative record.
No
the break down of what each dcp costs as i feel that by nature of the profesion the dental nurse costs much less ,and earns much less !Therefore
should be reflected in the retention fee .
More detailed accounts of how the money is spent on Fitness to practice hearings and why it takes 4 days for a hearing. More detailed
information on plans for cost savings.
yes ,wwhat would be the cost to move GDC to ready made building of the type found in industrial estates and sell the current highly expensive
building in London .
I would like to know why Parliament is not providing extra funds for the extra regulation that they are requiring.
More evidence of how the GDC is trying to cut its expenditure
Why is it so expensive for a hearing when the GMC have a similiar number of cases?
A clear break-down on what the money is actually spent on. The document provided is very vague. For example 1.3mill on 'Quality Assurance'. We
have no idea how this money is spent, nor why Fitness to Practice Proceedings are so expensive. A thorough break-down would include the
average salaries of GDC employees and those presiding over Fitness to Practice proceedings.
This questionnaire does not have a section inviting general comments from respondents which I think would be a useful addition. For this reason I
would like to make some suggestions here. It seems to me to be unnecessary for the GDC to be based in London, the most expensive UK city. The
facilities on Wimpole Street could be sold/ no longer rented and the move to a less expensive city, eg in the north, would be another way to
reduce costs. In my opinion, the GDC could gain a greater degree of its income from fines given to dentists found to be in breach of fitness to
practice. This would allow the ARF to remain stable for dentists operating within recommended standards. Finally, although I imagine it does not
constitute a large percentage of out-goings, the USB sticks, paper, stationary etc should no longer be produced by the GDC with its logo using
dentists' fees.
64% rise is very extreme for 1 year and I do not think the explanation justifies this.
Detailed breakdown of fees for prosecution and panel. This cost seem very high.
Numbers of those grandfathered onto one of the Specialist Lists and proportion that have been referred to GDC with concerns
How do you assess the initial complaint - many of them will be unfounded or already fully dealt with at source. It seems that anyone is free to
pursue the dentist at any cost - the burden being shouldered by the dentist when the GDC is supposed to take the balanced view.
Why not base payment on number of sessions worked as part time worker I will have to pay as much as a full time earner. I pay for sessions
worked for my indemnity cover.
More detailed breakdown on GDC spending
Greater detail as to why it costs so much to administer and the salary levels of employees.
The GDC should NOT be using our money for advertisements encouraging the general public to make complaints against their dentist.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I have been a registrant with the GDC since 1969. I think the registration fee when I first joined was £32 per annum. In recent years the GDC has
become an inefficient organisation with no understanding of the dental profession and has totally failed in the training of under graduate dental
practitioners many of whom now leave dental school totally unprepared for practice and hence to a large extent the reason for the ever
increasing number of FTP panels. The regulation and certification of dental practitioners coming to the UK from EU countries is totally inadequate
and hence an additional reason for the increase in the FTP panels. It would appear that there is now no body employed at the GDC who
understands the complexities of dental practice. The GDC in recent years has failed the profession totally and will continue to do so until such
time as there is a clear out from top to bottom and people employed to run the GDC start to understand their purpose and function.
All costs involved in running GDC including staff costs.
Exactly how each fitness to practice case hearing costs an average of £19,500 a day. A break down would be useful.
please provide business forecast indicating need for increase in ARF and justify the need to place advertisements against private pratice
Why you feel dentistry is now doubling our complaints that require investigating.
That seems a huge increase. Why?
why can money not be taken off dentists who are found guilty in the way of fines so that the guilty pay for their crimes and their investigations
rather tahn those of us who stick by good practice.
The GMC ARF has not been changed and on the contrary it is reduced but there the complaints are much more!
£8000 for a venue for 4 days? That is crazy, where are you holding the meeting???!!! Staff costs...really, what are you paying them and feeding
them??!!!
Maybe time to relocate out of London!
plans to improve the registrants experience and protection
How many dentists who did not qualify in the UK are at present on the register.
How many of these dentists do not pay an annual retention fee to the GDC in this country? i. e how many are excempt due to a "reciprocal"
arrangement with their EU country of origin?
It would be useful to understand why the fitness to practice process is so expensive and to provide a clear break down of the costs.
Increasing the retention fee will reduce the amount of dental professionals! Asking the majority to pay for the faults of a select few is unethical.
Why is there a 110% increase in complaints over such a short period? How much does an average case cost the GFC?
I would like to know how much you have spent actively encouraging complaints from patients via advertising. CQC require us to have practice
complaints procedures which explain to patients where they should complain if they are not satisfied with our response and there should be no
need for you to actively encourage complaints. I would also like to know whether some registrants receive more than their share of complaints
Yes. A breakdown of the registrants complained about: 1.Specialist list members (grandfathered or approptiately qualified). 2.Country the
registrants gained their dental quals from. 3. DCP or registered dentist. 4. Cost of GDC advert encouraging patients to complain.
Also, why not charge the convicted people the fee to cover increased costs due to complaints?
As to why the is indeed this massive increase in the number of complaints, and why is it costing so much?
Complete breakdown of expenditure including refurbishment of Wimpole Street.
Why is it necessary to advertise in large expensive national newspapers as to the services of the GDC, when it is DCPs registration fees that have
to pay for this.
I think you should cut your running costs rather than increasing the ARF or restructure to make yourself more efficient. It is totally unacceptable
to raise ARF for hard working honest dentists to this level when their own income has not increased for several years.
GDC IS OVER BUROCRATIC AND DOES NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF GDP S. THE COSTS SHOULD BE PAID BY CLAIMANT AND PRACTICE .
The legislation is antiquated. The situation may well become untenable. Public protection should be funded by public funds. It appears compaints
will only increase in the current climate with patients having nothing to loose.
I believe that The ARF should cover inclusion on a list only. we must now cow tow to the CQC and basic DPS cover is now approx £3k.
How do you intend to make the complaints procedure more relevant? Most of the cases that reach the GDC should not get that far and should be
settled without the need for GDC involvement. Wouldn't local dental networks better placed to assist members of the public and dental
professionals with complaints? LDC's used to do a much better jib at a much cheaper cost than the GDC.
You need to communicate better with the dental profession and support us more. We constantly feel you are against us. Please listen and work
with our professional bodies or we will lose faith in you. This increase is outrageous.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
An increase of that amount is an insanely, unnecessary amount.
Especially as the GDC are spending over 60k on adverts to increase complaints against us. This is totally uncalled for. Why would a regulating body
try and increase complaints against it's members? Do you know of any other professional body behaving in this manner?
This is entirely exploitative AND HAVING FULLY READ THE DOCUMENT I CAN SEE NO JUSTIFICATION FOR any price rise whatsoever
How much time is spent on complaints to different groups ie hygienists v DSAs v dentists. The size of organisation that DCPs work for in each case.
Also you give only yes/no response options to questions which do not address my concerns about a 'consultation' which I see only as a facade for
an imposed change.
Cost of advertising in the national press to encourage the public to complain if they are "not completely happy" with their dental treatment.
Explain why number of complaints is rising
More breakdown on cost for FtP - example - costing for venue £2000 per day - details of staff costs£3500 per day - either a lot of staff or each
person is very well paid. Where these panels takes place needs to be relocated to reduce costs
More needs to be done to avoid practitioners getting to the stage where they need to appear before FtP
Details of how the GDC help the dental profession as a group. Currently it seems the council is doing little for the professions it is supposedly
there to support.
The fee increase is unfairly being carried by dental practitioners. The fact that there is a surge of cases going to full tribunal is partly because less
serious cases are being escalated and no alternative less expensive pathway is being used. This should be a priority to lessen the burden and
financial strain.
government decided to close PCT , where part of complaints have been sorted and now GDC has to manage them - government should fund
money for extra service done by GDC .
GDC should be for checking dentist if they have all necessary qualifications to practice in UK .
Why I should pay more fee not having complaint in GDC or sorting them by myself ?
As NHS dentist why I should pay almost my monthly money of living to the GDC ? Maybe private dentists they can afford as they charge for crown
800 pounds or for RCT 700 pounds , but not NHS dentist ,working for fee between 18-50.50-219 pounds , it is joke , I can not believe !!! i do not
agree that somebody will decide how to spend millions pounds budget of GDC and do favour for patients just giving them money because they
complain .statutory functions is to check qualifications of medical professionals and work for their interest , if it works for patient why patients do
not pay fee to GDC , why they are not charged for applying complaint ???creating costs for GDC
No increase of ARF
How are costs created in detail. Why have there not been reasonable fee increases in 4 years. Why are dentists, who are found to be negligent
not held to contribute towards costs of proceedings.
I would like to know if the increase for complaint is due to increase in bad practice or just on increase on a culture of complaints where "no win,
no fee" is the norm.
none
I feel it would have been useful to know that the GDC was going to spend large amounts of money on adverts in the national press to encourage
patients to complain and then bill the registrants for the cost of the complaints
Just compare the annual retention fees in the other European Union countries.
A justification for such a stark percentage rise in costs. Ultimately, patients will indirectly be paying for this as the price of dentistry will have to go
up by a percentage to cover costs to "protect" them.
The level of expense and the waste is outrageous.They cannot be justified. The ARF is a total rip-off.
This increase in fees does not fall in line with the cost of living or pay freeze on wages as encountered by NHS workers. The GDC has encouraged a
greater amount of patients to claim against the NHS (and it's employees) and has been made easy for them to do so. Staff in the NHS are currently
on their knees with workloads and longer working hours to maintain patient care with no overtime being paid...I wonder how many staff in the
GDC offices work for little or no pay? I would welcome a visit by the GDC to explain and justify their roles to doctors and nurses in our Dept. This
is just another government ploy to hit hard the middle wage earners...taxed on wages, food, clothing, petrol and now a professional register that
enables you to second tax our professional right to work. I am personally looking forward to retirement but now have to re think my long term
plans. It has not been made easy to work the odd day here or there when needed to cover a service, as the fees and training no longer allow this
as an option.
I do not understand why all complains, even those that can be solved by practices and other mediators, are allowed to reach the GDC directly,
thereby increasing the GDC workload and FtP hearings.
Money spent annually on publications, PR, overheads such as rent costs paid by the GDC.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Your "clear account of your stated needs " may be true for current conditions but it is totally unacceptable to expect registrants to fund this .
The fee increase driven by cases being brought to the GDC is due to the no win no fee. The GDC should be able to charge the legal firms as well
since not all claim will be upheld. They are using the GDC to investigate claims for them by sending claims to the GDC even if there is no merit. A
fee should be charged for all claims that are not upheld.
How much does it cost ( of my money) to have a building in Central London ?
Why are there so many lawyers on the GDC committee and so few dentists?
Why can there not be a sliding scale for ARF according to hours per week worked?
It has always struck me as strange that we have to pay so much for the privilege of being persecuted by the GDC...a bit like turkeys having to pay
for Christmas dinner!!
A procurator fiscal approach to assessing complaints .
More careful assessment of overseas graduates including an ethics examination
Move the GDC from London to a less expensive area of the country away from London
Reassess GDC members remuneration
Bring in a complainants fee to deter vexatious litigants
Break down of how the money would be spent
What your spending our money on and why you need to spend 6 million on your offices whilst putting up our fees!
EU dentists can migrate here temporarily and work here. What is the total registration charges made to these overseas dentists?
If these dentists are subject to a complaint by the public are the costs reimbursed from their EU countries dental regulator? How many overseas
EU dentists are subject to complaints each year? What are the costs of these complaints annually?
What are the significant differences between the cost and/or statutory regulations of registering doctors and dentists in this country?
What are the significant differences between the cost and/or statutory regulations of registering dentists in other countries?
GDC efficiency
Reflection of the content of the recent PSA Report
Full itemised breakdown of costs incurred during the whole process of hearings.
Full financial breakdown of all costs incurred during hearings and processing complaints.
This is too much of a burden on associate dentist.The increase in ARF should be linked to inflation as my pay is staying the same or getting lesser.
I am appalled by the massive proposed increased in the ARF. I believe it is unjustifiable. I think the GDC has to closely look at the way it operates. I
do not believe advertising in the national press is a good use of the councils resources & I was shocked & dismayed that it had done so. I oppose
the proposed 64% increase.
What possible reason did you have for placing a truly contemptible ambulance chasers dream advert in the Telegraph?
No indication of how the increase compares with other regulatory bodies (in particular the GMC) who have also reported a substantial increase in
complaints but have kept their ARF below £400.
Furthermore, there is no indication of what the GDC is doing to stem the financial waste on low-level complaints. For example, there should be a
requirement (as with for those embarking on legal action on child maintenance cases) for informants to demonstrate that they have exhausted
(or at least attempted) local resolution .
No
The full breakdown of where money will be spent and planned and where our money is going
The full breakdown of where money will be spent and planned and where our money is going
The full breakdown of where money will be spent and planned and where our money is going
The full breakdown of where money will be spent and planned and where our money is going
Yes. I think a better a strict accountancy can cut the costs. Nobody can believe the GDC needs 65% increase in income for the next coming year.
This is a lot more than inflation.
This rise is ridiculous
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I think it is not fair to put all these burden only on the dentists and the GDC should think and come up with other innervative ideas rather than
taking the easy way.
Rather than accepting the increase in complaints, why not look at why the numbers have increased to the GDC.
I fail to understand why the GMC and Royal College for Veterinary Surgeons can carry out a similar role for their professions at a fraction of the
costs?
I feel the GDC should do more to look at reducing costs.
Further cost cutting will be needed to ensure that the retention fee does not rise in this astronomical manner.
More details and more details on your productivity anf cost cutting measures. I remember when I graduated in 1981 that the ARF was much much
less. Now it is really exorbitant! I hope you start a special category for Dental Surgeons practising outside the UK with a lower ARF.
Better breakdown of expenses and expenditure
The patient or member of the public should be charged for part of the investigation if they lodge a complaint against a dental professional to
prevent the "witch hunt", particularly when the dentist is found to be "not guilty" of the alleged offence.
Why has quality assurance increased in costs so much?
Your hearing procedures for complaints must be seeded up.
How does the GDC say that they are swamped by complaints, and yet place advertisements in the newspapers encouraging the public to do just
that? Which other professional body representing thier group actually does that? It is ridiculous.
If GDC is ,as they say, overwhelmed by the number of complaints, and as a NEUTRAL regulator of the profession, why would they 'advertise' on
mainstream media, spending the unjustifiable amount that they have, encouraging public to complain about their members!?!
Also details about who decided for this action to take place + based on what background research and how much money was spent on the
Telegraph advert.
1. How much you have spent on advertising the complaints service in the national press, which will only encourage more patients to raise an
action and further increase costs.
2. How much is spent on improving the standard of dentistry in the UK since it seems to be deteriorating (with an increase in complaints)
3. The difference in number of FTP hearings between different registration groups. Are the number of FTP hearings for non-dentists and those on
specialist lists different to non-specialist dentists?
How the money is being spent - on adverts etc
What exactly is the agenda at the GDC - is it to help dental teams and patients have a happy and successful relationship, or is it to justify its own
existence by taking out newspaper ads to solicit more complaints?
I feel very let down by the GDC and have no confidence in the organisation. I had a complaint against me to the GDC which was only recently
resolved. It took a year and a half to get a letter of advice. It went back and forth a lot, going to an investigating committee 3 times! It was going
to go to to the PCC until a favourable review by an expert witness commissioned by the GDC, advised a return to the investigating committee. If
this expert witness had been commissioned earlier or the committees could make up their minds this would have been resolved a lot sooner. The
amount of GDC money and my defence organisation's money could also have been massively reduced. In addition, this prolonged process made
me extremely stressed, anxoius, distrustful of patients and dislike work. I also developed severe neuropathic pain, seeing various doctors about it.
None of the medication worked. Only on the day I heard the case was closed with a letter of advice did the symptoms disappear. I therefore
strongly resent paying more money for a service that treated me so poorly, by its handling of the case.
1.A detailed breakdown of the fees paid to the legal profession for each case that went to a hearing and an analysis of the annual fees paid to
each barrister during a year. I think the profession would be shocked!
2. You really are using a sledgehammer approach to resolving the issue of costs. Firstly you do not need to be in London. Move the GDC to a town
with more moderate property and costs. Secondly you seem to think all Dentists and DCps are the same. To take myself as an example, owing to
my late wife's terminal illness i had to give up my practice and care for her. I am now just teaching one day per week in a Teaching Hospital. I also
examine for the RCS when asked (for free) -if you do not offer a proportionate fee for Dentist such as me, then the ARF cost together with Dental
Protection etc costs, make it uneconomic for me to keep myself on the register. THe consequence is that Dental Education loses a teacher (and
they will find it difficult to repalce me), AND the RCS/GDC lose an experienced examiner when again they often find it difficult to get enough
examiners. So everyone loses including the GDC.
cost of placing adverts in national press and the cost of increased complaints and why the GDC is not following its own standards and encouraging
people to resolve these at a local level. Cost of building works on a rented central London office and why has the GDC not followed the lead of
the BBC and DLVA and saving money by moving to the regions
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Full breakdown of costs, including salaries of GDC staff and council members, running costs of GDC owned buildings etc (how much was really
spent on the new GDC headquarters?)
It appears that the GDC does not do enough to reduce the risk of complaints. Publishing the standards it the what, but no guidance on the how.
We need GDC documents like the FGDP standards books
Is the fitness to Practice process as streamlined as it could be?
Has anyone studied why complaints are on the rise? Is it that standards are falling (ie genuine rise in genuine complaints) is it that more patients
complain as society has changed and it is more socially acceptable to do so (ie same standards, but more reporting of complaints) or is it a rise in
unjustified complaints?(eg I don't like the paint colour on the walls)
Are these complaints spread equally across NHS and private practice? Are there certain people who regularly receive more complaints and why
don't they pay more than those who have never had a complaint?
Why does the GDC not actively promote/run courses/workshops on how to reduce the risk of complaints instead of leaving it to indemnity
providers?
As a dental Nurse on low wages we are struggling to pay the £120 annual registration, but to up the fee will make many of us look at alternative
careers. The average dental nurse is on £1500 - £2000 a year which is a very poor salary considering we have to pay for professional registration!
Why the number of complaints increased in such a large figure.
a breakdown of how the increased fee would be spent
Publish separate costing for cases against dentists and those against DCPs.
Is the proposed increase in costs for dentists also going towards regulating DCPs?
Why are all registrants going to penalised by having to pay for FTP cases against the minority?
Why are the costs for FTP cases not recovered from the indemnity organisations - those registrants who cave FTP cases against them should then
pay higher indemnity fees.
Is the GDC contributing to a 'where there is blame, there is a claim, culture by advertising its complaints procedure?
Why is the GDC not following industry trends and adopting a more 'mediation' rather than 'inquisition' approach towards complaints against
registrants?
What are the GDC employees paid?
What are the administrative expenses of running the GDC, for example giving us 3 or 4 reminders to pay our ARF?
Hotel and travel expenses for employees?
any other benefits employees recieve?
I feel that it would be useful to see why there is a disproportionate increase in the fee of the dentist compared to DCP. Why can a rise of 64% in
dentist fees be acceptable when DCP fees are increased by only 6.7%? Surely it would be easier to justify an increase in fees which is
proportionally equal across professional groups.
I also would like to know why the cost of regulating the dental profession is so high in comparison to the cost of regulating the medical profession
where the maximum ARF paid by members of the GMC is £390
1. Day rates and expenses for board members.
2. Budgets and expenditures for other area i.e. advertising, building restoration, events.
You should be spending your money on inflammatory advertisements encouraging patients to sue, and then request more money to deal with the
influx of complaints. It's ludicrous.
I think a full, open, and clear declaration of your finances would be beneficial to registrants understanding exactly GDC money has been spent.
It would also be appreciated if you could outline how you intend to keep GDC spending to a minimum adn how you intend on offering greater
value for their money for each registrant.
Finally, as you say that "we will only charge dentists what it costs us to regulate them", how do you propose to lower the amount of complaints
that you are receiving as this is directly link to the ARF.
Clear breakdown of how the funds are spent, including per fitness to practice case.
How much all the publication cost? (paper version?)
How many people do work for GDC on permanent basis?
Further detail on dental practitioner demographics : please refer to my submission to you.
How much extra revenue has the GDC received from the extra numbers of dentists and DCP's being recruited and registered? (how may additional
registrants are there?)
What is the mix of complaints between NHS and private dentistry?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
If you are protecting patients - working for their benefit, you need public funding.
GDC can move to a much cheaper location.
Why are there so many FtP hearings - more efforts should be made to encourage complaints to be resolved locally without having to resort to the
ridiculously expensive legal costs of a FtP hearing.
Cost of advertising
Why staff costs are so high for 4 day average length of hearing
Income of GDC Exec committee
Premises costs of Wimpole Street GDC site
Why not introduce a fee for part time professionals ?
it is ludicrous to charge full fee to those not practising in a full time capacity some of us just teach a few hours per week as we have no college
locally and are not in GDP
Number of cases that progress to FTP committees
Type of registrants involved and type of practices involved
Nationality of registrants involved in cases
Number of dentists that work less than full time and the arrangements that could be made for them to stagger what could be over a full month's
wages to cover the exorbitant increase
Payments to GDC staff
Alternative buildings
Costs of building hire for misconduct cases
Exemption for VDPs or reduction, likewise for those taking a career break or in full time education
I have lost my faith in the GDC's ability to either protect patients or take a balanced view on complaints or fulfil their obligations as the
organisation currently stands at this present time therefore I cannot support these measures. In addition owing to this demoralising approach by
the GDC I am considering whether it is better to give up my specialist practice and pursue a new career in a completely different field where I
would feel less victimised and better represented!
A breakdown of FTP cases by NHS vs Private dentistry.
Note that if patients are disatisfied in private dentistry they vote with their feet. NHS patients are unable to do this.
staffing costs
No information would justify such an increase. The number of complaints the GDC has to deal with is the result of a failing Contract that prevents
the dentist to fulfill his duties and abide to all rules, regulation and standards. You and the Government gave us a life of stress and fear and know
we are asked once again to support others failure from our pocket.
When will the GDC consider our interests and protect us against an ever more unrealistically demanding and claim driven population.
How can you contemplate raising the ARF for dentists by such a massive level in comparison to previous years. The GMC does not charge general
doctors anywhere near as much and there must be much bigger costs from medical negligence cases than dental negligence cases! I truly believe
the reason your costs have got up is mainly because patients' are making more complaints based on the compensation culture that has been bred
in the UK. This is fed by lawyers who are profiteering off this at the expense of all healthcare professionals. Can you not prevent all the unworthy
claims from ever getting any of your funds spent on them? I am not a dentist but the fall in morale over our whole profession effects everyone
and I worry for the future if this current trend continues.
Explain why despite stating increasing complaints are occurring resulting in increased expense the GDC is canvasing for complaints in national
newspapers.
Why you think it is good use of our fees to encourage our patients to complain if they are not completely happy with their treatment by private
practitioners when there is a perfectly good and effective and speedy Dental Complaints Service already . I am at a loss to understand why you
have taken a full page ad at vast expense to encourage more work for your selves and to undermine the morale of the profession
A further breakdown of all costs for FTP
A full breakdown of GDC costs
Information on how to complain and who to complain to about the GDC, their inefficiency, incorrect use of GDC funds, lack of accountability ,
poor judgement and duplication of responsibilities
more effieciency savings can be made within your own organisation
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Austerity,what austerity!I,in keeping with the majority of the "Great British Workforce",did'nt receive a payrise for at least three years.This year,I
have had literally had pence ,added to my hourly rate! It's almost akin to easing, everso slightly,my holding of breath...
Midwives & nurses pay less than us,& they deal with dangerous drugs-Why is the Dental Profession subjected to such a steep rise in
registration fee? We,thankgoodness, very rarely actually kill patients-either through negligence,uncompassionate behaviour,misuse of drugs or
just a genuine mistake.
Perhaps we could generate money from unproven cases,such as the complainant pays the cost?How often does that happen? Or vexatious
complainants pay the costs? How many of these types of cases do you see annually?
Full transparency of your figures - open access for all members.
More information regarding the apparent lack of need for a tiered system of payment.
As I am currently studying for a medical degree to pursue a career in OMFS, I am concerned about the need for dual membership in the future what specifically does the GDC do for OMFS registrants, please can you provide information on what regulation/advice/support you do for OMFS
consultants and trainees?
I am also very concerned about the cost of remaining on the GDC register paying full price and only doing less than 12 hours work per week. How
is that fair as a student?
Please provide full costings of the fitness to practice committee costs, including daily costs for all members who sit on the committee, venue cost
breakdown (you propose £2000 per day), travel costs for all members, accommodation costs and a comprehensive legal cost analysis.
Information regarding cases being persued that leads to dentist being acquitted. How much is spent on cases like these? What persentage of
money spent leads to dentists being found guilty compared to money spent on cases where dentist is acquitted. Why cases is alowed to run 2-3
years , and then the dentist gets aquitted.
Explanation of the quality control methods the GDC has in place to assure cost effectiveness of its various functions. Historical cost cannot be used
to justify future cost without justification of the historical costs. Squandering money in the past does not give Carte Blanche to squander in the
future.
Yes. Wouldnt it be great if the GDC could explore other sources of income like for example tapping into legal aid for the complainants, relocating
to a cheaper base/address, reduce admin and advertising costs, to mention but a few. The GDC could stop placing expensive adverts in national
newspapers inciting the public to complain against their dentists. If the latter has been done to justify the increase in ARF, then I believe that this
is a gross betrayal of the Dental Profession because if nothing else, it will sow seeds of doubt and distrust within the public against Dentists.
Perhaps dentists should be directed by the GDC to invest more money in their Indemnity Protection instead of paying more ARF since the GDC
appears to be actively looking to encourage complaints against the Dental Profession instead of inspiring confidence in the Profession.
No
I do think this but I doubt you will find it useful:
I think it is an utter outrage that you would raise the retention fee by 64%.
As a practising private dentist for 16 years I have become increasingly disillusioned by the role of GDC and your advertisement in the Daily
Telegraph on 5th July 2014 was a complete disgrace to which you should be ashamed.
What would the GDC do if all dentists decided not to pay their ARF I wonder!?
How do you justify need for 18 million pounds for just hearings when the dentist's lawyers and fines are paid by indemnity. Also Dentists pay a lot
of money in Income Tax hence like civil cases these should also be funded by the Government.
How do you justify need for 18 million pounds for just hearings when the dentist's lawyers and fines are paid by indemnity. Also Dentists pay a lot
of money in Income Tax hence like civil cases these should also be funded by the Government.
Cost of your advertising e.g. in magazines and newspapers
Explain why dentists that do not get complaints must suffer the cost for those that do. Make the dentist that is complained about pay if found
guilty. If not guilty investigate why the complaint went so far to become so costly.
The only source of revenue identified was GDC registrants. Other sources of revenue should have been explored.
638 FTP hearings projected for 2015? 400% increase on the number for 2013?
What is so wrong with the UK's dental profession that this level of regulatory activity is required?
If the main component of the ARF increase is Fitness to Practice hearings - then the system needs to be improved so that expensive hearings are
only held when absolutely necessary.
These costs should be met from public funds not the registrants. That said, you'd probably find it a lot more difficult to persuade Parliament to
approve your revised spending proposals.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
You gave general information about the general costs of FtoP procedings but it would be useful to break this down further. For example, for a 4
day hearing you have said that it costs £19000 for panelist costs. For a panel of 3 this would suggest that the cost for each panelist is approx
£1600 per day. This appears to be staggeringly high. How is this amount broken down?
It would also be helpful to know the total costs of any inappropriate referrals from the IC to the IOC.
There was also no mention of costs for advertising in the national press, encouraging complaints against the dental profession from members of
the public who may not be "completely happy" with their private dental care.
Your location in London and overheads are expensive and you should move to a more cost-effective location which is more accessible and central
to the UK. You do not give a full breakdown of exactly how money is spent on proceedings and why.
More details admin costs involve, staff salaries, expenditure etc.
Work rate/efficiency of work
We would like information on how much it s been spent on advertising campaigns encouraging litigation and why is that necessary. We would
like information on costs of the refurbishment of your premises. The increase proposed is completely out of proportion with anything I have ever
seen. If there has been a raise in complaints, surely the penalised ones should be the professionals involved in such complaints. Our class is being
battered and the very organs responsible for protecting us are asking for more litigation to come forth...it doesn t make sense at all. Many thanks
Breakdown of cost for un-necessary advertisments
controls on expenses
a clear response to how the money is spent, and who decides where discretionary spending is authorised. for example on newspaper articles
I am totally against the retention fee increase, it is nearly double the price. It is disgraceful.
wish the facility to pay direct debit every month as work part time and single parent and would make life a lot easier to pay each month.
Why you believe that the number of complaints will continue to rise in 2014/15 based on data from previous years.
The GDC has lost totally the reality of the profession encouraging the public to sue the dentists and taking them in many cases straight to Fitness
to Practise Committees. If the GDC's role is to go against the dentists and defend the public, then the public should be paying the costs for that.
The GDC with this is making the dentists feel stupid by asking them to pay the costs of legal acts against them. This is only going to lead to destroy
the profession, which is stressful enough, to have on top the pressure of a possible complaint by every other patient which may lead very possibly
to a Fitness to Practise Hearing.
You are a truly shambolic organisation. Bill Moyes and Evlynne Gilvarry should resign. Neither are suitable for an organisation where the legal
costs are skyrocketing. The majority of complaints are frivolous and relate to the public thinking that all dentists are evil, money grabbing
bastards, something that YOU have helped perpetuate with your rather insulting advert in the press.
The GDC have CONSISTENTLY failed to hold the NHS to account for their decimation of the profession. Totally useless.
1. Why do the GDC require a London based office? They do not need to be based in Central London which is very expensive when their are
dentists nationwide, they could be anywhere.
2. Why did the GDC place an advert encouraging patients to complain in a popular newspaper? Who designed and wrote the text to go alongside
this? Why were dentists not consulted before this was placed as if affected them and used their money? And why did the advert not follow the
GDCS OWN GUIDELINES ON HANDLING COMPLAINTS?
3. Why is there still a gross amount of illegal tooth whitening occuring? Why has the GDC not effectively managed this illegal practice?
4. What is the GDC doing to ensure the standards of dentistry practised by dentists who have qualified overseas is adequate? The GDC regulate
and manage the UK dental school curriculums very closely to ensure good practice.... How do you know dentists from overseas have the
same????
not only are your costs out of control and out of order now you print this ridculous advert in the Telegraph- this is an awful advertising campaign
for how to complainagainst private dentists!
Who on earth did you consult before paying £5500 to print this full page advert and where on earth did your commmon sense go?
GDC is not fit for purpose. I no longer work in private practice but am absolutely fuming at the way the GDC is run and the rubbish way in which it
is treating my colleagues in private practice.
The GDC ought to be shut down and we should be merged with GMC who know how to run their finaces a thousand time better than you. Good
riddance to poor maangement at GDC is what we all need!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
A logical explanation as to why on the one hand you advertise and encourage people to complain to you and why on the other hand we have to
pay for that. Surely the GDC should never be the first portal of complaint anyway. If you are asking for more complaints then, as an honest,
hardworking, low earning dentist, I'd rather not be the one to pay for it.
Why did you advertise in the Telegraph and spend so much of registration fees in the process?
A break down of what cases are being processed and if they are relevant.
Expenses of staff that are being funded by the ARF
Why someone felt the need to authorise the need to placean advert in the national press to encourage complaints direct to the GDC
representative body thereby increasing your costs.
let us know why you have made no effort to ask the government to fund the protection after all they have given you too many task's
Why you are so out of kilter with other regulators in this proposed rise.
Why you are spending a fortune on refurbishing your London offices.
Why are you agitating aggressively for patient complaints and thus aiming to increase your workload (I refer to the recent Telegraph
advertisement for the complaints service, which was shameful).
What salaries are you paying and what increases, if any, have you given this year? This is in the context of extreme restraint and freezes on
salaries in the NHS.
What efforts have you made for efficiency savings this year and what is your plan for next year? We have to do this in the NHS.
why do dcp fees include technicians and hygienist who must be a bigger burden then nurses
A breakdown of the budget including advertising
A cost benefit analysis of selling the Wimpole address and moving out of London into a cheaper area
The information has been laid out in a manner that is rather more complex to understand. A briefer summary would be much better than all the
waffle you have to read through to obtain the basic facts required.
You have no area on this form to submit the points of view of the dentist.
We have been experiencing a pay freeze for the last 5+ years particularly on an NHS basis. In that time our costs to practice which include
indemnity insurance have greatly increased. It would appear that the GDC is doing little to support dentists who practice within their laid-out
regulations and deliver good quality and safe dental treatment against the onslaught on 'no win no fee' solicitors who aim to attack any
professional in their sights. Working within dentistry has always been know to cause concern about the mental health of professionals with high
suicide rates. What is the council doing to really consider the needs of the dentists in order to protect the public? Raising fees does not consider
the source of the problems within dentistry, it only exacerbates the problems.
If this is the only way that we as a profession can respond to your consultation process; with loaded questions , it makes a mockery of the process
as you only ask the questions that you want the answers to.
Difficult to understand high costs compared to the General medical council. It might be better to scrap the GDC , put dentists and doctors
together under the GMC and give the DCP their own regulatory body. The GDC over stretched itself in taking on DCPS, they could have had thier
own regulatory bodies .
The GDC already uses the standards for professionalism set by by he GMC and continues to 'borrow' ideas from the GMC ie revalidation
HOw much rent would be saved if you moved to a less expensive premises.
It not not necessry to be placed in one of the most expensive parts of London.
why waste money on expensive adverts specifically attracting complaints in upper middle class newspapers.
time taken for hearings . Operational costs. Why is the ARF higher than any medical governing body in the whole of Europe?
PSA's report on the effectiveness of the GDC
What the income / rate per day paid to all council members for their varied roles
This is very poor judgement and decision making from the GDC. The increase in fee is outrageous! Who had the common sense to increase the fee
to this much and then have the nerve to put such a disgraceful advert in the Telegraph??
Dentists are encouraged to whistle blow on any colleague that gives the profession a bad reputation. How is that any different from what the GDC
is doing by approving such an advert? If you have too many complaints to deal with and need the funds to cope then surely this advert is counter
productive!
You are ruining the reputation of a profession which many of us love and spent years training for. You should be ashamed.
How much money is spent by GDC in advertising to patients in order to attract complaints?
How many of these cases could be dealt with at a local level involving honest brokers and not actually requiring GDC involvement?
What percentage of complaints received are referred back to local pct or trusts to deal with?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I do not believe that you need to advertise in a national paper requesting people to complain, this builds mistrust in our profession and if this is
how you want to spend my retention fee, then I wholly object to any increase. I am also unclear why you need to be based in London when it
would be cheaper to have a headquarters based outside London.
I would like to know who was in charge of spending money creating and placing an advert in a national paper encouraging complaints. In turn you
want to increase ARF to pay for these increasing number of complaints
Although it is clear that money is needed to deal with the increased number of complaints against dentists surely a better solution would be to
triage those complaints and only deal with those at GDC level that are truly warranted. All others should be referred back to the dental practice
concerned and the in house complaint procedure be followed.
Although it is clear that money is needed to deal with the increased number of complaints against dentists surely a better solution would be to
triage those complaints and only deal with those at GDC level that are truly warranted. All others should be referred back to the dental practice
concerned and the in house complaint procedure be followed.
The cost of fitness to practice hearings breakdown of expenses. What are fees for holding the hearing i.e refreshment costs, staffing costs(indicate
temporary or permanent and what their role is e.g catering, solicitor services, professional advisers etc) this could be done not on individual basis
but quarterly or annual. Therefore further cost cutting can be achieved and streamlining of the function of the GDC.
The GDC are inflammatory, actively encouraging the public to complain against registrants. I think it would be useful for you to disclose the cost of
publishing adverts promoting complaints against the profession.
There is a need to evaluate your legal costs and determine whether the Council actually needs to bring all the cases to a hearing that it does
currently. There is a need to explore reasons behind the increases in legal cases - I see no evidence of this being undertaken.
You have not included any other free text box within your consultation document - this is poor. As a consultation process I feel the current
documentation is very limited and as a result, flawed.
The GDC chair has been in the press not long ago regarding the public needing to ensure their dentists provide value for money and drew an
analogy to supermarket shopping - Whilst this may indeed be important it was disappointing that the issue of professionalism did not appear to
come into his comments. Perhaps his words on value for money now need to be considered in relation to the proposed outrageous increase in
the ARF, the need for which must surely represent at least in part, administrative/managerial shortcomings.
I would like to have constant easy access to updated resources used by the GDC in clear and easy language on your website.
financial accounts and the running costs for the PCC and also what is being done to reduce the costs
A comprehensive breakdown of costs. An explanation on why the GDC wastes money on adverts in the Telegraph.
It would be useful to have more explicit information on precisely what specific changes the GDC would make to FTP proceedings, if the
government were to introduce legislation to allow this.
The rationale for not increasing the ARF in the last 4 years given the figures provided.
Costs associated with Dental Complaints Service and an assessment of how this has affected numbers of fitness to practice cases.
How the GDCs failure to meet many of the PSA's standards has impacted on its fitness to practice procedures and on the proposed increase in
retention fee.
You haven't stated how come you got into this mess in the first place nor exactly how you have calculated your estimates.
This consultation is odd - it doesn't give us much opportunity to expand upon our responses so I shall use this space to do so.
The GDC is lavish. It occupies huge premises in a prime Central London location. I recently looked at applying for IC and FtPr roles at the GDC and
noted that a recruitment agency had been appointed to oversee the process. These are just two examples that show there is much more that the
GDC could do to reduce expenditure and costs to registrants.
Regardless of the reasons and no matter what spin the Council puts upon them this increase is outrageous and the GDC must abandon these
proposals and seek other means of funding its activities.
The recent consultation regarding ARF paid by various registrant groups can now be seen for what it was - an exercise to dupe registrants into
getting them to agree certain things in principle without telling registrants exactly what sort of increases loomed. I note that there was no
mention in that consultation for high risk groups - those that have faced FtPr procedures, those performing high risk procedures such as implants
and endodontics and those recently moved to the UK from overseas to face a higher ARF to represent their increased costs of regulation. Nor do I
recall being asked if dentists working part time (who MUST by their nature be less likely to face FtPr procedures) pay less of a fee , nor whether
there should be a much larger fee for inclusion on the Specialist register (Specialists usually earning way more than the average non-specialist
GDP).
Was this a missed opportunity? Or a cynical attempt to delude dental registrants (who now, by virtue of the numbers of DCPs are a minority of
registrants anyway)?
I suspect the latter.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The resources needed for the GDC for beyond the current year are fanciful, and are based on past figures projected forward. This is a guestimate
at best and its inaccuracy is underlined by the figures in the Consultation: for 2010-2015 FTP costs are projected to rise by £18M from £20M to
£38M, (about £3.5M/yr), but for 2015 - 2017 your projections for FTP increases are only £2m - £1M/yr which is clearly out of kilter.
I cannot take such wildly vary figures at face value and suggest you publish details of how you arrived at future forecasts and how the numbers
can be so different beyond 2015.
It is inexplicable that costs can be rising at the rate you state based on the Figures presented. In 2010 there were 1410 complaints and 139 FTP
cases whereas in 2013 there were virtually double the number of cases (2990) but only 160 FTP cases. From these numbers it seems that are large
proportion of complaints do not become FTP cases OR the GDC has not be processing FTP's in a timely manner meaning that a backlog has
developed. If this is the case there has been a serious lapse in management at the Council, which now the registrants are expected to fund - no,
no, no.
Costs of a 4 day FTP case are astronomical. Part of this is because of prices for London venues (£1.28M per year for 160 FTP hearings
@£2000/day) and London lawyers (£640K per year for Counsel fees for 160FTP hearings). At this level of expense the GDC should be more
proactive in reducing costs by: buying bigger premises outside London where the Councils costs would be lower and FTP hearings could be held
and having in-house legal counsel - even paying a barrister £200k per year is going to be a saving in costs. I would also be interested in finding out
why £19K was needed for FTP panellists assuming 3 people over 4 days - each panellist is costing £1500 per day. You are throwing money away.
It is my belief you need to look further again at your cost base with a root and branch review of your whole fitness to practise procedure. There is
no need for all cases stated to cost tens of thousands of pounds. The triage system needs further review.
You may also like to consider levying greater costs on those practitioners who's fitness to practise is found to be impaired rather than expecting
those who's fitness to practice is not in question to carry the costs.
The cost of maintaining your offices in the centre of London (likely to be significantly higher than in other parts of the country), including rent,
total spent on staff salaries, salaries of senior GDC officials (including the Chief Executive) would also be necessary to get a clear and transparent
picture of the GDC's finances. These figures should also be given as a percentage of the total amount that the GDC receives from registrants.
There is also ambiguity about the money spent by the GDC (i.e. money given by registrants to the GDC) on "investments". There should be an
annual statement clearly showing the companies that the GDC are investing in, as well as the amount invested and the profit or loss made on
those investments. Again, this should be given as the actual value as well as the percentage of money received by the GDC from registrants. If it is
shown that these investments have generated a loss for the GDC, then it is simply unacceptable to shift this financial burden onto its registrants.
Finally, it seems nonsensical to charge the proposed extortionate ARF on the basis of future estimates that may or may not be correct.
What measures/actions are taking place to reduce complaints? Educating dentists/patients in where best to complain to, rather than immediately
to the GDC, using other organisations/actions to reduce the burden on the GDP.
looking for other sources of income ie investments, looking into a partial tax funded system perhaps.
why extra money is being spent on inappropriate advertising, telling patients that they should actively complain directly to the GDC as opposed to
trying to achieve local resolution at the dental practice
the fact that dentists earn differing amounts perhaps it would be fairer to take this into account
I note there is no space to comment even though this is supposed to be a consultation.
For someone like me who works part-time and solely within NHS salaried services this fee hike will mean that along with membership of
protection org (also set up to manage complaints) nearly one month's salary will be lost notwithstanding the fact that Nhs complaints are
managed out with the GDC and as I near retirement I have not cost the GDC anything in my practising career. I recommend Arc should be higher
for those in independent practice and mirror scales applied by protection organisations and maybe increased for those found to have complaints
against them upheld. This scale penalises the good guys.
I would like to see a breakdown of how you arrived at this figure.
Also I would like to do charity work before I fully retire. This are would make it unaffordable.
This is the firs time I have seen this information - why has it not been made available beforehand? Also, you have only provided information that
supports your case for INCREASING the ARF, I do not think this represents the FULL information.
Why such a dramatic increase? This put even more pressure on small businesses! Soon no chance to survive!
Fund raising could be an alternative, rather than deducting fees from Dentists/ Dental nurses.
Tell us what you actually do to protect the public.
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1) A clear indication of why, when other regulators are managing to reduce fees, despite also receiving an increase in complaints, the GDC has
thought it pertinent to levy a 64% increase
2) why the GDC thinks it is useful to tout for business using full page advertising in a Sunday magazine- is this a wise use of registrants money? No
one would deny the need for regulation of the profession, but to actively encourage patients to seek redress with the GDC "if they are not
completely happy with their treatment" is inflammatory and uncalled for
3) information regarding why the GDC has performed so poorly in the recent PSA report, and how they intend to address this
4) explanation as to why, when performing so poorly, the GDC has decide to further extend its remit, instead of focussing on areas of poor and
declining performance
5) explanation as to why the GDC has chosen to act completely at odds wight he government white paper, Enabling Excellence, by forcing
registrants to bear the brunt of the GDCs failings
6) explanation for he wilful ignorance of the nature and field of dentistry. The dental profession is NOT comparable to the retail sector, and the
GDC has proven their incompetence in trying to regulate the profession thusly
7) explanation as to why all the recent consultation documents from the GDC have failed to allow registrants to provide meaningful responses
8) explanation as to why the GDC is wilfully ignoring and refusing to engage with the dental profession on this issue. It shows an arrogance and
lack of willingness to engage and learn that I, as a registrant, find hugely concerning of my regulatory body, causing me to have no confidence in
the Council as a whole.
Total honesty regarding the GDC's previous finances as what money has been spent on...where everything is planned to be spent on in the future
and where the cuts are proposed to be more clear on the total debt management plan for future.
The increase of 64% to the ARF for dentists is completely unjustified. The majority of charges brought against dentists are fueled by legal
representatives looking to profit from claims (hence a very long charge list, some of which are completely irrelevant).
Not enough effort seems to be made to mediate complaints and resolve them outside of the GDC (thus leaving the GDC only the most severe
cases to assess).
The GMC seem fairer in how they assess costs for their registrants (part of this may be that they are not based in an expensive London postcode)
The morale of the profession will drop, and the cost to patients will likely rise due to this unjustified cost.
Yes, reasons behind changes of Chief Executive three or four years ago, details of any pay-offs awarded.
Clear reason for why no inflation-linked rise was imposed over last 4 years
Making it clear what everyone earns and how much was spent for the ad in the telegraph and other costs.
There MUST be allowances for dentists who work PART TIME/Sessional basis and whose income is FAR LESS than FULL TIME Dentists!
Please do not make a Blanket Charge regardless of a Dentists Work situation!
. Consider charging more for the dentists that are investigated
.consider a reduced fee for part time dentists
.monthly payments of the fee
Why the legal bill is so high & what steps are being taken to reduce it - it is obviously unsustainable to continue increasing fees/ number of
registrants as opposed to actually having an appropriate fit to practice system
How much of the ARF goes to the legal profession (in any form of payment - direct and/or indirect)
What percentage of the increase in complaints are directed at oversees qualified dental professionals.
Is the increase in number of complaints related to the GDC advertising to encourage the public to complain more.
Please state why do we need to hire lawyers at exhorbitant price and how do GDC expenses compare with the GMC and other registration bodies
in the UK in payment to the staff, members, lawyers, the premises and other aspects which entail expense of money.
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Please detail how your expenses compare to other organisations like GMC and for pharmacy as per the venue cost, staff cost, member cost, panel
cost, lawyer cost , all activities which lead to an expense.
Please explain why are the panel members not paid only 500£ per day ,
Why do you not get cheaper lawyers or hire cheaper salaried lawyers to work for GDC. Many Lawyers hired by the Ombudsman services are paid
monthly salaries and thousands of lawyers work for them.
Why is the Venue expense not £300 or 500 per day? Why is it £8000 per day? We want you to move to a venue which will cost not more than
£500 per day. Why can you not ask for a building from the government or a small piece of land for public welfare so that the cost of the premises
for hearing becomes nil.
We want you to hire panel members who will work for only £500 per day, thats more than what average dentist earns by working hard for a full
day. So i am sure many people can still be trained and become panel members.
I feel your costs are impractical and GDC can be easily run at one tenth the cost it is being run today at a much better efficiency than it is being run
today.
If the proposed increase in the ARF is mainly due to under funding in the DCS - surely the funds should/could be found from the 'guilty parties'
involved in Fitness to Practice cases? Genuine, honest and legal members of the GDC, who do not have complaints brought against them - should
not be penalised.
Please detail how your expenses compare to other organisations like GMC and for pharmacy as per the venue cost, staff cost, member cost, panel
cost, lawyer cost, food and refreshment cost and all activities which lead to an expense.
Why do you not get cheaper lawyers or hire cheaper salaried lawyers to work for GDC. Most of the Lawyers and solicitors hired by the Financial
Ombudsman services are paid monthly salaries starting at £25 thousand annual salary and going upto only £65 thousand annual salary for
managers and thousands of lawyers work for them for this remuneration for upto 9 hours per day all year long.
Why is the Venue expense not £300 or 500 per day? Why is it £8000 per day? We want you to move to a venue which will cost not more than
£500 per day. Why can you not ask for a building from the government or a small piece of land for public welfare so that the cost of the premises
for these hearings becomes nil.
We want you to hire panel members who will work for only £500 per day, Thats more than what average dentist earns by working hard for a full
day (just £300 average per day before tax in England and even lesser in Scotland and Wales which GDC governs as well) . So i am sure many
people can be trained and become panel members.
I feel your costs are impractical and GDC can be easily run at one tenth the cost it is being run today at a much better efficiency than it is being run
today.
How you will reduce costs and in turn the arf?
When Wimpole Street began to be refurbished, outside venues had to be used more for FTP hearings. When the refurbishment is complete,
surely costs will be reduced for hearings held at Wimpole Street rather than external venues?
The increased fees is not justified at all.
No insight into your inefficiencies as an organisation and what you are doing about it
the money generated from ORE exam has not been disclosed
I think you should provide comment boxes so dentists can provide actual feedback for this consultation and demonstrate how unhappy we are
with your proposals.
Why the GDC take proportionally more action than any other regulatory body and why that action is proportionally more severe.
Why do dentists not get any elected representation on a council that we pay for ?
Why do you accept complaints directly from patients who have not gone through any other complaints procedures ?
Following your email dated 14/07/14 in which you sought to clarify why you feel such a massive increase in the ARF is justified I have additional
points to raise.
You contradict yourselves by highlighting how much the profession needs to do to help you save money by resolving complaints at a local level,
however you undermine this by taking out expensive advertisements in national newspapers encouraging complaints about private dentistry to
be sent to the GDC!!!
In addition you do not explain why all registrants at a basic level pay the same amount when claimants are not represented equally across the
different demographic/ country of qualification. You also do not explain why it is your organisation are so much less cost efficient compared to
similar regulatory bodies such as the GMC.
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I think it is ridiculous that the GDC registration costs more than the GMC registration fees, considering the work and risks they are under
compared to us. It is ridiculously high and what the dentists are to pay is outstanding.
What is actually being done to reduce the number of complaints that the GDC receives and clarity on what specific measures you intend to take
on understanding the reasons for the increase and how these are to be addressed.
The link to respond to the increase in ARF not easy to find. As a result, there are probably more dentists wanting to give their feedback, who do
not.
The email received today regarding the rise in ARF seemed to shy away from stating the proposed figure. Instead, it reads a rise of £1 a day. I
would prefer the GDC be more upfront with the overall proposed figure, along with a clear and direct link for responses.
I strongly feel that the proposed figure should be in proportion to the income that the dentist has made from working in the profession in the
previous year. For example, dentist should declare their previous years income generated from dentistry, to the GDC at the time of payment
ie Fee 1 below £30k, Fee 2 £30-50k, Fee 3 £50-70k, Fee 4 above £70k.
The GDC could check these records randomly.
With regards to the cost of each hearing (appx£70k) - I would like to see an example of the break down of these figures in fine detail, rather than
general headings. If you were to publish these figures in fine detail for one case each year (randomly selected) then i am sure that many dentist
reading such reports would be able to suggest how costs could be reduced. For this to work, the break down of the figure MUST BE IN FINE
DETAIL - ie every invoice published for that given case. By being completely transparent, such future increases in ARF will be more palatable to the
majority.
Possible future amalgamation of the GDC with the CQC would reduce costs
Thank you
One fact in particular stands out to me. Your consultation document says that you estimate expenditure wil rise by 17% in 2015, yet the projected
fee increase is 64%. I realise that this simplistic to compare the two figures directly, and obviously some projected fee increase is necessary, but if
the fees have not increased since 2010, one has to ask why not? Surely if the number of Fitness to Practice hearings have been increasing as we
are told, then it should have been possible to predict this problem arising at least two years ago and raised fees accordingly. It would seem to be a
case of bad management in previous years that we are being asked to pay for now.
In view of the proposed fee increase, I checked with the websites of other professional bodies and was suprised to see how low some of their
retention fees are. It seems pertinent that the GMC basic re-registration fee is only £390pa. I accept that they have one-off fees for completion of
specialist/GP training, but it would seem that over a practising lifetime their registration fees will average out at less than half of dental registation
fees if one uses their current fee structure and the projected one for dental professionals. I understand that they also have to regulate their
profession in a similar way to the GDC and conduct Fitness to Practice hearings: surely there is not that much of a proportional difference
between the number of hearings and the total number of registrants between medical and dental professionals?
Justification that dcp rates are not matched in increase to dentistry since their remit of work has increased. That dentists in different settings and
hours of work pay the same rate. Because the rate has not been increased for a few years does not warrant increasing it by vast amount to make
up this cost- not seen evidence of improved working or efficiency in this time-if it were performance related I feel we would be due a repayment.
The questions below about ethnicity etc are irrelevant why not ask if full or part time, how many times a complaint has been made against us,
what sort of dental practice we are in, how long we have been practicing etc. why not have a no-claims policy like car insurance? If this is a ploy to
now reduce this vast increase to less so that we are appeased but the increase is still large in the hope this will then be acceptable this is not
professional but underhand.
This consultation is totally flawed as there is no reference to any cost saving measures. An organisation that requires this sort of increase in fee
level is not fit for purpose.
It is unclear to me how many "complaints" reaching the GDC have been through the practice complaints procedure that all practices have. In
these complaints procedures (required by the GDC) we outline what avenues are available if the complainant is not satisfied with the local
decision.
How many DCPs and Dentists have been cleared of any wrong doing?
Yes you need to analyse the reason why there is such an increase in complaints. It is because of lack of education amongst the workers of the GDC
who then cannot disseminate correct information to the public at large. Also you are inviting complaints with your adverts! I have seen first hand
how wasteful Dental Complaints Service and GDC are
Only 10 percent of complaints go to FTP hearing. So what is the added expense about?
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Who you employ and what wages they receive.
How much it costs to have the headquarters in Central London.
Why you feel it appropriate to place expensive adverts in broad sheets encouraging dental patients to sue the profession you are supposed to
protect.
Explaining why, when the GDC already has higher retention fee than any other professional body, they need to increase their fees further.
Explaining why they are publishing adverts promoting a complaining culture instead of working toward reducing it.
Explaining why they feel more money will solve their problems instead of examining their own failings.
Clarity on costs and spending by the GDC
Why are DCPs only having a 6.7% increase whilst dentists have a 64% increase? DCPs are increasingly seeing private patients only and taking more
clinical responsibility and retention fees should reflect this.
I would like to know why there is no differentiation between the ARF fee for dentists in training on significantly lower incomes that other dentists.
I simply don't know if I can continue to train if this fee is enforced as this is two thirds of a months salary for me, not taking in the fact that I have
to live and pay rent etc!
You have failed to respond to the issues raised by your regulator. Your complaints process is a median of 100 weeks - more than any other
comparable regulatory body. You need to reorganise the FTP process to streamline your costs and understand coal face dentistry to deal with the
rise in complaints.
1) What funding is allocated to reducing the escalation of complaints to FtP? For example, providing information to patients on the framework for
making a complaint ie who to complain to in the first instance, to encourage local resolution. Similarly, ensuring dental practices have the correct
local measures in place.
2)What is the GDC's annual advertising and marketing budget?
4) More reassurance is required that the GDC is competent to resolve its backlog of cases. Explanation is needed as to what failings have led to
the GDC having such a backlog of cases, and why it has been deemed appropriate that dentists should pay to resolve this failure to deal with cases
in a timely manner.
5) What is the cost of redevelopment of the GDC offices, and what savings this will create on an annual basis?
6) What are the annual salaries, bonuses and expenses paid to senior members of the GDC?
7) What is the GDC doing to reduce the impact of aggressive litigators on the level of complaints?
8) On what evidence did you base your estimate that one in 7 dental professionals is subject to an official complaint at any given time?
a balance sheet showing income and expenses
Why monthly or quarterly direct debits are not considered.
No consideration of the effect on part time NHS employed dentists where the proposed ARF may be equivalent or more than a months income- a
huge outlay immediately before Christmas, Scrooge couldn't have organised it better. Many of these individuals are single parents with family and
no alternative or additional source of income. A "pound a day" can have devastating consequences when it is concentrated into a single annual
payment. The pound a day justification just shows how out of touch the GDC is.
The relative cost of cases involving private practice and those wholly within the NHS managed services. NHS employed practitioners seem to be
paying disproportionately for the lack of an effective private practitioner complaints system. NHS employed staff have their own employers
standards and disciplinary procedures unlike those providing private care. A consideration of relative risk should included within the paper.
Why dental nurses are regulated by the GDC rather than the more appropriate nursing council - possibly a more efficient organisation.
1. Administrative costs? Who pays the salary expenses for the council members? Expenses claimed by council members?
2. What efforts have been made to address the rise in complaints eg. effort in promoting local resolution? complaints escalation system etc.
3. Justification for advertising campaign for DCS? Why not make it mandatory for dentists to display this information clearly in practices rather
than costly, cynical and reactionary advertising by GDC? Is this practice befitting an organisation which expects the best professional behavior
from its registrants?
4. GDC's efforts at dealing with ambulance chasers? Its a known fact that no win no fee lawyers are asking patients to copy all correspondence
regarding complaints to the GDC without any attempt at local resolution. The Idea being a win-win situation for the lawyer, as the GDC
investigates at the cost of the registrant and further court proceeding are instituted only if the dentist is found lacking!
You have not given a breakdown of redevelopment costs of the Wimpole Street Offices, nor explained why redevelopment of a leased property
makes financial sense as opposed to spending the GDC's evidently limited finances leasing or purchasing a property outside of London, for
example in Sheffield or Glasgow where not only property but staffing would be significantly cheaper.
Equally the statement today from Mr William Moyes regarding the GDC's intention to encourage local resolution of complaints rings rather hollow
in light of the advertisement in the Telegraph on the 5th of July encouraging members of the public to complain directly to the GDC's Dental
complaints service if they were not "completely satisfied" with their dental care. This is hardly the actions of a governing organisation keen to
reduce the cost of expensive fitness to practice hearings in favour of local resolution.
An exact breakdown as to why one hearing costs double my annual salary, and why the proposed increase in Arf this year is 64% when my salary
increase is only 1%. Also, the sweetener that the fee is tax deductible is not that great when you to not fit in the 40% tax bracket.
How do you spend all the money collected, is it being used efficiently or wastefully.
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It is an insult to someone's intelligence by saying its £1 a day and it is tax deductible, GDC should make do with the resources that are available
than thinking it can keep drawing more and more!
I think that in line with a lot of other bodies of this nature, the machinery of the organisation should be streamlined to help reduce costs, possibly
even relocated to a more economical part of the country. This increase will hurt the small practice owner the most, and any fees taken from high
street practices can only make it harder to provide top quality care for patients. Please be aware that many conscientious practitioners help their
staff out by paying their ARF as well, so the practice owner is being dealt a double blow.
You have not explained why you cannot reduce the cost of a GDC hearing from £19500 a day.
You have not explained why Dentist's cannot pay by the ARF instalments.
Although I note that the registration fee will be the same regardless of hours worked, I do not believe that this is fair.
I am semi retired and work no more than 3 sessions per week visiting care homes under an NHS contract. This only produces a very small income.
I pay dental indemnity at a proportional rate so why could not the registration fee be proportioned similarly. There could be a simple tick box
question annually categorising the registrant's income and his/her fee set accordingly (up or down from the mean), so that the net returns to the
Council would be the same.
How you plan to reduce the number of complaints being received and investigated.
You fail to separate out DCPs.
Direct access will cause an increase in complaints.
You fail to differentiate between higher risk groups.
Running the GDC outside London would be cheaper.
This is poorly constructed consultation response form. The GDC seems very inefficient organisation. It needs to reduce its costs of complaints
handling and hearing sessions drastically. It needs to cut salaries of full time staff earning more than 50k before proposing to raise ARF by 64%. It
should also consider selling what it owns in London and moving out of London into much cheaper location. How about
Manchester/Cardiff/Leeds/Edinburgh/Birmingham?
You should introduce administration fee for these who wish to complain to GDC rather than increase ARF as it is unacceptable.
Dentists also have to pay CQC.
GDC requires reform as it is clear that in its current set up it cannot afford itself, nor can the profession afford GDC either.
GDC behaviour towards registrants has been unacceptable especially by encouraging litigation through mass press
GMC charges it's registrants only £320 and dentists are already paying twice as much
Its not fair for a increase of 65% when there is no and minimal increase in our earning for last few years. It cannot be justified under no cause.
I am shocked by the increase propsed. If there are going to be different levels for DCP's and dentists then you should also look at the cost of
dealing with complaints against dentists in the salaried dental service as opposed to the GDS, I would be very surprised if the costs were
comparable. I am also still appalled by the fact you were not even able to keep track of my CPD hours in my last 5 year cycle. Despite filling in the
declaration every year you must have lost all my information and instead of admitting to this you just made up the hours then asked me to check
if they were correct!
no im not interested
You need to prevent the influx of non British European Dentists entering the UK.
In my experience it is these Dentists who are disproportionately being bought to Fitness to Practice Committees
Why the GDC feel that a 64% rise is in any way acceptable!!!! It astounds me that a body which has been hightlighted as being poorly performing
by the PSA is asking for such an extortionate amount of money from it's registrants. The fee is not related to income - a part-time salaried NHS
dentist has to pay the same as a full time private dentist. Dentists who tow the line and have never had any complaints are having to pay not only
for an unscrupulous few dentists, but also for a regulatory body that is not fit for purpose. Not only this, but ARF has to be paid in a lump sum,
just before Christmas - the previous level of ARF was already extortionate but will now become completely unaffordable for many who have no
choice but to pay. The costs are stated as being due to an incraese in complaints - no wonder when the GDC has been drumming up business for
itself by advertising in newspapers to encourage patients to complain rather than seeking local resoluation in the first instance. GMC registrants
pay a fraction of this amount for their ARF yet perform to a higher standard. The whole system needs to be overhauled and the GDC disbanded. I
have worked solely in the salaried NHS for my career and have never had any complaints directed to the GDC. I feel entirely let down by the GDC
as a regulatory body and feel so disheartened that I wish I was financially able to leave dentistry all together.
The percentage of FtP cases (and associated costs) emanating from cases involving dentists working out with their capability.
The GDC chooses to stand idly by as GDPs increasingly provide treatments (both non-dental and more importantly dental) for which they are not
appropriately trained. This is compounded by the GDCs reticence to register accepted specialist qualifications.
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Why the GDC is getting involved in Patient vs practioner cases,
It should be a juridical procees in civil courts to decide.
The GDC is Not saying how much they are are paying for Board members , employees, super expansive layers and hearings, which are Not
represantativ and Not improving the dental care System. You can't resolve a shortcoming ic care delivering System, when you put a Body in Place
and empower them to punish dental providers, when do sth wrong. In my eyes doing sth wrong is, when you have a poor system, which doesn't
give incentive to the honest Provider, but put in advantage Those providers who are good at Record keeping and knowing all the small prints of
Regulatory bodies instead of delivering Service to the patients.
The all NHS System with GDC on Top sucks.
Money and human resources waisted to raise public discontent with dental * services*.
Did you have twice as many complaints ? It seems unbelivable to me .Or did you only have an extra 10% increase in the number of complaints.
I have few questions for the Ladies and Gentleman at GDC.
Why has GB the poorest dental care System in Europe?
Why have people in GB the so many missing teeth?
Why are dental practice Standards the worst amongst Europe in terms of Equipment, Hygiene?
Why is the GDC punishing the dentists for a System they work in it, which is the poorest in Euope?
What is the Justification of GDC creating the highest Standards of Regulation only on their Charta but blind what is happening in practics?
Has any members of GDC Board been to dental practices in other European countries?
Thanks
What proportion of complaints and ftp budget is spent on BUS vs Private care?
What is a typical global retention fee? Are we in context, worse, better? The std in UK should not be worse.
I would like to know why the ARF is not adjusted for part time work
Having attended a talk by one of your members and noted the number of hearings cancelled at short notice and money wasted because of this I
don't want to pay extra for your inefficiency.
Your triage of what is a complaint should be improved --cases going whole way that should've been dismissed earlier
What you are proposing is an outrageous betrayal of the profession. You should look after dentists and treat us with professional respect and not
expect us to foot the bill for your inefficiencies. How can you justify such an increase when the GMC ARF is so much better value?
whether more of the costs of FTP could be claimed from the prosecuted dentists
I do not understand why complaint rate has increased sharply since the last few years and you need to find a reason for this and try to solve the
problem! Not to ask dentists to pay for this. If it continues like that we need to pay more and more in the future which is ridiculous. I am working
as a NHS dentist and my income has decreased every year which is not acceptable. There is no increase in my NHS income. It's getting very
difficult to work as a dentist with too many rules and regulations with such a big demands from patients and treating patients with high needs
particularly NHS ones. We, NHS dentists, are under so much pressure and stress as a result of such poor NHS UDA system. My UDA target and
value has been the same as it was 4-5 years ago!!! While inflation is going up annually. It seems that you are just protecting patients and do not
feel about dentists and do not protect dentists at all. I am not happy to pay £945 a year, this is ridiculous! The increase of ARF needs to follow the
inflation rate like others, as simple as that!
The following issues do not seem to have been considered or addressedWhy are the level of complaints against dentists so dramatically increasing in the UK (greater now than in the USA)? and can this be addressed?
Why are so many cases going to Fitness to Practice hearing?
Is the threshold for this too low?
Is it too easy to complain? Could complaints be more sensibly addressed ie locally ? Should a charge be made to patients to lodge a complaint
which is refunded if claim valid and upheld? (This is how it works in New Zealand.
It seems all that has been done is calculate cost and then that is passed on to dentists/DCP's, albeit with an attempt at cost cutting.
I cannot believe there has been such a serious and sudden lapse in dental standards in the UK.
An individual case-by-case breakdown of costs. An itemisation of every single reimbursement of expenses for every single person either
employed or contracted by the GDC.
Why it is seen as acceptable for the GDC to charge a far higher ARF than regulatory bodies for other similar healthcare professions, and an
explanation of these other bodies are capable of working capably within budget constraints without raising retention fees, and why the GDC can't
do the same.
-Your costs for campaigns to rally patients to complain about dentists. --Expenditures on running the GDC out of one of the most expensive
postcodes in the uk. (You could probably cut costs for everyone by relocating)
I think there is a Large devide between what you say you need and what is actually required.
Thousand of pounds on an full page add in a national weekend paper was a utter waste of money.
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The reasons why you will not relocate your premises to somewhere with less overhead costs. I feel it is ridiculous to increase the fee by such a
huge percentage, claiming it is due to the rise in complaints, yet your disgusting advert makes no mention of the public trying to resolve their
issues locally rather than escalating it.
Revise your criteria for referral to the IOC.
Can I please remind the GDC, we are dentists. Rarely do we render patients moribund. Doctors on the other hand have people's lives in their
hands every day. They pay far less than us!! Where is the sense in that. It screams that the GDC is absolutely failing to grasp the realities of
dentistry in the UK. This should not feel like a witch hunt to strike off dentists. The GDC should encourage a forward thinking approach to
achieving high standards.
We deserve to know why in the last 3-4 years there has been such a significant surge in FTP hearings?
There hasn't been a new contract. The day to day practice of the GDP has not significantly changed in this short period.
This surely screams a complete lack of sensibility in the case selection process. Who selects which cases require FTP hearings? Why do we need so
many more now than in previous years. It is obvious that far too many cases are being pushed to expensive FTP hearings when alternative
resolutions could be met.
Surely the gdc need to look at the way complaints are handled. Why are they not encouraging a lot if complaints to be dealt with by the practice (
standard 5 states we should have an effective complaints procedure). Maybe the gdc should look at local resolution panels and leave larger cases
for the fitness to practice procedures which can be dealt with more quickly to protect the public.
The sourcing of public funding to contribute to the process which aims first and most to protect the public. Relying in funds From membership
fees will never be enough in the more litigation driven society we live in nowadays !
The cost of wages within the gdc
The problem you are experiencing never happened in my early days of practicing. You should filter the complaints immediately and be ruthless in
throwing them out if they are not serious enough and can be dealt with at the local level. This means qualified staff should be employed to
receive the initial complaint and assess it, not office staff checking boxes. Many complaints would then be settled just with a return letter. This
would rely on professional judgement, not protocols, so I suppose that is the reason it would not acceptable in the modern world of ours.
Fitness practice panel and staff costs and legal costs are obscene and take dentists for a ride,its a gravy train,The staff at the GDC are NOT of
sound mind,perverse would be fair.They treat all dentists with contempt and find them guilty until proven innocent,and even when you are
innocent you are found guilty.The majority of complaints can very safly be delt with by the DCS part of the GDC
Two consecutive PSA reports have highlighted the shortcomings of the GDC. Yes, it currently costs more than it did, but getting to this stage has
been due to the inefficiencies. If extra funding is desperately needed, the government should be asked for it.
Also, the Dental Care Professionals' regulation may be much less costly, but they have only recently had to register and all the infrastructure and
systems, which have evolved and developed so far, have had to be financed by Dentists.
As a foundation trainee, I have already had a £2000 cut to my salary, this is a very hostile step towards us.
What is also contradictory is the fact that a backlog of complaints still convinced the GDC to invite more complaints through advertisement.
Perhaps the GDC should concentrate on the complaints of the 73% of people who do know about the GDC rather than the 27% who don't.
What resource you gave allocated to ensure a reduction in fitness to practice cases rather than just spending money urging the public to make
more complaints.
there is insufficient space on this'consultation'for me to give my views
there is something VERY wrong with fitness to practice procedures and the consequent cost !
maybe how you would actually listen to dentists rather than just how you would provide more pay and jobs for the boys . Which is how it seems
to the majority of dentists, who you appear to want to regulate out of the profession .
Any increase in ARF should be in line with inflation.
Costs would be much further reduced if complaints are dealt with proportionately.
Posting misleading advertisements in newspapers encouraging patients to contact the DCS instead of raising concerns with their dentist as per
most practice policies is a waste of GDC funding.
The number of fitness to practice cases that actually lead to a removal of a registrant from the relevant register. This would indicate how many of
the growing number of fitness to practice hearings were appropriate in the first instance, and thus indicate if the monies are being spent wisely.
As it seems there is little we can do to prevent this change, and on the face of it it seems necessary, please please please let us pay our ARF by
monthly direct debit especially as it is such. A massive fee now and as it is at that time of year . Consider the houses where there are 2 registrants
please!
Clear audited accounts and an explanation why so many cases are taken to the IOC rather than dealt with at an earlier stage. Also by advertising
for complaints, you have increased the workload and circumvented your own recommendations for matters to be dealt with at a practice level.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Where the locations are held that means you pay £6000 for venue hire?
Expenses paid.
Wages.
Which lawyers are used.
As there is no place to make further comments I'll have to make one here. Now some DCPs are able to treat patients without the prescription of a
dentist, surely they should be required to pay more for their ARF? As a junior dentist I'm struggling to pay for my post graduate exams, now
adding this huge fee makes saving and paying off loans very difficult. I think if you offered a monthly direct debit option more dentists could
budget for this more easily but expecting us to pay almost £1000 every year to work is appalling. We aren't all private dentists.
There is no information displaying the breakdown of complaints raised against the different registrant groups or the costs of inspections of
training facilities, e.g. hotels, travel costs subsistence costs etc.. There is no transparency with respect to these aspects of the GDC's role.
How much the Telegraph advert cost
How many FTP cases are for overseas qualified dentists
why are the fees so high when compared to the GMC?
Perhaps the GDC should consider cost cutting rather than raising fees. Does the statutes of the GDC allow for advertising of complaints ?
This fee increase will hit me really hard financially. I think the size of increase cannot be justified under any circumstances.
The cost of regulating the dental hospitals
And the costs regulating / dealing with complaints from dentists qualifying oversees / non VT
Annual income of top managers? etc
Benefit of encouraging public to make complain?
Do you believe people who pays you to regulate them , do they trust you? I dont know any....
During the last 3 years the annual cost of Dental Protection for all the dentists has been increased 50% from 2150 to 3300.Now the GDC increases
its cost 50% as well.Both of the organizations with their behaviour encourage the industry <<no win ,no fee>> which includes solicitors and
patients and this has lead the number of the complaints to be arose significantly during the last years.When a solicitor and the patient know that
every time that will complain they will receive a compensation as the GDC(mainly) and the Dental Protection try hard to find even the minor fault
to blaim the dentist and they close their eyes to the obvious financial reasons which lead the patient to follow this path the number of the
compalints will arise accordingly and will end up to pay 3000 for the GDC and 10000 for the dental protection after few years.The best thing that
you can do is to put all this industry in the <<hard path>> and to give them what they want(money) very rare and only if the dentist has done a
huge number of very serious mistakes...And also to introduce like the car insurances a <<no claim bonus>> system where the annual fee for GDC
and dental protection will be decrease if the dentist didnt have any complaint and will arise if had any.Is time to think fair for the dentists and for
the tax payers as well.
This does not explain how the GDC can require this level of financial spending when to register with the Irish Dental Council costs 150 euros, to
register to practice medicine is £380. The information required would be what is the GDC doing that seems so out of step with other regulatory
bodies? To register as a Staff nurse is less than that for DN, doing procedures with less risk.
-Who is who at the GDC?
-Can dentists democratically vote for a change?
-If the UK is number 2 worldwide in terms of claims against dentists, why is the GDC publishing an 'advert' to promote more claims on the Daily
Telegraph?
-Why are you asking for my ethnic origin in this questionaire?
Further justification of other spending by GDC. Having spoken with many unhappy colleagues we are slightly confused. Clearly the number of
cases are rising all the time putting pressure on the GDC and resulting in increased costs. At the same time however the GDC could be viewed to
be actively encouraging litigation through their costly advertising campaigns, presumably being paid for by registrants. I refer to a full colour
advert in the daily telegraph which reportedly cost in the region of £59,000 (this information has been passed on through word of mouth so
apologies if it is not accurate). Whilst we are fully supportive of regulation and prevention of poor quality dentistry we do not believe that
advertising to encourage litigation is a good move in the litigious society we live in today. This increase in retention fee is a severe blow to the
profession and comes at a time where we are all experiencing lower earnings than years gone by. There is a vast range in earnings within the
dental profession and this is not reflected in the annual retention fee. As a part time mainly Nhs dentist with a young family I will find this fee
extremely difficult to fund. Furthermore, having twice had to pay the annual retention fee to remain on the register whilst off on maternity leave,
I feel strongly that you should consider a vastly reduced fee during these periods especially with the massive increase proposed now.
Use of common sense in investigation will reduce cost
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
You advertise to promote complaints.
You do nothing to prevent them aside from passing the buck on to the registrants. If dentists work in a health care system that does not promote
excellence you detach yourself from that reality; preferring to criticise your registrants rather than protecting patients by improving the national
systems in place.
You seek to broaden your remit where you are currently not competent according to your own statements and that of the PSA.
You have no idea how to be an efficient organisation. the rest of us have long understood how to do more for less but you are detached from the
public and your registrants.
I feel to anxious about leaving my name as you promote fear among dentists and I know you are an organisation of individuals and you do not like
to be criticised. I have witnessed some of the egos of people who have served at your organisation in lectures.
What is GDC doing to manage these costs? For e.g. how much are lay and professional members being paid to be part of GDC panels (including
travel costs). What is GDC doing to streamline processes? What is GDC doing to engage with other organisations to reduce the numbers of cases
going to FTP panels?
Some honesty and recognition about where you went wrong with the previous reforms. appreciate that extent of change has placed you under
pressure but some of this was of your own making and could still be avoided by having a better complaints management pathway with an interim
stage for complaints to be considered by a respected but independent body when issues cannot be resolved or are bypassed by the patient at
practice level. This would then provide a filter and a mediation service that could be more effective and cheaper to run ( funded by LDC levy) than
current system
I note this consultation document makes no provision for respondents to comment on the increase, which in my opinion is due to your woeful
management of fitness to practice cases. Had you taken the time to distinguish minor complaints from serious misconduct cases you would not
only have kept costs under better control but would have been able to streamline the whole process.
YOU HAVE PROVIDED YOUR ACCOUNT OF WHAT YOU NEED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOUR REGULATORY SYSTEM IS FLAWED AND NOT FIT FOR
PURPOSE
no
What actual fiscal and organisational processes have the GDC tried in order to mitigate ( legal/ admin/ FtP/ national adverts) costs when the rest
of the UK have done so since 2009 to survive? The Dental Profession are not in a position to provide 'Bail-outs' for an inefficient regulator.
You have not fully looked into the causes and how you can prevent this level of compliant generation. Instead you have decided to make a knee
jerk reaction of dramatically increasing the ARF
Why are you taking a higher proportion of complaints to FTP hearings instead of resolving them on a more informal and hence less expensive
manner?
Why did your recent advert in ( in a rather upper class paper) not encourage complaint resolution through the mandatory in house practice
complaints procedure ?
You are not trying hard enough for local resolution to be given a chance and the recent advert in the telegraph confirms that suspicion. Most
cases are not for the gdc and could be sorted at a local level for a fraction of the cost.
When the fee was increased in 2010 it went up from £130 or so to over £400. That is why the GDC hasn't increased it for 4 years. Clearly funds
have not been managed appropriately and the GDC is in a mess. This is an outrageous waste of our money and I believe key individuals need to be
called to account. It is totally unacceptable to raise the ARF by over 60%.
Too much emphasis on fitness to practice & far too many unnecessary cases seen & heard. Cases need to be assessed properly before a hearing is
convened. Complaints should follow proper practice procedure & guidelines & therefore the process with yourselves should never arise. This
would save time & money,plus a correctly set ARF. Too much bureaucratic procedures & nonsense. I agree patients should be protected but you
are going way too extreme.
The views of registrants and an assessment of the state of the profession given the recent economic crisis and therefore the ability of registrants
to pay such a huge increase in ARF.
An assessment of cost cutting measures that could be adopted by the GDC to render them more efficient, similar in principle to what most GDPs
have had to do to keep their Practices solvent.
A review of other potential revenue sources.
A reflection of how things could be done more effectively.
How is the council ensuring that unreasonable and inappropriate complaints are not accepted thus wasting time and resources
Listen to the registrants who are currently complaining about the disproportionate way you are dealing with the profession.
Detail of the £19,500 per day costs in further detail for FtP hearings
The Gdc needs to become a more efficiently run organisation in order that cases can be processed more quickly, in a more cost effective manner
which gives better value for money for the members which fund the Gdc.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Internal HR and training expenditure. NCAS triage assessment fees if paid. An explanation as to why single patient complaints are allowed to
proceed to investigation committee without being referred back to practices and/or where appropriate NHS England area teams for local
resolution.
An explanation of the on-going administrative inefficiency and lack of concern shown by office staff when contacted.
An explanation as to why within the regulatory framework case workers appear to be unable to access professional advice to deal with obviously
nonsensical complaints, leading to a situation where within a nominally self regulatory professional regime well respected , skilled conscientious
dentists have the worry of GDC interest and the rest of the profession are expected to finance the whole Kafkaesque procedure.
How many cases are cleared of being at fault and found fit to practice? Additionally how high is the proportion of cases that are brought against
non UK trained dentists?
The number of FtP hearings has increased by an unbelievable amount. Have you asked yourself why this has happened??? Can we have a
breakdown on the profile of dentists who have been involved in FtP in the last 10 years and what are the common features?
Yes , the need to control expenses/costs from location/wages point of view etc
Surely these would be cheaper outside of London and therefore you save costs that way too?
Why the need to take out an advert in the daily telegraph to promote complaints??? Surely this is a misuse of funds and hence why your
complaints have gone up???
Salaries of staff. Staff have a secure job with too high salaries. I am not at all convinced about the efficiency of the GDC.
demographics of FtP, UK graduate, EU, other etc
I think that there has been some active marketing actually encouraging patients to make a complaint straight to the GDC rather than approaching
the dentist first. This does not promote good communications between patient and dentist which must be a bad thing.
There is a huge jump up in the FTP hearings in 2014 compared with 2010 - 2013 where there was a negligible change.
Have the GDC looked into the reasons for this? Could this be due to the change in GDC regulation /promotion.?
What evidence have you that this will be the same for 2015?
General Dental Practices have had to suffer huge cost increases in recent years due to changes in regulation... Many of these have been for the
good of the profession generally but practices have had to take the burden of these costs without the help of the government. For years the
profession has had to work within less than inflationary annual increases.
Usually these increases barely cover the increase in staff wages which is essential to maintain good well trained motivated DCPs.
I think that the GDC need to review their expenses again and they need a more radical review in the way that they regulate the profession. A
reasonable fee increase would have been accepted but I think this far too high.
why the GMC ARF is less than £400, and how they still manage to represent and support their members more effectively
Why a local resolution process would NOT reduce the number of cases being referred to the FtP Committee and thus reduce the level of funding
needed.
Your assumptions are based on an increasing number of referrals. You MUST first consider ways to protect the public but REDUCE the number of
referrals
The comparative resources provided by other agencies such as GMC etc .
I agree with Kevin Lewis that'The most effective way of reducing expenditure on FTP cases is through the application of common sense and
proportionality, coupled with the correct use of the necessary legal tests at each stage of the case. The initial clinical review, whilst an excellent
idea in principle, must only identify levels of clinical care that are 'seriously below' the standard of care expected.' Thus this rise is unfair and
unnecessary
an accurate representation of what is spent advertising to solicit complaints.
A justified reasoning for the dramatic increase in the number of fitness to practice cases undertaken by the GDC in recent years and the
justification for the dramatic projections of increases in such cases in 2015.
why you really need to raise by that much ,a good job those of us that actually help patients don't use those increases in a period of depression
the truth
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Whilst I appreciate the further information distributed in your email dated 14th July 2014, it is regretful that the escalating costs to dental trainees
have still not been acknowledged yet. Those of us who work on relatively low salaries within Dental Hospitals, training the dentists of the future
and training ourselves as specialists encounter extremely high costs for carrying out this work. Enabling Excellence notes the importance of
keeping training costs to a minimum - as a trainee in Paediatric Dentistry, employed by a University, with no ability to raise extra funds and surely
responsible for extremely low / negligible costs in protecting the public I will be unable to afford this ARF hike coupled with the ARF for my
specialist qualification, the vast amount of CPD which I need to complete (and pay for) as a trainee, Royal College fees, trainee fees such as the
obligatory ISCP fee and soaring examination fees. The GDC is not encouraging personal or career development in the interests of the public by
increasing the ARF for trainees and those employed outside of general dental practice. The financial plight of trainees needs to be recognised and
acted upon accordingly if the GDC truly intends to provide a highly trained and knowledgeable workforce for those members of the public who
are in need of specialist care within the NHS.
yes, explain to registrants why,despite the statement that due to a rise in complaints ARF is increasing, the GDC are "canvassing" for complaints in
national newspapers. These are complaints that could be dealt with at practice level and resolved without the need for GDC involvement on the
whole, thus reducing cost of the GDC and therefore registrants
Why there has been such an increase in cases, many of such cases should have been dealt with long before they reach the GDC.
It would be interesting to know what percentage of complaints come from private vs nhs dentistry.
Advertising costs.
Efficiency of Fitness to practice hearings. i.e. Percentages of cases that are inappropriately or correctly brought to a fitness to practice hearing.
The reason for the increasing expense in protecting patients is GDC's very limited powers and remit.
Look at the body that regulates solicitors. Solicitors Regulatory Authority deals with over 125,000 registrants on complex issues of propriety and
ethics at a fraction of the cost to registrants.
The GDC needs similar powers so that when a serious complaint is received rather than months and years of slow correspondence between
parties, a team can go and inspect the practice of the registrant and examine the entirety of the registrant’s treatment records. They can then
quickly and immediately ascertain on site whether appropriate standards are being met and more importantly protect the patients immediately
by closing the practice if a serious enough flaw is found.
The GDC currently has to pay for an entire mock court to be setup so that a patients complaint can be carefully examined and then agonise over
whether or not they should end a career based on one or two isolated cases. The ARF should not increase as a defective system is what needs to
be fixed not more good money thrown after bad.
The above requires a change in legislation and to move politicians in that direction the GDC will need to be a strong determined and focused
organisation. Which judging by the plethora of here-today-gone-tomorrow chairman’s of the GDC is unfortunately not something we have
The increase is disgusting. Stop wasting money prosecuting dentists and nurses and have better training.
-If you are expanding your regulatory role, this should be renegotiated in a new contract.
-If you are 'regulating' both NHS and private dentists' complaints, you have not separated them.
- You state that you need case officers, but you published in March 2013 that you already had them.
-Your advert in the Telegraph - shame on you!
Detailed report about how the GDC is going to make further cost savings
How the GDC is going to reduce the number of cases going to Fitness to Practice hearing - introducing local resolution
How the GDC is taking advice from other statutory regulators (i.e. GMC) about how they keep their FtP costs down and registrations fees at a
sensible level
1. As a salaried dentist working 2 days per week - this is unaffordable. i have small children to care for, and cannot work full time. this proposed
ARF hike .'. naturally penalises female dentists.
Why should a dentist who owns a coprporate chain of practices and a part- time salaried community dentist pay the same ARF ? The GDC should
have a sliding scale of fees.
By the time I have paid my ARF, Indemnity and BDA fees, this is a months wages before I have even done any work; very UNFAIR and
UNAFFORDABLE.
2. Why don't the GDC concentrate on non-UK graduates who make up vast majority of FTP cases? I have been qualified for 23 years and never had
any dealings with the GDC apart from paying the ever increasing ARF fees----> why should I subsidise those who are incompetent, poorly trained
and won't keep up to date?
3. Why is the ARF more for dentists than doctors? and even specialist medical practitioners? Similar workload for GMC.
4. Why can't the GDC bring in monthly standing orders for collection of fees? The BDA +MPS have it- why not the GDC?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
If the GDC can't handle all the FtP cases it is currently dealing with, then why is it actively advertising in the national press encouraging further
complaints? Surely this is creating a self-perpetuating cycle where more and more money is needed to fund an increasing number of cases. I'd be
interested to know the thinking behind this campaign.
If the ARF level remains the same, the GDC will still be sitting on financial reserves of £2.9m in 2015, increasing to £16m in 2016 (assuming that
Table 5 is correct rather than Appendix Table 2 - they appear to completely contradict each other!). I understand the need for contingency funds
but we are talking about millions here! This money should be put to good use.
In relation to savings made, what do these points even mean?
"savings through the streamlining of operations in the Registration function to eliminate waste;
Initiatives to reduce the wider costs of running the organisation."
Be more specific please, clarity requires detailed facts. Don't just throw a load of business jargon my way and expect me to swallow it. It means
nothing. I want to see a proper financial breakdown, including what has been spent on your nationwide advertising campaign and what the top
brass are paid.
The salaries and time commitments of the staff of the General Dental Council.
The cost of placing the recent advertisement in "The Daily Telegraph" newspaper.
The cost of all out-sourced legal work and advice.
Do not ask intrusive and impertinent questions at the end of the responses.
The BMA manage their budget more efficiently
The ability to give constructive suggestions how the ARF could be calculated.
This is not feedback on the proposed rise just on your explanation. Where can we give feedback on the rise?
transparency on amounts spend on advertising DCS and not advising local resolution
There has to be more local resolution. It is outrageous that the profession is being asked to pay for all the hearings when a complaint may have
not been looked at locally . For example If a patient is unhappy about appointment availability this could result in a complaint to the GDC that has
to be investigated . The system is out of control
I have no problem with paying an increased fee. However, it is imperative that you introduce a pay monthly DD scheme if you are going to
increase fee to this level. You say you need an act of parliament do to this, however, this just appears to be a lame excuse. The government
suspended the sunday trading laws for the Olympic games without recourse to parliament, I'm sure no questions will be asked by parliament if
the GDC introduces a monthly DD payment scheme. The GCD just needs to use common sense & show some leadership
the expenses paid to members travelling to London, staying in London etc.
why does it require the level of monies that is spent to maintain the registration list?
why is the spending on national advertising?
you are not charging to regulate but to maintain a quango
the GDC is not fit for purpose
The numbers of complaints made and numbers upheld.
The GDC costs of dealing with each complaint
The number of individual dentists and DCPs involved in upheld complaints.
Why is the GDC not charging those dentists and DCPs involved in upheld complaints the fees involved in administrating their complaints.
Which demographic sector creates the most upheld complaints.
Why the GDC has thought it fit to recently spend excessive funds on advertising to attract complaints against dentists and DCPs involved in
providing Private Dentistry and not those providing NHS Dentistry.
The economic climate has not been good for a while. Since 2006 dentists have seen rising costs and a cap on earning. Dental staff salaries have
likewise remained fairly static. In light of that it does not seem just that the GDC would almost double the ARF.
detailed cost breakdowns of external and internal legal fees.
Detailed explanation of costs such as full page advertisments in national newspapers.
Proportion of cases from DCPs vs Dentists.
Explanation of why dentist increase should be 10x that of DCP increase.
Why do we need double regulation. We pay GDC retention fee but now also CQC fees. Small businesses can ill afford more & more fee increases.
I have a patient trying to complain about dental treatment by a dentist that has moved to Australia. They contacted the GDC and was told nothing
could be done. How effective is that ?
Reasons why the cost of regulating dentists is so much higher than comparable professionals. Whether the GDC has examined the way in which
other professional bodies (GMC etc) operate which ensure that doctors and other health professionals pay much lower subscriptions.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
What you're using the money for - the sharp raise shows there has been an unimaginable level of incompetence in fee setting
A clear explanation as to why your costs have retrospectively gone up and what were your failings in preventing to control this rise. Why was the
profession not kept informed about these spiralling costs.
Information relating to the salaries of all people, the costs of all your activities
Reduce exependiture further starting with unnecessary newspaper advertising. Expenditure claims etc
You asked patients to complain, so of course they will to avoid paying and since there is no penalty to them!
There are and always has been the law to protect them, why do we need another layer of policing?
The number of complaints has gone up by 110% not because dentists professional standards have slipped, but more a case of you the regulator
finding things over and above the original complaint to hang the dentist with ! Maybe if you promoted local resolution then your workload may
come down and consquently the ARF. If you have to raise it then it should be no more than the rate of infation. Seems that the GDC is wanting a
greater budget and is not really looking at the general economic picture. You are certainly out of touch with the profession !
In light of the dramatic proposed interest in the ARF I would appreciate a commitment to improving efficiency within the GDC and a plan of how
the organisation may identify 'at risk' practitioners, so that in the future practitioners judged to be of lower risk can be first to benefit from any
ARF reductions.
What percetnatge of the costs incurred are owing to complaints against different branches of the profession eg GDPs salaried services hospital
services etc etc. is there an enhanced fee for people who incur complaints, and hence expenses. is there a no-claims bonus for people who do
not incure complaints?
Exactly why there is an increase in fitness to practise hearings. Are the complaints legitimate or fabrications. Why are dentists subjected to GDC
and CQC regukations. Surely it shold be combined into one.
More detailed breakdown of costs
GDC personal expenses
Reduce ARF
Justification for the FTP procedure being used as often as it is.
I am informed by many who are better positioned than me to know about these matters that this is too often used.
I simply don't know the truth.
Q3 is ambiguous....have you explained what you have done to keep your costs under control .....YES .....or
.....have you kept your costs under control.........NO
I'm curious what % of GDC funding is spent on non registrant cases. The country is awash with beautician bleaching services which no one seems
to challenge.
Amount of money spent on unnecessary advertising.
As a dentist the proposed 64% increase is ridiculous! Our money it seems is been used very unwisely.
I qualified in 1987 and can't wait for retirement through all the red tape and costs that have been imposed in this time and not because I dislike
my job. As a dentist I now feel that the GDC is working against all dentists rather than with them. Very sad!
As Dentists make up 40% and DCP 60% of the GDC registrants, I would like to know how many percent of the Fitness To Practice hearings are for
dentists and DCP respectively.
It would also be useful to know what percentage of the hearings are for private cases.
ALternatives you have discounted. Whilst I am not an expert on legal costs , I can imagine the venue hire could be less than 2000 a day.
With regards to the questions below (as you have not provided space for comment)
I would have appreciated the inclusion of a "don't know" or "N/A" option for some questions, especially those concerning DCPs.
Additionally I think the way the question about fee level is phrased is extremely leading and excludes that possibility that the GDC may be
managing it's expenditure inappropriately. The consultation document talks about anticipated savings at the same time as anticipated increases
in cost. Surely this isn't possible? Imagining a hypothetical scenario where projected costs could be even worse does not justify using the word
"savings".
Clear transparent accounts and expenditures - such as the reasoning and costs of your advertising campaign/
Why is there such a discrepancy between GDC charges and GMC charges the medics pay
GDC does not protect/function for dentists/dental professionals- why are the they having to fund this organisation to continue your 'statutory
function' as you claim.
More open consultation
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
i feel you take too much off of us and we get nothing out of the £120 we pay each year. we also pay more money than genral nurses and we are
paid less than they do .
Why another £18 million pounds is required from a fee increase, can't savings be made elsewhere
Breakdown of costs.
Please charge patients if the cost of complain is high.
Tribunal charge anybody sending any complain ; why GDC shouldn,t !??
IS to totally unfair to charge dentist for complain
Justification for the expensive advertisement in The Telegraph recommending that patients contact the GDC re complaints. This approach I feel is
wrong as it would be preferable for the patient to discuss their concerns/ problems with the Dentist first
I work part-time as a Senior Dental Officer within the Community Dental Service. The level of the proposed fee increase will have a much greater
impact on me and other part-time workers as there is no discretion to take into account our reduced income. This is in contrast to the situation
with the General Medical Council who offer a reduced fee for part-time workers. I am seriously considering retiring early in view of this
extortionate proposed retention fee increase and I feel this is a 'kick in the teeth' when I have been qualified for over 33 years. I am disgusted
with this proposed action by the GDC.
Why you advertise for the general public to bring forward cases. Also why regulation cannot be crystal clear to prevent many of the ambiguities
that cause misunderstandings and subsequent complaints
Just because you can justify somehow spending the money doesn't mean you are entitled to it.
Much more detailed accounting eg staff salaries, detailed costs of each case the public costs us,etc
The resource needs of your organisation are much higher than that of other countries. Why???? You should try to find ways to eliminate and limit
complaints not just fight them and keep growing your organisation astronomically. What are you doing to fight the increase in complaints? Since
you are 'protecting' members of the public and not dentists, your funds should come from the taxpayer.
-Cost to have your base in London.
-Cost for inflammatory advertising appearing in a national newspaper.
-Expense claims for first class travel, hotels in London etc for the GDC panel.
I would expect more details regarding costs as this is a considerable uplift. This level of expenditure is considerable bearing in mind that the GMC
(GMC website) manage to maintain registration fees of £390 with much greater risks involved.
I would expect to see a full plan for controlling unnecessary expenditure, a strategy for cost reduction to bring fees to an appropriate level. The
current document does not really include full details of how the problems that have created this massive proposed fee increase will be fully
addressed and I am not confident that the strategy presented will address the issues, with the current information available.
Certainly, there may be more complaints, but the GDC has explicitly advertised and encouraged direct complaints relating to any level of
dissatisfaction with dental services with little direction, thereby generating many unnecessary cases. This is not addressed well. The case for the
GDC undertaking investigations in preference to local investigation as a primary stage is not well made and the costs incurred as a result are not
justified. There is insufficient evidence to show what has been done to filter FTP investigations and so the case for additional full FTP panel cases
is not well made. There is also little to address other issues such as the industry surrounding legal redress and the bypassing of local resolution
prior to a case being raised.
My biggest concern with this is patient care and safety. The GDC has presented a case for protecting the public but key safety issues have been
missed. By bypassing local processes, local NHS bodies are informed late, which means that patient safety issues are addressed later than
necessary, thereby putting patients at unnecessary risk. Stronger filtering and local processes are urgently needed and were not sufficiently
detailed. Therefore, the current account does not provide me, as a dentist is maintained or improved with these costings.
If any NHS organisation or Local Authority body presented such a case, or similar figures, special measures would be put into place and a full
strategy would be in place immediately. In view of the costs, I would have expected something of a similar nature from the GDC in this document.
the percentage of complaints made about non-Uk qualified dentists/DCPs and what is being done to regulate this.
What you are doing to deal with complaints at a local level which would ultimately reduce the huge costs of FtP panels
Why does each hearing take so long? How much the panellists earn each day? Why your headquarters are in the centre of London-Even the BBC
moved to Manchester to cost-cut! Are GDC staff wages being cut? Do the dentists who appear back on the register after a failure to practice
conviction have increased fees for their lifetime? It seems unfair that the majority are paying for the minority.
GDC lost its mandate and lost its connection with dentists
How you might keep the retention fees down
I would like to know if there is any possibility to reduce the cost of the Fitness to Practice Hearing and of course if there are any possibility that the
amount of complaints will reduce in the near future ( thinking about the new NHS pilot contracts).
I would like to know if there is a difference between amount of complaints from the NHS and Private sector.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
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I would like the ARF to be increased with 64% only for the dentists who have complaints against them and for the rest of the dentists with the
same decent percentage like DSPs have.This will be a fair charge and will keep us dentists confident with GDC.
I also would like to mention that the number of neurones and synapses has nothing to do with the ethnic group....pointing to that questions.
I am glad I had the chance to have my say if it matters.
Thank you.
Your estimate is an estimate not a proper costing. You should not make guesses on financial needs but instead look at your costings compared to
the GMC which operates under a very similar remit but keeps registrant fees down to £380 for GPs, and see where you are going wrong.
Compare GDC fees to GMC fees.
Stop non-specialists from carrying out skills beyond their expertise level before they make mistakes bringing about expensive FTP procedures.
A breakdown of how much you spend on dentists and how much on D C P's
Why are DCP's paying a lot more than general nurses who have a lot more individual responsiblity for patients?
The number of complaints that were not returned as the plantiff had failed to use local processes first
I think the GDC needs to cut its spending considerably like the rest of the country
This increase in ARF is substantial. It would have been better if could stagger it over a few years.
Why has there been an increase in the number of complaints made against the profession? Do you believe that we are deserving of this level of
complaints? Are you researching into ways the public can share the cost of this "ambulance chasing"
Explaining why the fees are increasing next year!
You say the biggest cost to the general dental council are the fitness to practice proceedings. I would expect a full breakdown regarding risk
groups / types of hearings and what the council expects to do to reduce the number of complaints being received as there appears to be a
fundamental problem in the number of complaints being received across the country in relation to our medical colleagues. Also, I believe this
consultation document does not give adequate provision for people to become involved in a full and open consultation.
The GDC should be disbanded. It beggars belief that we as dentists should have to pay for our own hard earned money to a third party who then
has the audacity to advertise in the National papers to patients about how to go about complaining about us. Perhaps it is time you considered
how to protect dentists from patients whose expectations are sky high and want delivery of a product for next to peanuts.
No
What steps are being made to make appropriate savings to bring the ARF in line with other healthcare regulators, namely the GMC. Also what
steps are being made to reduce the costs of fitness to practice. £78,000 for a four day hearing is outrageous. This survey is essentially useless in
allowing the profession to make their views clear on this topic - it is obvious given the leading nature of the questions the council has already
made up its mind and the consultation is simply to say there has been one. I would like to make it abundantly clear that I am wholeheartedly
against this rise for the following reasons:
1) The GDC is failing as a regulator - as determined by the PSA in its recent report.
2) The fee rise is unprecedented and entirely out of line with other healthcare regulators.
3) It is clear the GDC no longer has the support of the overwhelming majority of the profession.
Why not tell us why you blatantly advertise for complainants when you cannot deal with what you have and you exaggerate and overblow any
complaints you do get?
We are a business and look after our own customers, We have complaint mechanisms in place but why are you bypassing them buy advertising
for dissatisfied clients? Why are we so excessively regulated. We have you, the HIW and now the Indemnity organisations threatening to non
indemnify so against your own profession: the very people who pay your excessive bills? Why not regulate as does the legal regulators the SRA
who only act when there is a BODY OF EVIDENCE. Fitness for practice complaint by a vexatious patient who has been refused reasonable refund
for instance is absurd. I believe you have all gone power mad and that your regulatory concepts are positively draconian. Do you all not realise
that most ongoing complaints are pushed forward by the promise of MONEY? No win, no fee, no consequence for complainants who have no
basis but to which you, the GDC, will trawl through notes to find complaints unexpressed by the patient concerned, You are all about records and
NOT standards. Private dental complaints now far exceed punitive action compared to NHS. Our practice could not operate at the poor standard
of care offered by our NHS counterparts yet you have to be REALLY bad to be in front of fitness to practice if you are NHS.
Finally, the private dental complaints service is shambolic waste of money. They are so pro patient they are biased. The are unnecessary,
expensive, unhelpful and cannot action freedom of action requests nor do they have a complaints process themselves. Useless QUANGO.
no
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
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Why can the registration not be paid monthly ?
Why do part time staff pay the same as fulltime?
Registered nurses pay alot less ARF that us but more of them and they are paid more that them
Have you compared how you run your organisation compared to the GMC?
Information on what percentage contribution is being made by the dentists/DCPs found guilty towards the costs of investigation by the GDC. Also
what investigations are being undertaken into the reasons for increased complaints within the UK, other than GDC statements through the press.
It is completely unfair to recoup money from innocent registrants and I think a 64% increase is very unreasonable.
You repeated yourselves twice justifying why the ARF is increased but didn't really give full accounts, just explained percentages. Are all members
of GDC necessary. Are adverts inviting people to complain necessary? How much do they cost? We are paying for regulation and for better
standars for patients, to protect patients, not to be attacked and for patients to be invited to complaint. I feel the GDC has lost its main objective?
the costs you incur on advertising to the public encouraging them to complain to you. An answer as to why you have mismanaged your ability to
meet your own targets set out by your review for 2013. Standards not met = a very poor performance. The GMC and other bodies manage far
better on less money from its registrants - Why?
It is disappointing the consultation does not provide space for comment.
Although noting you have considered participants in FTP making a contribution towards costs of hearings where appropriate, there is still much
that can be done to reduce costs. Many hearings could be avoided by more judicious use of Rule 10; an example is where the dentist has a
'mitigation bundle' for stage 2 of a hearing which clearly demonstrates current fitness to practice is not impaired, and this could easily be assessed
by a panel without the need for a hearing.
It is appreciated there will be considerable cost savings using in-house solicitors correctly; savings could also be made by more use of appropriate
clinicians to assess complaints at the outset, with a view to resolution of a complaint rather than have to air the whole matter in public. At the end
of the day, if a dentist's performance is amended if necessary such that their standard is now appropriate, then this will protect the public. It is
not always necessary to hold a hearing, especially if a dentist admits the allegations and provides an appropriate part 2 mitigation.
These comments are made with a view to minimising costs whilst still respecting the need to protect the public and I would be pleased to discuss
further if you wish.
It is utterly astonishing that the GDC believes it can raise the ARF by such a huge percentage in one fell swoop. I think it proves they are not in
touch with reality and as an organisation not fit for purpose.
What would they do if all the GDC registrants decided on mass not to pay the ARF I wonder?
No
The GDC appear to have allowed costs to spiral out of control having wasted what are deemed inexhaustible funds. From recent communications
it would appear that less than 2% of your total registrants actually responded through your survey that costs should be raised through the ARF.
There are many conscientious, hard working practitioners who are also paying DCP registration fees on behalf of their staff who do not simply
hike their fees by 66% when they realise they have been making monumental fuck ups for the past 8 years.
I think this should be split into the number of FtP hearings held for DCP's and Dentists. This would indicate who is costing the most. If the
majority are Dentists - why should DCP's pick up the tab for this?
A bar chart identifying areas of expenditure
The breakdown of the cost of running all the various sections of the GDC and the Executive
Yes, why the number of complaints goes up year after year. Is it the matter of encouraging public to make complaints? Is it the matter of
advertising to rise complaints against dentists? How many complaints were made directly towards nurses and hygienists? I employ 3 nurses and I
pay for their retention. Making the GDC retention higher, the cost to run the practice will rise, which means patients will need to pay higher fees.
Do the public agrees to pay higher dental charges?
1.How much money is wasted on excessive regulation, inefficient management and over all promoting a claim culture.
2.How much efficiency savings can be made by putting GDC's house in order
yes, how much you spend for fitness to practice cases and the reason why?
why an increase is 64% when inflation is below 5%;
additional spendings should be cover by the source of complaints (patients)?
full disclosure of expenditure
How many complaints your advert in the Daily Telegraph generated and how many complaints could and should have been dealt with earlier than
the IC stage.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
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You provide a good account of your needs based on defective raw data. If you treat every contact from the public a complaint, then I am not
surprised the GDC are overwhelmed. There is local resolution, this is practice, in-house procedures and this avenue needs to be invoked first.
Otherwise you are taking the matter out of the practices' hands too early in the process (you are effectively sabotaging the in-house process).
The GDC needs to audit where the increase in complaints is coming from. Have you done this? can you publish your results? Do you really believe
you have the worst dentists in Europe here, in the UK, really? These are questions the GDC has not answered.
Another factor is the lack of effective local resolution from the (old) PCT organisations. The Area Teams are simply not conversant nor informed
(poor/ no training/ lack of funding from SERCO) so NHS England is basically dumping their dirty work on the GDC. The GDC is being used and
dentists are being asked to pay. This is not working for patients. In this respect, the GDC is failing the public.
Separate statistics to show overseas trained dental staff (Dentists and DCP's) subsequently registered by the GDC, with a record of any cases
brought against them.
Are overseas staff sufficiently trained to the standards required in this country?
Is this group causing disproportionate costs?
I do not agree that the GDC retention fee/ARF should be increased.
Other spending by the GDC, such as employee pension schemes.
Why did you take out an advert in the Daily Telegraph that was considered inflammatory, just to increase the number of complaints?
Your fees for conducting the ORE, should be increased to cover the costs of GDC
Ot
Why the GDC feels like it is acceptable to charge such extortionate fees to DFT who are already suffering a £2000 pay cut. This fee is unrealistic
and unacceptable to ask of newly qualified DFT.
Why do the GDC employ QCs and the most expensive lawyers in London using ARF money and yet registrants are unable to fund their own
defences as defences are not obliged to provide legal assistance. Effectively registrants are paying for their own executors. It is an abuse of fees.
Further the GDC encourages patients to complain . these complainants bear no financial risk at all. There should be mechanism where
complainants are made to pay costs
Overall the GDC FTPh are poor. It would be better to abolish the GDC and use the statutory mechanisms. These are fairer and better developed.
The judiciary and their judgements can be scrutinised and quoted . The GDC determinations are inconsistent and unreliable. THe GDC a quasijudicial system ie half a court and not fit to function. members of the public would not want to be treated by a half a dentist so why are dental
professionals subject a half a court. Finally I remind the GDC the panel are NOT legally trained and there is an inherent risk of miscarriages of
justice allowing lay people to act as judges.
It is on the above reasons the GDC should be abolished and let the judiciary do their job. They are trained to do and know what they are doing.
What were the targets that were used to award directors bonus's and how could these have been achieved if overall the service provided by the
gdc was poor
What other organisations eg gmc are doing with their rise in complaints. Why dentist and dcp percentage rise is different.
How much money the gdc wastes on advirtising?
This consultation is fundamentally flawed, this debate is more than a yes /no answer. Associates are being bombarded from all directions. Very
Substantial increases have been seen way above inflation in indemnity fees, pension payments costs -on average £350 per month for the average
associate. Associates are having UDA values cut and pay increases not being passed on by principal dentists and this is the final straw. SORT OUT
THE FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED AND AMBIGUOUS UDA SYSTEM AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS. The gdc also
needs to look at the main culprits complaints are made about and target them-providing more guidance before the complaint occurs. Patient are
also too ready the complain because they do not understand the system. If 4000 cases are up in 2015 this would mean 1 in 6 dentists are up in
front of the GDC this can not be right. Having to find £945 just before Christmas is just mean!!!!!!
The costs of advertisting ridiculous advertisements which will give you more work to do and which also vilifies the dental profession even further.
it is encouraging people to complain in this "claim culture" and putting a lot more stress on the dental profession as a whole.
Is there a firm need to investigate every dentist the GDC receives a complaint of? Would local measures of complaint resolution be more costeffective? Does the GDC encourage patients to firstly contact the practice or LHB to aid in complaint resolution?
Is a more common sense approach to complaint handling, in large, a better means and cheaper alternative to investigative committee processes
for most GDC cases? Would this reduce 'resource needs'?
Does the GDC feel national adverts encouraging direct complaints to the GDC is a justified expense? Are these adverts 'resource needs '?
How you have come about deciding on the "projected complaints and expenditure".
GDC take on too many complaints and mid-used the dentist resources in the name of protecting patients, what about the interest of dentist which
wholly subsidised GDC . If the govt wanted to protect the patient and wider public, they should fund it using taxpayer's money.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
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Business rates paid by GDC
Exact penny for penny balance sheet
Total assets held by GDC
Salaries paid by GDC
Rent
The real reasons for the increase not excuses. Also this "response" doesn't really give us the opportunity to put our opinions forward, it is
designed to avoid this. You cannot possibly justify such a huge increase it's ridiculous
The GDC is only allowed to raise money for the ARF to fulfil its statutory function. There are several items of expenditure (which are growing
rapidly) that are outside the remit of the statute. Increasing the ARF to fulfil these is billing the profession for things that the GDC isn't required to
do and it would be outside of the statute to bill the profession for these. These include the DCS and refurbishment of the premises on Wimpole St.
Bill Moyes has also (publicly) stated that he wishes to bring NHS complaints "in-house". This represents a huge misunderstanding of the role of the
GDC, in particular that the statute allows for regulation of the profession, NOT to act as an ombudsman. Indeed, there already exists an NHS
complaints system, which is (rightly) funded by the incompetent and morally bankrupt NHS (at least for dental services). Whether or not this
reduces the complaints procedure costs is irrelevant, the vast majority of complaints are rejected at an early stage of investigation and this can
only increase the costs of complaint handling.
Clear transparent processes and more efficient handling of complaints especially minor ones that should not and do not need to be seen by IDC
This unduly huge increase in the retention is highly discriminatory on many levels. It discriminates against part time workers (many of whom are
women with childcare responsibilities) and it discriminates against those in training, whose salary may not be that high. I fall into both these
categories and do not see why I should pay the increased fee and actually cannot afford to pay that amount in December. So where does that
leave me?
A clearer detailed breakdown of the costs of a FTP hearing.
Breakdown of plans to control escalating costs in particular costs relating to FTP hearings.
The cost per investigation and where the money went.
It is unacceptable that for most of the dentists practicing safely and conforming to all the rules and regulations to be so severely penalised by this
ridiculous rise in ARF
Penalise those registrants that have cases or are frequent a users of the system
(A system similar to car insurance )
It is unacceptable that for most of the dentists practicing safely and conforming to all the rules and regulations to be so severely penalised by this
ridiculous rise in ARF
Penalise those registrants that have cases or are frequent a users of the system
(A system similar to car insurance )
Explain why it costs so much to hear these cases, most of which could be resolved at local levels.
You should have a clear proposal for the actions the GDC intends to take to reduce the number of minor, vexatious, or spurios complaints that are
not resolved at an early timepoint. The GMC resolves a huge number of such complaints at an early timepoint; the GDC fails to do this and
therefore incurs unecessary costs with expensive hearings as a result of extremely poor management
Dental nurses fees are not in line with the wages earned. It is unreasonable to expect people to pay the fee . In practice when quite a few work for
the minimum wage. Within the remit of charges should it not reflect the monies earned . Irrelevant to the dental profession nurses who by far
have higher complaints pay less that dental nurses and none are on minimum wage.As for the dentist fee no gp would pay this government do
contribute to dental care so surely the monies would be better spent in redistribution of availbe funds and be made equal across the board to
reflect the rising complaint as is the case all over . It had been common place that the dental profession have incurred larger fees and charges
than any other profession.
The GDC is spending money on advertising in press and at events for patients complaints so it is unsurprising that the number of complaints has
skyrocketed recently. The GDC should be promoting the correct way of patients complaining to their dentist using in house procedures and the
DCS should be dealing with cases only when no local resolution has been acheived, not advertising for the public to bypass this. Promotion of local
resolution would help to substantially reduce the caseload.
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This consultation document is inadequate and asks the wrong questions. This is the only free text box, so I'm having to use it to make some
general observations.
Until the GDC satisfies the PSA, it has no mandate to increase the ARF.
Complaints should be triaged more effectively, before coming to hearings.
Some complaints could be referred back for local resolution.
Most complaints should be referred back to NHS England Area Teams
The cost of hearings should be reduced by reducing the size of committees.
The GDC should be worried it only has a satisfaction rating of 67% - over 1/3 are dissatisfied!
The GDC should not waste money advertising in the press.
Explanation as to why minor cases of complaint are not directed back to the patients practice or local level first rather than handled by the GDC,
as stated in the GDC's own complaints handling guidance booklet.
Explanation as to why minor cases of complaint are not directed back to the patients practice or local level first rather than handled by the GDC,
as stated in the GDC's own complaints handling guidance booklet.
No other professional body that I can even remember, has ever attempted to raise registration fees over 60%. What planet are you on?
If by thinking you can afford to pay high salaries for executive committees and take out expensive full page ads in national papers encouraging
people to make complaints about dentists and then complain the cost of the GDC has gone up due to investigation claims about dentists, what do
you expect?
What an idiotic and badly handled campaign. Your marketing team should be fired and your ethics / compliance dept should be investigated itself
as to how such a situation can come about. When was the last time the GMC, a more professional body and as if not more important than the
GDC, had similar problems about fees raised.
It's time for a new GDC body, new executive and more competent committee and one whose moral compass doesn't not involve antagonising the
industry it is supposed to represent to earn more fees to pay its top executives.
You also start further cost savings by avoiding the refurbishing cost of your plush offices which seemed fine to me the last time I went there even
though you are paying peppercorn rent.
To know the percentage of cases that are DCP or dentist based, taking in to respect that there are less DCPs. It seems a very different % increase
considering the new responsibilities given by direct access.
How and where ALL moneys are spent, advertising needs, why The GDC feels it needs so much more in proportion than The GMC
I would like to know the breakdown of UK versus non UK registrants who are investigated by the GDC. I would like to know what (if any) checks
for competency the GDC do on E.U qualified dentists before they take their money and put them on our register.
why are the GDC advertising to the public and encouraging complaints instead of recommending local resolution.
Many times all patients need is an apology or refund but in this claim conscious culture it has become the norm to escalate instead of resolve.
I would like to see the nature of every complaint in the last year.
Breakdown of spending
The breakdown of the spending
How much you spend on legal fees, how much you spend on expenses, an explanation of why your costs are so high daily and what efforts are
being made to cut them and or live within your means.
Cost of easy hearing. Alternative ways to deal with complaints.
Consultation does not give space for viewpoint of participants. Many dentists work part-time or in lower paid community posts, the fees are
massively prohibitive to those who do not work in or own large profitable practises. I think this is a discriminatory fee rise and the impact on parttime workers, especially women, must be addressed.
yes..how much is spent on adverts such as the one recently placed in The Times. Also how much is sent on helping foreign dentists understand the
nhs rules
Breakdown of expenses, rental of venues, salaries of GDC members, etc
A reason as to why you feel to increase the fees when other regulatory bodies fees are much less. It would also be interesting to know the salaries
of those working within the GDC
All your costs, wages, expenses
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
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A 110% increase is probably due to dental nurses, technicians, etc. who have been added to the register. Or are you telling me that the increase is
110% purely on dentists?? What is the increase in cases for dentists only ................. surely not 110%!! The ARF increase planned is nothing less
than extortion!!
Why such a large increase is necessary all in one go- also young newly qualified dentists should not be charged so much especially as their
incomes will be significantly lower than senior dentists- please explain why there is no sliding scale of fee depending on how much you earn
the gdc have encouraged people to complain and it's no wonder that there is a 110% increase in complaints. yet for this, you expect the dentist to
foot the bill for prosecuting and investigating us. this is an absolute disgrace. if you are so concerned and this is indeed to protect the public, then
get funding from the public or the government. it is unfair to expect the dentist to pay for their own executioner!!!
it is also a scandal that your body has clearly been proven to be inefficient and ineffective so this money is going into a bottomless pit anyways.
perhaps the GDC should be disciplined for misconduct!
Please comment on why the GDC seems to be expanding rather than taking care of core business
Why is money being spent to bring the profession into disrepute? Instead, resourses should be spent on dealing with complaints in house as the
first port of call.
Money should be spent on making sure such a protocol is in place.
The advertising carried out recently by the GDC is a prime example of how the GDC is drumming up business? This surely is unethical and I would
not be surprised if it is also illegal.
Get out of London and reduce costs dramatically with wages,hearings and rebuild.
GDC does not need a west end base it could be run from any place with good communication facilities
This is an Ego trip to justify fees and an excuse.Where are the comparison figures showing costs of moving out of the most expensive city in the
world! Infact was it considered
Croydon is where the Panel is located and we do a magnificent job, there is no need for a London base As the majority of work is clerical in nature,
if you need a presence share with the colleges or GMC.
You haven't provided figures for the growth in the number of registrants over the last decade or so
yes a detailed account of all the sources from where GDC gets revenue . like ORE , ARF , etc
Please explain why you think registrants should pay for the GDC's incompetence.
The GDC is not fit for purpose, and should be disbanded and replaced with a competent regulatory body.
Will there be a reduced fee for dentists who are currently NOT practising? I have given up my GDC registration because there was no reduction for
a career break, although I am continuing to keep up my CPD. I feel it is unfair to charge almost £600 when someone is not earning, and to up this
to almost £1000 is disgraceful. It may well encourage more people to leave the register.
How many complaints that are made directly to GDC have been attempted to resolve locally? And does GDC prompt the complainants to try and
resolve it locally first?
More information on the nature of the complaints received, for example the number of vexatious or spurious complaints
How expectations of the public and patients are managed
Do registrants who have been investigated by the GDC more than once or whom receive multiple complaints, will their fees rise relative to
registrants who the GDC don't have much dealings with?
Break down if how money has been spent and explanations regarding advertisements that go against CQC regulations. Also an investigation as to
why complaints have risen. Treat the cause not just the symptoms.
Break down if how money has been spent and explanations regarding advertisements that go against CQC regulations. Also an investigation as to
why complaints have risen. Treat the cause not just the symptoms.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
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what are the mojor capital programmes planned that you are putting so much into reserve funds for?
Why are your offices and venues still in central london with costs spiralling out of control why not consider moving to somewhere much less costly
-£8K for a venue for 4 day hearing is scandalous and costs of accommodation and transport for panel members could be greatly reduced if held
elsewhere. £19K per panellist for a single FTP hearing!You tell us that main office rent is kept low without elaborating on what other
accommodation has to be paid for out of our fees and what other costs are incurred in wimpole street and elsewhere. London is a bubble of
affluence while elsewhere we are struggling just to pay our way with recession still firmly in control with reduction in income in real terms over
the last 6 years with no sign of any improvement in the near future - you should not be hiking our fees to such an extent at this time to put into
your reserves when we have no reserves at all! Especially hard for those of us who have worked for many years without complaint and trying to
put something aside for retirement which is looking bleak at the moment. Stop these stupid unnecessary annual satisfaction surveys of public,
profession and patients. self-congratulatory and serve no purpose - meaningless to do them so often. Our fees should be spent more prudently.
Where is NCAS in all this - why are they not reducing the level of referrals to GDC. I know that there are many referrals made by the GDC
themselves about dentaists and DCPs and these are not upheld by the committee investigating - waste of effort there. Why can all panels not be
reduced in number. Can more be carried out electronically in this day and age with teleconferencing etc. Can we not use in-house legal
representatives for more cases - external law firms will bkleed us all dry and waste time +++. there is something seriously wrong in your set-up
that FTP hearing costs totalled £38m!!! Our medical colleagues are completely disbelieving of the fees we are being asked to pay as it is before
this proposed unreasonable hike. Likewise registered nurses wouldnt believe what our DCPs have to pay. Is there a need for GDC to be more
ruthless when inspecting quality in dental schools - obviously something very wrong with the profession if complaints are genuine. However
there is far too much pressure in the media, and indeed from the GDC itself, in enouraging people to complain and to go down the litigation route
- the pendulum has swung too far. Parents are blaming the profession for the poor state of their childrens teeth and expecting us to produce
results like the '10 years younger' programme etc where treatment provided would actually be considered totally unsuitable for people with such
a record of non-existent oral hygiene practices and a diet consisting of 2 litres of coke before lunchtime! The profession itself is in a state of crisis
and needs root and branch reform as does GDC. Are they fit for purpose - i think not. This proposed hike in fees will add to the problems not
lessen them and therefore is totally unacceptable to the profession.
Costs that you have spent ADVERTISING for people to complain about dental services - basically drumming up business , which in turn costs all
the registrants more
Salaries for all employees of GDC and pay rises .
Would hope that no pay rises or bonuses have been given this year in the light of the enormous registration fee increase
The GDC used my money to advertise on the Telegraph against my profession, that is winding up patients to complain against dentists. It makes
one think that the GDC just wanted to create more business for itself, in order to justify ridiculously easy money taken from dentists who work
hard, struggle with their finances and who are made to fund the GDC's campaign against them!! I find it to be complete and utter hypocricy on
behalf of the GDC to pretend that it is worrying about how many complaints it receives, when it actively contributes to that end. I simply do not
believe that the quality of dentistry provided in this country has suddenly become 110% worse in the last 4 years, this is simply ridiculous. You
simply cannot blame it all on the dentists.
Yes - consider different bands for different employees - eg - those that work part-time, those that are private dentists earning hundreds of
thousands of pounds, salaried GDP's.
the increase in ARF would be almost 1months wages, I would not be able to pay my mortgage/bills/feed myself/put petrol in my car to drive to
work, and you expect us to pay at christmas time too
Have you looked into other venues to hold hearings?
Have you looked into further offices other than the crippling rents that you would pay being based in London?
Have you looked into holding video conferencing instead of putting up delegates in hotels overnight?
What other cost cutting measures have you implemented?
Unemployment among dentist is quite high please share information how wages of People on the panel be so high not realising what their
colleagues are earning. Surely there should be a pay cut for them.
How much it costs to hire the venue to hold the fitness to practice cases. Why they are being held I. London when far cheaper venue could be
found elsewhere. How much each person on the panelist getting paid and what expenses they claim.
1. An enquiry as to the increase in numbers of complaints
2. Whether the GDC's advertising budget is well-spent in particular whether the recent advertisement in the press encouraging complaints was a
justified use of the GDC's limited resources.
Type of cases considered by panels. The severity of some cases don't seemed to match the length of time the hearing is taking. A dentist told me
that her hearing will take a week or more, some criminal cases won't take as long!!! The cases to be considered is record keeping etc, surely this
should be concluded at a early stage, with a letter of advise to the dentist and perhpas to return to check that he or she is following the guidance
in 6 months to a year, rather than dragging this on for over a year which is ridiculous. also sitting on the back bench, watching the hearing, you
will realised a lot of the time, the panellist don't even know what the case is as they have not read the case notes!!, So the first morning or even
longer was wasted, nothing achieved as they are trying to familiarise themselves with the case, we are paying them lots of money for each session
to be a panelist.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The biggest cost to the GDC is in the fitness to practice category. The costs for this do seem astronomical.
The average hearing lasts 4 days. Venue costs of £2,000 per day seem excessive. If the venue is in the GDC building there should be no additional
costs incurred. The building is always there. A vast venue would be required to justify this cost.
Panellist costs of £19,000 break down to nearly £5,000 per day. How many Panellists do you have!
Staff costs of £3,500 per day seem extremely high. Again, how many staff are required for these hearings.
The Prosecution and Counsel fees form the bulk of expense at £37,000. There ought to be room for savings in this area.
Hearings are expensive. There are many complaints. The role of the GDC is to protect the public. Is enough being done to root out complaints
where the safety of the public is not endangered.
I read of complaints where patient did not like the attitude of the Dentist. A Dentist faces a hearing because records are not satisfactory. These
issues do not affect the safety of the public!
It would appear that the GDC could do far more to reduce unnecessary hearings and throw out vexatious complaints. The reason it does not is
because there is no insentive to do so while it has a funding stream (Dentists and DCP's) that it considers limitless.
For those registrants that are part-time a fee adjustment should be made according to hours worked.
It would be important to know the overall costs involved in the day to day running of the GDC.
-Breakdown of expenditure costs
-Further savings planning
-Streamling cases to reduce costs
-Possibly looking at promoting local mediation/resolution than having cases seen within the GDC's remit
I do not feel the dental profession should plug the gap for the GDC who have miscalculated their expenditure.
A review of the way the GDC works
Expense accounts off all the staff of the GDC, including Mr Moyes and Ms Gilvarry
Explanation of how the costs of a fitness to practice hearing are so high.
Where are the dentist trained that are having claims. How much of your budget is spent on advertising for pts to claim against dentist.
A comparison of how the GMC manages to ensure an accurate registrar is maintained, including specialist registration, monitor undergraduate
and postgraduate training and provide hearing panels for a lesser sum that current registration fees with the GDC.
This web based consultation does not provide for a proper discussion about the role and conduct of the GDC, hence I will expand here.
The GDC since is has ceased to be run by the dental profession in the process of self regulation has come to be perceived as antagonistic and
hostile to the dental profession. The GDC by its conduct has earned this reputation. It did not achieve this reputation unduly or by accident.
The Dental Complaints Service refers cases to the Investigating Committee, who in turn refer cases onto Fitness to Practice process that previously
would have been attended to at a local level without the expense of investigating committees and even more Fitness to Practice hearings. I accept
that there are some terrible dentists that need to be stopped from practicing, or restricted in their activities but within the last 5-10 years the GDC
has developed a very heavy handed approach.
If the increase in hearings is due to increased patient awareness of legal process then perhaps they, the patient, should contribute to the costs in
the same way that employment tribunals now require a complainant to be able to meet their side of costs.
The increased sum of money that will be demanded by the GDC will not adversely affect the lifestyles of the average dentist. However, it is the
attitude, behaviour and indifference of the GDC to the individuals that provide the salaries for themselves and their staff that has possibly caused
most anger.
Having had multiple interactions with the GDC during the last 15 years in relation to specialist registration, and a complaint from a patients
relative; it is the lack of awareness of what the dental profession do by GDC staff, and the indifference by staff as evidenced by the inability to
treat dental professionals as individual people that has caused most anger.
Perhaps this could have been better managed by a consultation rather than following the conduct of some medieval monarch.
Salaries of staff.
How do you justify a daily increase of £40000? That is something even I can't justify in a law of court.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
I think a breakdown on how such extortionate expenditure has been achieved is important.
This is an exorbitant increase and does not seem to be justified!
You state that it costs on average £78000 to run a 4 day enquiry:
Why are your accommadation costs £8000 per enquiry - you have your own premises that you say only cost £6000 a year to rent.
Staff costs £14000 - how many staff does it take and how much are they getting paid?
Panelists £19000 - how many and how much are they getting paid?
Prosecution costs £33000 - detailed breakdown required.
Why are you positively encouraging complaints by placing adverts in national newspapers?
Why do you feel there is such a rise in complaints? Are they valid complaints or is it a consequence of "no win no fee" type advertising? If so,
should the GDC not be protecting THE PROFESSION against spurious claims?
At the end of the day if the GDC was disbanded, dentistry would still have to continue, so I believe the GDC should look at their own fitness to
practice and move aside and allow the formation of another body that much better balances the needs of the public and DENTISTS, rather than
persecuting dentists and charging them exorbitant fees for the privilege.
Why you have to operate out of Oldham?
Why we cannot pay monthly?
Why there isn't different categories of payment for different types of dentists?
Why the retention fee for DCPs has been set so artificially low in comparison to dentists?
Why the GDC is placing inflammatory advertisements at huge expense encouraging patients to complain in the National Press!
How do you plan to reduce the number of complaints, why do you need my ethnic background, why are you trying to raise the number of
complaints, why don't you respect the confidentiality of the dentists, why don't you listen to the voices of your registrants, why don't you
represent the ones that pay you and you make us look bad? We have enough no win no fee solicitors we don't need you to act against us as well.
All decisions that affect the branch should be taken by the members of the branch, not by somebody that doesn't answer to anyone. Why do you
retaliate by removing them from the register if somebody speaks up?
What are you doing to prevent complaints reaching the fitness to practice stage?
Your recent posture in the newspaper encouraging people to complain does not help.
Look at this link:
http://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/regulators/statutory-regulators-directory
None of the other bodies use the phrase "protecting patients". Is dentistry so different? Does such language encourage more complaints? (ie
dental patients need proctecting from the dentist).
We pay enough as it is with very little reward
Why GDC is wasting money advertising in Broad Sheet news papers...it will only attract further complaints directly, instead of the protocol of
approaching the practice first. Also, the average person does not read broad sheet new papers!!!!
How much was spent on the advertising campaign encouraging patients to complain about their dentist if unhappy? This information is already
provided in practices with clear complaints protocols in place! Was this extra funding necessary? Surely not!
Your charge is excessive and as a department you refuse to listen, the current ARF is already too high.I wrote 10yrs ago to you in very difficult
financial circumstances and you were totally inflexible. You need to learn from the GMC whose charges are a fraction of yours, vary according to
speciality, have direct debit in place AND a 50% reduction for earnings under £32,000.
more itomised structure of where the money goes.
cut costs by:
sending receipt of ARF payment with the certificate instead of seperate (or an email receipt)
Does the certificate need to be printed on expensive paper??
why do dental nurses pay more than registered general nursed when FTP risk is lower and salary is at minimum wage or slightly above??
a lot of people have had wage freezes for years - an increase would not be fair and put a strain of the mental health of staff.
look into the government to controll adverts on insurance companies selling the blame and claim culture.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
A breakdown stating which section(s)of the dental workforce are generating the complaints so that the fee increase can be targetted towards
those sections of the profession who are the most expensive to regulate.
A statement of income and hours worked by individuals needs to be recorded so that again, the risk generated can be assessed and the fees set
accordingly. Part-time workers should not be paying the same as full time workers who have both greater income and greater risk. Workers in
salaried services who generally perform low risk procedures should not be paying the same fees as people proving complex and risk prone
procedures. There needs to be a no-claims / no complaints benefit for people who do not generate complaints.
We need to know what proportion of registered dentists are subject to GDC complaints; fees need to be targetted.
Provision for payment in installments must be made if this fee is levied. The excuses I have received may have been valid when the fee was at
the previous level but the fee is too high not to cause financial difficulties for low paid part-time dentists in the salaried services.
Since 2010 there has been a 110% increase in complaints made to the GDC which has lead to the proposed increase in ARF fee. The GDC has even
published a document advising dentists on how to handle complaints WITHIN their practice.
The GDC claims that they are doing everything in their power to help reduce the number of complaints made by patients.
If this is true then please give us an explanation as why the GDC placed an advertisment in the Telegraph on July 5th 2014, encouraging patients
to contact the GDC directly if they wish to complain about an issue with dental treatment rather then taking the matter to the dentist in question
first. Surely this is going to drive up patient complaints to the GDC rather than complaints being handled and settled within the practice?!
I'd absolutely love to hear the logic behind that one.
More detailed information and the failings of the GDC in its recent review
Why has there been such a large increase in complaints?
who are the complaints against? DCP or Dentist?
What is being done to reduce complaints?
What is being done to reduce the costs of investigating a complaint?
The distribution of where the complaints are coming from.
Which groups are particularly affected?
How can this be mitigated?
If there has been a problem since 2010, why did the reserves continue to build for another two years?
There is no indication of costs required to protect the public from the illegal practice of dentistry for example tooth whitening in beauty salons perhaps because GDC is failing in its statutory duty in this respect?
being a dental nurse working only 2 days, with not an excellent pay a week, with a young family, I struggle big time to pay my fees also finding the
extra money for cpd courses. on top of the ones which is done via my practice.
however i am happy to pay a fee, but cant really afford it
You have provided information about the resources that you say you need . I dispute your need.
You have given an account of how you are going to keep your costs down. I dispute that you are doing everything that you can to keep these costs
down.
This consultation is designed to give you the right answers, not to give us the option of discussing the problem.
You as a body do not know enough about dentistry to be able to justify your validity for the job.
Why the GDC is aiming to build a reserve of funds when they claim that the ARF equals the cost of regulating dentists?
How the GDC compares to the GMC in its running and organisation as medics pay far less in ARFs.
Why has noone thought to grade the ARF for dentists? There are many kinds of dentists with different incomes. To trainees and academics with a
lesser wage this kind of jump in ARF has a profound effect on standard of living.
I think the proposed increase is obscene in the current climate. For example when it was voluntary for DCPs it was £10 - why now it is compulsory
and you have much more revenue do you need to increase it by such a high amount. The increase for dentists is a joke. How about a higher rate
for non UK graduates as they occupy more of your time
Why you feel it not necessary to charge those you find guilty of breaking your rules and regulations rather than those who choose to abide by
them - keeping down charges for those who do not break the law of the GDC
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
How many paid people are involved in FTP investigations and how much are they paid?
I notice venue charges. Where are they held? I thought Wimpole Street would be owned and therefore free.
What's the %age split between private/NHS complaints and regional variations? I work in Scotland under a different system. I would be annoyed
if my ARF was increased to subsidise those working in another system, especially if that system was the one causing the complaints to arise in the
first place.
A broader explanation as to why there are so many complaints-I suggest that this is due to extreme pressure being placed on dentists to carry out
their job with insufficient funding from the NHS. The GDC, as the arbiter, should be more vocal in speaking out about the inadequacies of the
system to drive change instead of "slapping knuckles" once complaint has occurred. Your remit as our governing body needs reviewed and
updated, maybe in line with the GMC
Absolute disgrace that the registration is being increased. It is also a disgrace that this fee can not be done on a direct Debit basis monthly.
how much is spend on FTP cases from dentists who are non UK qualified and therefore have not done VT
Why advertise for more complaints in newspapers? "Not completely happy" does not need gdc involvement. Why refurbish gdc headquarters in
london, having a base elsewhere in the country would save funds!
Why advertise for more complaints in newspapers? "Not completely happy" does not need gdc involvement. Why refurbish gdc headquarters in
london, having a base elsewhere in the country would save funds!
Prevention costs, ie causes of complaints and money to prevent considering the fee for a case is £19,000 per day.
Here are some parts of both my comments and the reply I received.
Within the body of the letter :
'This Government is committed to reducing the regulatory burden on business through its better regulations initiative and therefore regards
regulation as a last resort rather than a first option. If regulation is brought forward there needs to be a clear case of market failure.'
The letter then goes on to say:
'The Government want to make it easier to start, invest and grow a business, especially Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).'
On this basis myself and my work colleagues would like you to explain why the General Dental Council (GDC) are being allowed to increase
registration fees for dentists by a massive 64% taking the yearly amount to £954.00 and Dental nurses by 8%.
I work in a small business therefore both the owner (who is a practicing dentist and the self employed dentists are struggling.
We feel that what the GDC are doing is a total contradiction to your explanation within the body of the aforementioned letter.
Please change the statement that the ARF is deductible for all uK registrants. I my case it is not, becauze I earn no money from the practice of
dentistry.
Also I am concerned that retired dentists who would like to volunteer their skills in other countries will in future be unable to do so with the
increase in the ARF
A detailed breakdown of the all the costs involved in running the GDC and Fitness to Practice cases. An action plan on how cases should be
resolved at a local level before being escalated to the GDC. Cases that are brought to the GDC should have a charge introduced paid for by the
plaintiff.
You have not set out clear plans for reducing the number of complaints sent to a full Fitness to Practice hearing. This is vitally important as many
of the cases reaching this level are trivial and could be more effectively dealt with using an arbitration type system. Lots of complaints to the GDC
are malicious, and these are also,not being filtered out effectively.
how much the GDC members are paid
why every dentist has to pay the same amount regardless of work type, hours, pay
why such a jump in fees- poor planning??
compare to gmc- give reduced fees
Rent on London Offices vs relocation elsewhere in the country
Stop abusing the system, for example by stimulating complaints directly from patients, reducing the level of "evidence " necessary to be able to
show how poor we are as a professional group.
We are the only group that have to prove we are innocent as the GDC, as regulator, seems to deem that complaints are always valid.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The dental complaints service is not a statutory regulation so why are members paying for it. How much is being spent on advertising this service
alone
You have allowed an unsatisfactory NHS dental contract to be imposed on the profession. The contract is not in the patients best interests and
you have done nothing to correct this. Because the contrast is so unsatisfactory and was unilaterally imposed for political and treasury reasons,
there has been an increase in the number of complaints. The answer is not to raise more money to handle them but to correct the reason. Stand
up and look after the interests of patients. It is your main primary function. You are also failing in your responsibility to check the undergraduate
education standards of dentists coming from abroad.
What is being done by GDC to support registrants and minimise FTP procedures in the 1st place.
Have complaints directed to the GDC been dealt with investigated locally 1st and has that report been accessed?
The percentage of registered dentists with uk qualifications versus non uk qualifications. A breakdown of fitness to practice hearings against
uk/non uk qualified dentists and an estimation of incurred costs for fitness to practice cases for dentists that have earned their primary
qualification from outside the UK
Exactly why more and more "legal" cases are being undertaken without any visible attempt at tackling the root cause of such cases. Prevention is
better than the cure.
To please keep your expenses within your current budget.
To work with co-operation with health professionals.
Why are you advertising for more complaints, when most dentists are honest, diligent and have the patients best interest at heart. How can you
justify such an increase compare to other professions (eg doctors with the GMC).
Absolutely obsurd and quite frankly embarrassing to the profession as a whole. Never before have I thought about stopping working as I love my
job and the patients I care for. I hate that you have put me in this position!!
No clarity around this at all - you appear to be responding to simple demand rather than working efficiently to see what is happening and working
in a more focussed way. You are out of control.
I think many cases of complaints ought to be referred back to local pct to investigate . It used to be like that before and it did work .
Type of complaints - now with encouraged direct access to gdc likelihood increased work load involves more trivial complaints which would have
been naturally be resolved in house or with the LG.
Who are the complaints against? Dentists or nurses? Since nurse registration work load would have increased. Have a separate funded body to
regulate dental nurses - dentists fund dentists, nurses fund nurses - they will have two distinct complaint types.
A breakdown of who the complaints are being made against; is there a pattern showing that dentists who qualified overseas are generating more
complaints than UK trained professionals and if this is the case should their ARF be more than UK trained dentists.
Could many of these complaints be dealt with prior to reaching the GDC?
Should the GDC be paying for costly adverts in the National Press telling patients how to complain?
The huge rise in fee appears to come from litigation. Rather than spreading out the cost of malpractice of a relative minority to the whole
profession I feel the GDC should do the same as the rest of the commercial world. That is, make the individual concerned pay for the lions share of
the costs. The majority of decent dentists are effectively being ripped off by this minority of appaling dentists. This has been sanctioned and
legalised by GDC by passing on these costs. At present this group really has nothing to lose by the current arrangement. Your board really needs
to grasp this problem rather than let it drive you and the rest of us into the ground.
How come an incompetent body like the GDC, which is not fit for purpose can be allowed to carry on regulating a profession it has no
understanding of?
Much more detailed information is needed on where the money goes and why costs are so high.
The GDC tries to deflect blame on to the rigid requirements of current legislation, but gives no figure for the actual saving that would be incurred
if the legal requirements were relaxed. Until one know the facts, one is inclined to think that the amount involved may actually be rather small.
Why is it that ARF will cost more than twice as much for the GDC as it would for the GMC? No mention seems to be made either of how large the
additional fees for specialists will be - the GMC does not charge, and it is questionable whether the present GDC fee is justifiable in terms of the
extra costs incurred - it seems more like an extra tax on specialists.
Practitioners are effectively being asked to write a blank cheque to the GDC. However large the bills are in the future, the GDC can always say
"You agreed to this" and we have no redress.
I strongly believe you need to use taxpayer monies to deal with public and not registrants.. Work towards it not with us.
I am outraged that the GDC can justifiy such an enormous increase in ARF - which is mandatory to allow me to practice - with very little notice
and no contingency AGAIN to pay by instalments. The proposed amount payable by myself represents 80% of my monthly salary. this is
unacceptable and should be further investigated, perhaps by an external governmental body. If I claimed that I was underperforming inn my
profession, I do not think that my employer would agree to raising my income by over 50% as a solution to poor performance.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The gdc us NOT transparent
No Info in unsuccessful FTP hearings
The gdc is NOT fit for purpose. It should be abolished and the civil statutory System should be used.
Allowing non legally educated dentists to act as judges is wreckless.
ABOLISH THE GDC !!!!!
Information about ways you can reduce costs by culling layers from your overly expensive and incompetent management structure.
The GDC should be there to protect patients.
Many of the FTP cases I have read about would gave been more appropriately dealt with by practices internal complaints procedures.
The council is wasting enormous sums of money perusing petty matters that have no significant bearing on patient protection.
Much more clarification as to why the GMC ARF if much less than the GDC, there seems to be in my view a level of nest feathering.
More discussion was needed on details of the "antiquated legislation." You are saying it's up to government to change this legislation, yet we as a
profession are also told by government that the GDC sets their own rules (and costs) independent of government. This seems to be a significant
discrepency. I would like to see the GDC do more to ensure complaints are dealt with more locally, therefore reduce costs for it's financial backers
i.e us dentists as well as allowing the patient to recieve a quicker resolution to their complaints. Perhaps subscribers' practice shouls also be risk
assessed so that people in more litigenous/high complaint areas pay a higher subscription.
you have only indicated the costs if everything remians the same. Part of meeting the demand should include an overview of how the costs of FtP
can be reduced. Expenditure vs revenue modelling. This hasn't been demonstrated and as such I consider it to be an incomplete business model
which I cannot support at this time.
An explanation as to why a year ago it was decided there was no need to make any increases yet one year later a increase of 64% was needed.
An explanation as to why the GDC wants to increase its reserves when new guidance for regulators is that their costs should be covered by their
income and should live 'hand to mouth'.
Do GDC not think staggered increases would have been advisable as increases in costs have been staggered.
Do GDC intend to introduce instalments as the retention fee is now so large?
Exactly where the money has been spent and why the deficit has been allowed to get to this state before doing anything about it, ie no increases
for 4 years and then a huge jump!!
The GDC should stop "enticing" members of the public/patients to complain by "advertising" in the Press and spending valuable resources in
doing so. "Ambulance lawyers" are doing a good enough job as it is, we have no business helping them to do better!
is there an investigation as to why there is an increase in complaints?
is there any plans to minimise the complaints that are escalated to FTP hearings?
As the professional you're regulating and demanding more capital from are undergoing a pay freeze it would be logical for you to provide how
you're planning to control your spending especially with regards to salaries of staff.
GDC is wasting our money and is poorly regulated.
No information or thought into the causes behind the increase in number of fitness to practice cases. I do not have confidence that the gdc is
regulating the profession effectively and I think this consultation is flawed.
Why this "consultation form"is a complete sham, has leading, one sided questions with NO opportunity for individual comment and questions?
Where is the space to provide comments?
Why the consultation exercise, when all the statements from the GDC would indicate that the ARF fee has already been decided and any
consultation exercise is therefore irrelevant?
What controls are in place for the level and amount of legal fees demanded by legfal firms?
The TOTAL costs for all FTP and IOC committees
- It is important for a fair regulatory body manage the profession and safeguard public
- PSA report states that efficiency is declining, why should registrants have to fund a reduction in efficiency?
- GDC should be able to provide statutory functions without an extortionate ARF increase
- affects newly qualifieds significantly
- the GDC should provide comparative graphs with other regulatory bodies - ie. no of professionals registered, number of cases and cost to
organisation. How is the GMC affording to regulate it's profession for approx 400 pounds per year?
It would be useful if you could stop instigating patient to complaint about dentists. You should protect and respect the dentists!!
growing concern within the profession that there is a breakdown in relationship between regulator and profession. Concern that minor cases at
ftp level are causing a waste of money. concern over the recent PSA investigation
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05.09.2014 10:27
Steps being taken to reduce numbers of FTP cases.
Many seem to that they should have been resolved prior to reaching the FTP process.
There is no analysis of why there is such an increase in the number of cases before the GDC fitness to practice board which is where a large
proportion of the resources are needed
how can the GDC waste registrants fees on advertising or canvassing for complaints when every practice has to have a complaints procedure in
place with arbitration offered and obligatory membership of medicolegal indemnity? the whole issue of complaints needs to be addressed and to
charge dentists over £900 just to register is a disgrace compared to GMC registrations. You must control your needs for funding as there is no
bottomless pit of monies for a badly thought out and managed complaints system.
Cost of maintaining résidence in central London v moving out to cheaper accommodation.
Publication of individual salaries of committee members and projected pay over next 5 years.
Filtering complaints - not all need to be dealt with at high level and such great cost to us. Pass to a local committee.Has this been looked at?
Budget for Pr- what is the estimated spend to advertise such services as The complaints Service to the public ?
Why no comment box below question 3?
I look forward to your personal response to each of the points raised above. My contact details are, as requested,below.
Dentist Act 1984 1 (2) It shall be the general concern of the Council to promote high standards of dental education at all its stages and high
standards of professional conduct among dentists,
Dentist Act 1984 Schedule 1 7(1) The Council may, after paying their expenses, including the payments authorized under this Schedule to be made
to their members and to the members of their committees, and the salaries or remuneration of their officers, allocate any money received by
them (whether by way of fees or otherwise) to purposes connected with dental education and research or any other public purposes connected
with the profession of dentistry in such manner as they may think fit.
The Dentist Act has been created in such a manner as to provide an equal balance between encouraging high standards of education and
research in dentistry and that of policing the profession.
This is not the situation with the GDC where it appears that an unreasonable amount of the GDC resources are being used in policing the
profession. This is causing a lack of confidence by the profession in the GDC, who should be boosting the profession not discouraging them. There
are far better ways of policing the profession, who by the way PAY YOUR WAGES.
Would you be in favour of the Government adding an extra £600 to your taxes in order to pay for more camera radars on the road to police your
driving habits when there are many more problems to be addressed with making better roads?
You make better dentists by improving their education, examinations and continuing education not by dragging them through the wringer and
trying to bring them to their knees. Dentistry is a hard profession, stressful and not as profitable as many would believe.
Increasing GDC fees will lead to a massive increase in Dental Protection fees as there will be more and more Professional Conduct cases which will
need more and more legal costs and higher and higher Dental Protection Fees until the dental professional can no longer afford to operate.
Professional negligence fees should be for paying patients who have been seriously harmed by a dental professional and not for GDC cases, many
of which are trivial and vexatious.
Far more detail regarding expenditure
Breakdown of costs for hearings - for example, how can a 5 person panel cost £19,000?
Generally would like more information on how savings are being made.
why so expensive to investigate dental staff c/f Drs and nurses and AHPs?
It would be more effective to reduce the number of ftp hearing needed rather than continuing to ask for more funds. Other regulatory bodies - eg
GMC are dealing with a similar increased volume of fitness to practice cases, but have not raised the ARF, even though it is already considerably
lower than that already demanded by the GDC
the figures do not add up
your proposed increase for dentists is not justified on information available and while some costs are state there is no reasoning that costs are
reasonable, you should not be advertising to encourage complaints that is not GDC remit that is the ombushman's remit, your projections show
no factual basis
no organisations costs should be spiralling at several times the rate of inflation
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
how does this compare with other health industries?
how do they deal with cost and extent of regulation?
are the gdc aiming too high and trying to regulate well outside their professional remit?
Justification of the extortionate costs involved in the conducting of FTP hearings.
Robust proposals as to how these costs can be reduced to realistic levels for future years.
Well, you can start by explaining why when you so obviously cannot cope with the FtP cases you already have (and the management of which
CHRE rates the GDC as poor and failing) you placed an advertisement asking for more cases. Extraordinary.
Why is Evlynne Gilvarry still in post after almost 4 years and the GDC is still a failing organisation?
Whilst information has been provided as to how the GDC is trying to keep its costs under control based on the current working systems, there is
no discussion on the reviewing of these systems to ensure they are still appropriate given the changes in dental complaints over the last few years
When my Wife needed to register with you having passed NEBDN aged 58 we had to download 40 sheets of A4 print from you.20 of guidance and
similar of application some of which said do not write on this blank page! We were given a 3 month time frame to complete or start again from
scratch. Near the end of this we were made aware that the pass cert. had a short forename so nearly did not make the deadline. Guidance notes
did not match application sheets as they were not updated. You gave the impression of a self serving organisation completely out of touch with
the 21st century, a dental practice would not survive if it was run along your lines.
As regards to fitness to practice costs, what effect will an end to no win no fee canvasing have on people willing to jump at litigation, is this the
last rush of lawyers beating a deadline?
If you were able to make all these savings ,why not earlier?
From all your actions in the recent past and this year I find that I have very little confidence in your organisation and its ability to carry out the task
of regulation for the team and protecting the patient - you mission statement.
Should not have to pay in one instalment as too expensive especially at that time of the year
Why the increase in complaints?
Why does the GDC hold more investigations than all the other European Dental Regulators put together?
Why does the GDC hold investigations into issues which have no relevance to patient safety?
Where the money is being used, a possible reason as to the cause of the increase in complaints, how the extra charges is going to make a change
to a system that already appears to be primarily flawed
-what steps have been made to reduce the fitness to practice hearing costs by providing local resolutions?
- why do you not work closer to registrants in order to regulate us fairly?
no
There should be a detailed analysis given on the reasons for the 110% increase in complaints..there could be a number of factors and simply
increasing the ARF so substantially may not be the only option.
Inflation rate for subsequent years too.
Sudden jump in fees is hard to understand reasons for it. Why a sudden change now? Will same happen in subsequent years?
Why you think you should not charge dentist on the basis of how many hours per week they practice.
A 64% increase in the present economic climate is anacceptable
is it mainly dentists who have caused the significant increase in complaints??
Projected number of dentists, DCPs, dental nurse for 2015, 2016,2017 and so how income is arrived at.
What DCP increase is proposed? Will dentists continue to be penalised for acts and omissions of DCPs?
Why the fee cannot be linked to the nature of the work carried out by the member or history of claims
Simply giving figures for the past year covers up the mismanagement over the past 5 years which has created this shambles. Ftp cases have been
rising for several years but nothing has been done to properly deal with the problem - the pile of cases has simply been allowed to mount up. Why
has the ARF not been increased proportionately each year or has the problem only just been realised. Certainly the PSA have been highlighting
these problems to the GDC for some time but lack of management competency or inactivity has led to this chaos we are seeing acted out by our
regulator.
What other expenses the GDC incurres
More information on where money spent.
You haven't mention grossly expensive adverts in the papers to encourage patients to complain about their dentist and not settle complaints
locally
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Since this is the only space for comments I believe it is basically unjust having one fee for all with no regard to income. I work 2 sessions per week
in Dental Access in an area of high dental need.The proposed fee will cost me in the region of 1.25 months salary after deductions.I am single and
forced to consider early retirement as well as currently suffering from anxiety as I consider how I will manage.
Salaries of the each staff.
Salaries of the each staff.
Why the spending is so much more than other regulatory councils eg GMC? I believe that they have managed to cope with an increase in
complaints without such an astronomical fee increase!!
Executive pay rises.
Longer view of year-by-year account going back before DCP registration.
An account of why complaints are rising and how and why so many of them go to FTP hearing.
How complaints are instigated and the role of the GDC in this.
1) Why the GDC feel the need to spend £7.1m refurbishing when it can not cope with it fundamental functions.
2) Detail break down of the GDC panels expenses claims such as accommodation, travels, food.
3) What and how much the GDC going to spend to communicate with profession to reduce complaint rate.
4) Why the GDC feel spending money advertising on news paper when it can not even cope with current work load?
More information on other ways you can reduce costs,
eg why not move offices to a cheaper location out of London?
One concern is that the GDC is wasting resources pursuing nuance cases which can be vetted easily. There should be vote from the registrants as
to what constitutes a fair increase in the ARF. Every organisation is trying to save funds by cutting costs in other ways- what about GDC salary
reductions, release of redundant staff or recouping some legal costs from settlements. I require publication of the GDC internal and external
budgets and what percentage of the ARF is actually currently spent pursuing cases for the "public's interest".
Full breakdown in costs including staff wages, at each level.
Fees paid to dental experts.
Fees paid to committee members
I think the regulation of dentists and dental care professional should fall under the auspices of the General Medical Council. Dentistry is a branch
of medicine and should be regulated as such. The General Dental Council proposals for increasing the ARF by 64% is totally unacceptable when
NHS dentists and doctors have their pay frozen and are experiencing erosion of pensions. Utter disgrace. The GDC should be ashamed of
themselves.
There is nowhere for us to make comments so I am having to make them here.
Why not consider charging 1% of income. This would be fairer as it would take into consideration part time workers and wholly NHS workers who
cannot put up their fees to compensate for the huge ARF increase. As a part time wholly NHS dentist it seems unfair that the increase of ARF in
relation to my income is of a hugely greater percentage than my private full time colleagues.
Details of wages/fees paid out e.g solicitors, FTP panel, hotels, catering. Details of how you are being resourceful? ARF money which is spent on
advertising for more FTP cases.
No, this consulation procees needs to be scrapped and fully re-assessed; the fee increase for dentists in particular is ludicrous. The reason
complaints has increased is 1. Too many non-UK trained GDP's working in the UK who are not 'fit-for-purpose', this evidence is easily seen on the
GDC hearings list. 2. The GDC is currently unable to manage the volume of complaints effectively and efficiently and 3. Spending £28000 of 'OUR
MONEY 'on advertising encouraging patients to complain to the GDC is indefensible and a stupidly ridiculous idea!!! This should not be allowed.
How about patients complain to the practice first and local measures exhautsed first?!!! THE GDC IS NOT FIT-FOR-PURPOSE AND DENTAL
PROFESSIONALS HAVE NO CONDFIDENCE IN YOU.
Supplying us with adequate courses to go on for this fee on the standards you set
Dear GDC, The fact that you are putting up the ARF purely to deal with patient complaints and the fact that you are using the news papers to
further this cause of actions is tantamount to a fraudulent criminal action on your part to extract money totally for your benefit at the hardship of
the dental profession. I suggest you cancel this course of action before proceedings are taken against the GDC.
I feel that this proposed ARF increase in 2015 in highly unfair.#
I have been working as a dentist for 8 years and no compliants were raised agaianst me and I do care what dental care I provide for my registered
patients. Also I do not work privately and all my income is only salary that I am paid by my Health Board.
I would suggest that fee should be percentage of annual income because some professionals can pay that sum of money without a problem whilst
for me is 1/3 of montly earnings that had to be paid in one transactions.
Also there is no possibility to pay this monthly by Direct Debit.
Although I understands reasons of increase I still do not agree to pay 64% more. I feel it should be increased for those densists against whom
compalints were raised.
Also when car insurance is paid - an increase occur when penaly point were given . So I feel this is very unfair decision.
I hope you can review this.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
It is impossible for the GDC to justify a 64% increase in ARF. The proposed fee of £945 has no peer in healthcare regulation in the United Kingdom
or Europe. The GDC itself has failed several principles set out by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) and any significant increase would be
funding failure.The proposed level is off-putting to those entering and beginning their careers. More so, the added cost will deter further
investment by young dentists to learn new skills or undertake speciality training. Exam fees and academic memberships are expensive; an easy
way to find money to cover a prohibitive ARF level is not to spend it on education. We also worry the high costs of maintaining registration,
indemnity, professional development and childcare may well dissuade dentists with young children returning to work in the profession. This
wastes the money and time put in to their professional education and training.
Assuming ARF will continue to rise when will GDC introduce a provision for interest-free monthly direct debit payments? It is unreasonable to
assume (whatever the tax implications) that dentists will be able to pay almost £1000 in a single lump sum. Also it's time the GDC moved its
operations out of London altogether.
Would it not be suitable to increase the ARF for hygienists, therapists and technicians separately? Considering they are generally paid more than
dental nurses anyway, this may allow you to not increase the dentists ARF so high.
Thanks
whether more provate or NHS/community as I believe NHS/Community they should pay less as they earn less
The inefficiency of ftp hearings and how much money is lost through lost hearing days. Therefore we can look at efficiency savings in this area.
Introduce in-house legal advisors so that solicitor fees are kept to minimum.
What expenses cutbacks will you be implementing to manage within your existing budget - just like everybody else in dentistry? I am not trying to
be flippant. Rather, I am deadly serious. It is not enough to hide behind your 'mission statement' in order to justify spending more and more of
OUR money.
You need to be explicit in your cost breakdown such as to exactly what you pay to GDC witnesses and subjects under investigation
Are the complaints arising from NHS patients or private patients?
A breakdown of the types of complaint received and 'subject' matter of FTP hearings as well as the type of registrants receiving complaints i.e.
GDP (private or NHS), speciality trainee, community dental officer, consultant, dental nurse etc.
It is unclear from the data provided why FTP cases increase 116% in 2015 whilst complaints only increase 13% other than to clear the 'backlog' of
cases. Surely once the backlog is cleared the number of FTPs will only increase in line with the number of complaints received, dependent on the
percentage of complaints progressing to FTP (which we are unable to calculate from the data given as the 'backlog' is included in the number of
FTP cases for 2015.
The dental profession is regulated by CQC and GDC. All dentists have an in house complaints procedure. Lawyers are only too pleased to contest
claims of negligence on behalf of patients. These two facts should reduce the need for the GDC to preempt these modes of handling problems.
The first thing the GDC should be doing when they receive a complaint is to ensure these two avenues have been explored fully. Only if these two
systems fail should the GDC become involved. Good dentists are already being penalised financially by increased professional indemnity fees. And
CQC exorbitant annual charges. A further insult from the GDC duplicating the functions of these other actors in the field would be intolerable
particularly at a time when the fee income of the dental professions is being squeezed by government through the inadequately funded and
preposterous NHS system that most dentists have to suffer as a private dentist seeing patients failed by the NHS system I see this problem first
hand.
Not enough space to even begin to answer that question.
staff salaries
money spent on the telegraph ad
money spent on press ads encouraging patients to complain against dentists
costs associated with maintaining the address in Wimpole Street
There is no explanation of how your estimate has been arrived at .In the last 4 years there has not been any increase , how has the service been
able to function? Has the service accrued a deficit which it now needs to pay off?
Breakdown of costs of panels etc. The figures are given at too aggregated a level to be able to assess whether they are reasonable.
I would like to see the expenses you pay to panel members and others who work on behalf of the gdc as I think they are overly generous. Also a
breakdown if staff numbers and pay rates.
A full breakdown of GDC expenditure
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Salaries to the GDC employees.
Cost of refurnishing plush offices on Wimpole Street.
Money spent on advertising campaigns.
How are graduating dentists, straddled with £50K debt, needing to purchase a car to get to work, a flat deposit and first months rent, AND paying
£500 in professional fees before even starting work (from which we have taken a £3k pay cut), expected to be comfortable with this price
increase?
This will severely damage dentistry in the UK.
An explanation as to how so many cases are admitted into the FtP process rather than being dealt with far more effectively at local level
please stop wasting money by having a procedure to screen complaints before they reach you..this seems to be a witchhunt
You have been dictatorial in your actions
Investigation into WHY ftp cases have spiralled out of control. Raising the ARF without asking this basic question is akin to bailing out water from
your flooding kitchen without addressing the leaking pipe. Potentially ruinous to the whole profession.
A very clear breakdown both at the strategic level of why a dentist apparently costs 3 times more than a doctor to regulate, even though unlike
doctors they do not have the issues of access to lethal materials, and deaths associated to dental treatment are vanishingly rare in comparison to
medical treatment.
Why do dental nurses cost more than medical nurses and midwifes to regulate despite 99% NEVER working independently, and there being very
few DCP FtP cases beyond those triggered by criminal convictions? Can there be any answer other than gross inefficiency and over-regulation?
The GDC gives the impression of a typical quango in seeking to justify and extend its own existence and funding despite whether this may be
desirable, necessary or beneficial to patients or professionals. The executive clearly have too much influence on policy despite their public
statements betraying a lack of understanding of even basic facets of dental regulation. The recent report showing that Investigating Committee
were little more than a rubber stamp with the executive providing template cases to be approved before meetings, then modifying their
conclusions after meetings (!!!) show that the GDC cannot even regulate its own processes effectively. They have completely and disastrously lost
the confidence of the profession.
The public announcements on such issues as the PSA reports betray a deep lack of insight and unwillingness to acknowledge their own failings
tied together with a shameful level of spin. Any registrant coming to a FtP hearing with a similar attitude would be criticised in the severest
terms.
Heads of Charge sheets in the FtP hearings often contain laughably trivial and ridiculous charges. This betrays a culture of nitpicking inefficiency
and a lack of knowledge and training by those preparing them. This is an issue of incompetent management and cannot simply be blamed on the
statutory framework. More lack of insight.
I feel it would be useful for the GDC to stop pursuing patients to complain with advertisements that do not suggest that they firstly speak to their
own dentists. I think information on who thought this was a sensible course of action would be useful.
The reason for the increase in complaints
Why do you spend so much money (over £7million) on refurbishing your swanky offices in Wimpole Street?
Why do you advertise for new business as if you were a down at heel market trader instead of sorting yourselves out?
I am embarrassed to be represented by a Regulator who is the worst of the bunch (according to the PSA).
Nowhere do you explain properly why complaints & FtP cases have risen. Maybe if you insisted local resolution 1st followed by complaint to the
GDC if not satisfied, plus complainant must make statutory declaration & agree to costs if they lose, we would see only genuine complaints being
referred to the GDC.
An explanation as to why you have been so profligate, so lacking in foresight, leadership and strategy.
In table 1. of the consultation document where are the years 2011, 2012 and 2013? I cannot base any judgement of the ARF level based on: a
single year (2010); which then projects forward to end of 2014 estimate and 2015 full year estimate. The text says "The table above shows the
main reason for the increase in expendature in 2015..." No it doesn't. The projected figures are estimates only and are therefore technically
fictitious. Were any registrant to present the GDC whith this level of evidence in an FTP investigation the "evidence" would be dismissed! Real
figures would be appreciated!
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
What steps have you taken to look at alternatives, such as ensuring local resolution has been attempted first to dramatically reduce the budget?
Have you postponed refurbishment plans? We have to work within our means and cannot just snap our fingers to increase our income by 50% to
cover the barrage of regulatory expenses, introduced over recent years.
You have not provided the opportunity for comments about any other section. This doesn't look to be a bona fide consultation to me. You have
biased your questions in an attempt to gain the responses you desire, merely to deceive others who might be interested that x% have agreed with
your proposals. This consultation is a sham.
I note you intend to divert funds from the exchequer, so where will the exchequer divert funds from to maintain services, or institute cuts?
What level of efficiency measures to reduce costs have been implemented or planned
Why are the ftp fees so high? Surely these figures are unsustainable
If fees set at this level will be unable to afford.
Why you do not work with the profession, look at rejecting all complaints that haven't been dealt with through local resolution. Why you feel the
need to advertise for more complaints and maintain and inflammatory Facebook page bringing the profession into disrepute. How much does you
social media representation cost? How much does you ill worded advertisement campaign cost.
yes , Staffing levels pay grades and salaries of all staff as my fees are your wages so I wish to know i'm getting value for money . at the moment I
don't think I am . As the BDA state fees of professional bodies in Medicine have reduced even though conduct cases have increased so I am aghast
and utterly angered beyond belief at what you propose to do .
audit if the complaint could have been managed at a local level and did not require a FTP hearing.
It would be interesting and useful to know the proportion of registrants who are from overseas and non uk qualified who end up in front of gdc
panels. Perhaps increasing arf of those who fall foul should be considered in favour of increasing fees for all. perhaps a better way would be the
individuals who do fall foul should be forced to pay for their legal fees and lawyers to be funded directly by the individual being investigated
should be a better system (and farer for everyone else) I find it strange that being an ex dental technician that the gdc feels it needs to "regulate"
dental technicians and nurses and all the other parts of the so called "dental team" because the reality is that it is rarely anyone but the dentist
who ends up taking the hit. I and many of my colleagues feel the gdc is merely a self fulfilling organisation and does little to protect the public and
high street dental bleaching/cosmetic salons (run by non professionals) are a super example of this. Another thing that would be good to know
would be why on earth is the gdc taking out big adverts in national press asking the public to complain directly to the gdc instead of encouraging
the public to approach and complain through the well established in house practice complaints procedures that the gdc have been so insistent
that dental practices put into place.? Do you think you could save some money by having a sensible look at your ethnic questions policy - white
african white asian bangladeshi bla bla bla, what the hell does this have to do with the retention fee. yet another waste of money from the gdc. i
suppose it must be in case you feel the need to send interpreters into the arena so to fully explain and justify the gdc expenditure. Not that i dont
agree with equality etc but do you really need to know this information for your consultation? no you dont really but somewhere some brain box
has decided that you must have a box to tick on ethnicity.!
You need to strongly encourage local resolution at practice level and then local pct to help resolve the complaints . Gdc should only get involved
with serious complaints . Too many frivolous complaints are being made causing severe administrative time wastage .
Gdc needs to clamp down on silly complaints and when required bad dentists too
Please tell us how money will be saved. Can small Fitness To Practice Cases be resolved at a local level instead of reaching the GDC and spending
massive sums of money.
The GDC needs to cut its costs by relocating out of London and to more cost effective areas.
Why you do not recommend local resolution to cut your costs?
What you are doing to cut the costs of FtP?
You need a website more like GMC.
Why you are waisting money on social media?
Why you do not have a tool like this http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/raising_concerns.asp
What you are doing to cut the costs of FtP?
You need a website more like GMC, especially in view of the complaints management.
Why you are wasting money on social media?
Why you do not have a tool like this http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/raising_concerns.asp
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Please promise to stop wasting money on adds telling people to complain directly to the GDC. Instead promote resolution at local level within
practices.
Please pay everyone less. Lay people don't have expensive practices to run so they should never get more than £100 per sitting.
AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT IN TAX YEAR13/14 ON EXTERNAL SOLICITORS?
please consider delaying the start of some of the processing of non urgent cases until the end of next year as this means you could deal with
urgent cases first, clear the backlog more quickly and then deal with the rest next year when section 60 order is implemented which will resolve
more cases at a lower level hense drastically shortening the backlog ad cutting costs
No
The opinion of the GDC as to the causes for the inexorable rise in FTP hearings and their associated costs.
What legislative changes are wanted and what effect they would have
Why has there been such a large increase in FTP cases?
Is it the effects of the NHS dental contract which has perverse incentives such that the dentists' and patients' best interests are diametrically
opposed such that ethical behaviour is challenged. The poorly worded & wooly nature of the contract which is open to interpretation so will lead
to "gaming" by it's very nature.
Or perhaps it has been due to the importation of foreign dentists who do not understand the workings of the NHS system and cannot
communicate well with patients. Isn't poor communication the biggest cause of complaints?
Profit & Loss
Balance Sheets
Budgetary plans
Average cost of hearing
Details of the outcomes of hearings
What cost improvement measures is the GDC using to bring its costs down. My employing Trust gets no new money if its estimated costs rise the
money has to be found by improving performance and using existing funds
I would like to know the cost of court cases and average length of the cases as I feel this could be reduced to cut costs. Also, the amount spent on
advertising for patients to complain directly to the GDC as I feel that local resolution, if possible, would be the best option for all parties and a
good way to cut costs
Yes - what are the reasons for the 110% increase and what percentage of the complaints received have not been through local procedures. Also,
what percentage of complaints are made by NHS organisations such as Local Area Teams or Health Boards without any attempt at local support
and performance improvement and other such systems.
Specific budget allocations and proportions of spendings in each section, proportion of dentists getting complaints through GDC, annual salary of
GDC employees.
why are you spending so much of OUR money on advertisements and ill-advised arrogant fitness to practice procedures
How controlling senior staff costs and pay rises at a time of financial difficulty , proposals for funding unfounded allegations and resulting costs
from sources other than the registrants, why feel need to spend funds advertising complaining directly to DCS "if not completely happy"rather
than to practice when short of funds and unable to process current claims in a timely manner.
Detailed where the money has been spent, charge other than just professionals. Make it payable for patients that loose they cases.
Money you have wasted on advertising and consultants employed.
To make available different options of paying these fees such as monthly direct debits being made available to individuals.
Logically, as an organization that protects the PATIENTS and the PUBLIC, you have to consider funding out of taxation . It is nonsense to load the
dentists/professionals only with the financial burden.
Logically, as an organization that protects the PATIENTS and the PUBLIC, you have to consider funding out of taxation . It is nonsense to load the
dentists/professionals only with the financial burden.
Yes, why is it that a state reg nurse pays a yearly fee of £100 and yet reg dental nurses will possibly pay £128 . It seems slightly obscure that this is
the case. Can you explain why, when dental nurses average income in practice falls well below that of a state reg nurse but we pay so much more
in annual reg fees!
I have practiced for 40 years without any complaints to any Dental Body. I have practiced ethically and honestly.
WHY, WHY do I have to be penalised for dentists who did not do the same?
Charge those responsible double the normal fee, but do not penalise hard working honest dentists.
Also there should be a discounted fee for retired dentists, which should be quite obvious.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
What the chief executive is paid & how much this has increased over the years.
The cost of having premises in Central London
What is the increase in administration since the DCPs have had to be registered
Expenses paid to staff working for the GDC- have these also increased
Why there is such an increase in complaints. Are dentists becoming worse???
Why the GMC's ARF is lower than the £945 proposed for dentists?
You have stated your resource needs. You also stress that the bulk of your expenses have to do with fitness to practise proceedings, which have
seen a substantial increase in their numbers over the past few years.
The obvious lack in your explanation is the factors contributing to this seemingly uncontrollable level of complaints leading to FtP proceedings.
Armed with a list of the problems that explain the soaring number of complaints and FtP proceedings expenses, the GDC could then adopt a proactive approach to address those problems rather than looking at them with dogged determinism and fatalism.
More transparency with gdc spend. Also why are the gdc responding to complaints in a way where they are not being nipped in the bud. Many of
the complaints are being taken too far. And why are the gdc encouraging members of the public to complain?
I would like the GDC to explain why its retention fee is so much more than the GMC's, and other professional regulatory bodies. The GMC charges
its registrants £290 and there is a 50% reduction in fees for those earning less than £31000. I would like to know if the GDC plans to consider a
reduction in fees for its lower earners and for those working less than full time. In particular, for those working part time, they only require
regulation for part of the working week and this is why litigation fees are based on hours worked. Overall, I feel that such a massive rise in
retention fees is grossly unfair for registrants.
I think charges should be proprtionally less for those who work part time or those who are only intending to work for a few months.
I have been working part time for 2 years and was thinking of doing occassional sessions in the first 3 or 4 months of 2015.
However the proposed charges as well as other subs and insurance is a deterrant
We should see the expenses for these hearings, especially the legal fees. Often in these cases the high cost can be due to exorbitant legal fees.
A comparison with fees for other UK Regulators, for example the GMC. This would enable registrants to assess the situation in comparison to a
similar UK Regulatory body - one that is also facing increasing demands to deal with alleged poor practice
A guarantee that any new fee will be capped for at least 5 years
A much more robust statement of exactly how the GDC plans to improve efficient and effective resolution of poor performance cases
A recognition that local resolution systems could help to address many patient concerns. It is not the GDC role to "fix" problems with Area Teams
etc but it may be helpful to make a commitment to work with them to ensure local resolution becomes the norm wherever possible
Be clear about your systems to identify "minor" problems and deal with those swiftly - at present it "feels" as if every case is dealt with the same
way
Recognise that registrants who are no longer working as dentists often contribute greatly to public life and the wider health and voluntary sector.
The increase in ARF may deter them from continuing as registrants which in turn may prevent them from participating in other valuable roles and
activity
For many registrants this fee rise is perceived as grossly disproportionate. I don't underestimate the challenge faced by the GDC but this
proposed ARF rise has caused dismay. I am concerned it will further fuel the drift away from the NHS to private care
New graduates leave University with considerable debt - helpful to phase in the full fee for them
Will it be possible to pay for part of the year if one registers half way through the fee year?
How many cases brought by the public against dentists were unsubstantiated.
How much time is wasted unnecessarily by unsubstantiated complains by the public.
Also why this regulation body "For the public" isn't paid for by "the public" or even a small contribution! It seems quite frankly ridiculous.
Detailed account of all spending especially staff, advertising, and building costs
What ways have you tried to reduce the number of hearings? The time it takes to complete a hearing? The quantity of staff and number of hours
spent on these hearings? Considered passing the costs on to for nuisance complaints that continue to hearing stage? Have you tried to source any
government funding? Considered a compensatory rate for NHS dentists and DCP's?
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
You given no explanation of why the hearing costs are so high. The costs are ludicrous the G.D.C. has never made any realistic effort to control
costs.
The dentist is seen as a source of unlimited income because we have no choice other than to pay up if we wish to practice in the U.K..
Rather than try and rationalize complaints from the public and patients the G.D.C. encourage complaints.
It would be useful to know how many of the complaints received end with misconduct being proved. Also how many complaints received are
resolved without moving to a fitness to practice case & what the GDC is doing to ensure complaints are genuine
Salaries of staff employed by GDC.
The GDC needs to implement a different way of handling patients concerns. There needs to be a local resolution before complaints are escalated
to Fitness to Practice hearing which are extremely expensive to carry out. I do not think the process is fit for purpose, it does not serve patients or
registrants.
no
I haven't seen any proper justification for the flat rate fee. Why are there no concession for those who, for example, work part-time or are on
career breaks/maternity leave? This could be compensated by charging more for those against whom a complaint has been raised.
How much money is spent on advertising and limiting unnecessary expenses. I think it is untruthful in saying that you only charge the registrants
what it costs to regulate them when large amounts of money is spent on advertising; that has nothing to do with regulating us. You could make it
a requirement for all practices to display GDC posters with contact details and that all websites need to have links to the GDC. There are much
better and more cost effective ways of advertising and making sure patients know about the GDC than having a full page spread in the Telegraph
for example. I agree the fees need to go up and I even do not have a problem with paying what is suggested. Regulation is essential and necessary
but there needs to be a rethink of how you spend the registrants fees. For dentists working predominantly on the NHS, there has been a huge
increase in expenditure and regulation over the last five years. The NHS fees have definitely not increased by 110% and dentists have had to make
some hard financial decisions. I feel that the GDC is not trying hard enough to look at alternatives in managing costs; which I understand have
increased considerably due to an increase in complaints.
A detailed break down of the costs associated with fitness to practice, that enables registrants to get a better understanding of why costs have
increased by 88% since 2010.
If increased proposals such as those proposed for dentists are to be accepted, then there has to be far greater explanation of costs, equally costs
must be seen to be incurred to benefit the standing of dentistry in the UK, both in terms of quality standards and patient trust. Adverts such as
those in the recent national press do not embrace either of these essential requirements and could in fact needlessly increase the ftp figure due
to an increase in unjustified claims against dental professionals.
An 88% increase in ftp costs from 2010 - 2015 is an unacceptable figure and is obviously an area of great concern for registered dental
professionals, it is essential that further information is provided to registrants as to why these costs have increased and what the GDC are doing
not only to address the issues that have created these ftp claims but also how they are going to control these costs.
Given that the GDC has known it has been subsidising the running of the organisation from the reserves for some years, registrants would have
been right to assume that a financial plan would have been in place to avoid such increases for dentists (and potentially other registrant groups in
the future) in a single year.
If increased proposals such as those proposed for dentists are to be accepted, then there has to be far greater explanation of costs, equally costs
must be seen to be incurred to benefit the standing of dentistry in the UK, both in terms of quality standards and patient trust. Adverts such as
those in the recent national press do not embrace either of these essential requirements and could in fact needlessly increase the ftp figure due
to an increase in unjustified claims against dental professionals.
We also feel that this consultation document has left little room to express concerns in detail, given the nature of the consultation and the impact
it will have, we would have expected much more of an opportunity to respond.
It would be useful to understand the nature of the risks involved in your future business model by providing a breakdown of complaints e.g. NHS v
private - specialist v general practice - year of graduation - uk v overseas dental school - completed VT v not completed VT - full time v part time.
Indemnity cover is based on risk - we are well used to the categories for fee structure used. Y the indemnity organisations - my suggestion is that
you should consider a similar structure of fees rather than a flat rate.
Providing a range of scenarios for future numbers of complaints would be appropriate - the way the figures are presented makes it appear that
there is only one future possibility. These scenarios might including one where GDC does not proactively encourage patients to complain and one
where, together with the GMC, it actively seeks to reduce still further the effect of ambulance chasing solicitors. In deed, has the recent law
change in relation to those seeking compensation via these firms been taken into account when calculating figures in the document present.
More clarity and probabilities are required if you are to increase the ARF by such a large figure on its basis.
You could try to explain why regulation is imposed in the way it is rather than having a preliminary system to weed out the ridiculous.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Firstly the increase in complaints to the GDC how many of these have been through the inhouse dental practice complaints procedure and the
PCT before going to you?
The GDC should not deal with these complaints unless they go through the other 2 channels first the only exeption is those cases of criminal
nature.
Also the length of cases needs addressimg this streamlining of this process will reduce costs cases in a court are completed quicker.
Explain why Dental Nurses have to pay the same ARF as Hygiensits and Therapist when our wages are no where near the amount they earn!!!
What complaints does the GDC deal with? It seems it deals with all complaints received, but some of these will be bogus or insignificant.
The current consultation is entirely inappropriate. I believe, as the vast majority of my colleagues do, that the consultation must be stopped
immediately. The plans to increase the ARF must be placed on hold until a thorough and independent review of the GDC has been undertaken.
Concessions for people on maternity leave and those who work part time /out of work. Concessions for dentists who are british qualified and
have less complaints than those qualified overseas. It is unfair for these groups to pay more. No explanation has been given to say why they have
to pay the full cost. A one fee for all approach is wrong.
Actions taken by GDC to reduce complaints and a reason to why the GDC are advertising themselves so that they can claim more money from
dentists
How much the GDC has spent on advertising campaigns which clearly aim to increase GDCs workload while demoralising and vilifying the
profession it regulates?
Don't know
We say no to the proposed consultation on fee increase.
You have not mentioned the fact that you have spent thousands of pounds on advertising encouraging the public to complain. Not surprised that
the number of complaints are increasing. It's ludicrous that we are paying for people to complain about us especially when you have very little in
place to properly screen and vet which complaints should go further. You need to stop taking on the tiniest nonsense complaints and start being
more efficient in which complaints should go further and cost resources. Also do something about these no win no fee solicitors out to make
money.
A more detailed breakdown of where our money is being wasted !
The number of complaints is increasing because of the pathetic / underfunded contract which the department of health has unilaterally imposed.
If 15-17 % of the profession is under investigation at any one time, then you might want to consider that your level of scrutiny and " ambulance
chasing " tactics are excessive.
The GDC does not have its finger on the pulse of the profession it regulates and is TOTALLY out of touch.
Make the complainant sign an affidavit as it used to be. Then you will weed out all the maliscious / frivolous complaints just like the employment
tribunals have done. Open your eyes and see what is happening around you !
I think there should be an explanation as to why the "venue costs" for FTP hearings are so astronomical. The other costs involved also seem quite
ridiculous. I also believe it is unreasonable to fail to raise the ARF for 4 years in the face of increasing need for funds, and then use this as an
excuse for a 64% increase. Our pay has not increased by 64% in the last 4 years, indeed it has diminished in real terms. The increase is also based
on ESTIMATED future costs for the next 3 years, and again I think it would be more reasonable to stage this and at most pass on the ACTUAL
increase in costs.
Why do you advertise in national newspapers for complaints if you cannot handle those you currently deal with .
Why is your advert misleading in that you do not adhere to your own guidelines for dental practices regards complaints and urge / compel
complainants to seek local resolution
You spent £80,000 of registrants fees on advertising for complaints ,complete waste of money
it does not make sense that dental nurse who are paid far less than dental hygienist pay the same retention fee.
i do not understand the justification for that according to the GDC , it obvious they do not care about us as the dental nurse at all.
Why the GDC finds it necessary to spend resources on press adverts to encourage patients to complain about dental treatment? Resources
should not be spent on this sort of activity. It is completely outside the remit of the GDC. How many other spurious 'resource needs' does the
GDC claim to have?
GDC audited financial starements
Whilst other professional regulatory bodies eg. GMC have experienced very similar increases in complaints about registrants in recent times and
are subject to the same legislative requirements, the GDC seems singular in having to seek such enormous fee increases to dentists to meet its
obligations. Have you compared your processes and how they are applied to ensure that you are dealing with cases in an equally efficient
manner. It would appear that people are becoming much more ready to complain as time goes on and they have certainly had encouragement
from the legal profession to do so but are perhaps far more cases progressing toward hearing stage before the GDC than the GMC where perhaps
poor outcomes for patients could have even more serious effects.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Not enough information on complaints procedures and a breakdown of actual costs and how this money is spent.
Clarity and fairness
Information on money spent on advertising with respect to promoting complaints directly to GDC without recommending local resolution.
A clear outline of the failings of the GDC with regards the latest independent review, what it is doing about them and how it compares to other
related regulators such as the GMC
Why have the costs risen so dramatically? Where is the data to support this substantial increase?
I feel the GDC has not sufficiently explained how it will aim to cut costs to keep the ARF to a reasonable sum that is affordable for all members of
the dental profession. I think there should be more explanation of how the GDC will aim to manage complaints that arise regarding a registrant in
the most cost efficient manner possible, cutting down on travel expenses, hotel accommodation, and minimising the need to exculate matters to
a GDC hearing. Whilst there is obviously an important place for the GDC in regulation I feel more trust should be allowed for the profession as the
vast majority of us are hard working and caring individuals.
As a young NHS dentist, with £35,000 of student debt, I feel that an increase in ARF is not only unaffordable in my position but also stagnatory for
my career. I feel it will limit my potential to attend courses and further my knowledge as I can no longer afford to commit further funds towards
professional development. The lack of trust by our regulator towards our profession saps my passion for what I always hoped would be a fulfilling
career.
I hope the GDC can realise the the answer for improving the profession and reducing complaints does not lie in a hike in ARF but actually in
continuing education for the profession and encouraging a passionate and caring dental team which is trusted by our regulator and the public
alike.
Regards
I think whilst you have told us how you intend to spend money you have not outlined clearly a cost reduction plan.
I cannot afford rise in retention fee. I don't earn a great deal and have debts from training. There is no option to pay monthly or instalments.
You should charge the malicious complainants for their false complaints.
Your complaints process needs to have a clearer outline like that of the GMC.
You need to engage more with the profession who you regulate.
A breakdown of all expenditure, specifically including advertising costs and an explanation of why advertising is done at all?
Go and see how and how regulation of dentistry is carried out in Finland. You will be suprised how badly it is done in UK.
- The Act of Parliament did not give the power of making advertisements to the GDC in the social media.
- The GDC aim is to regulate dentists not to be against dentists as shown in the social media.
-increasing the ARF 64% is not only unfair but unacceptable, unreasonable and outrageous
The percentage of dentists who generate the most complaints. The majority of dentists will not have complaints against them, there must be a
minority who cost the GDC a large amount of money to be investigated and it is them who should be paying substantially more for their GDC fees.
I am strongly opposed to dentists who are behaving in a professional manner being asked to pay large amounts of money to cover the costs of
investigating those who are behaving in an unprofessional manner.
I think it is really unfair that dental nurses are being charged the same ARF that clinical DCP's are paying as generally their salaries are
considerably smaller.
we have no idea where the money is spent and if it spent wisely. so to arrive at a informed response we would have to see abreakdown of GDC
spending.
It is very strange that the GDC main role, appears to be, is to prosecute dentists by encouraging the public (advertising in a large full page on a
popular daily newspaper) to complain directly (instead of going through the proper channels) to the GDC, hence increasing the work force and
responsibilities, which are beyond what the GDC supposed to do: regulating the service. I feel sometimes that we guilty until proven otherwise,
unlike the legal justice system. This is making the dentists very soft targets and vulnerable.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Yes, you should give figures for the number of complaints investigated which are shown to vexatious, trivial, or should have been dealt with
elsewhere. There is massive overlap in regulatory bodies.
I think the GDC is engaged in a witch hunt against dentists, and will investigate even the most spurious complaints to the maximum, when it
should be clear from the beginning that it should be resolved in practice or by local NHS commissioners, or CQC or mediation. A lesson should be
learned from the success of the private complaints system. Also, dentists have had below inflation increases for 6 years, many DCP's will have had
even less. I would support a rise up to £650 for dentists, £200 for therapists, £160 for hygienists & technicians, & no increase for nurses.
How many of the Fitness to Practice cases are investigated and do not go to a full heading and at what stage the cases are stopped?
The costs involved in advertising to the public to seemingly encourage them to complain and the strategy behind this.
The GDC are proposing a 64% increase in the ARF, I think a more detailed breakdown of GDC costs and where they have identified cost savings
would be appropriate?
We already pay significantly more than our medical colleagues and this increase would take us to over double to amount, are we that much more
to administer/regulate than doctors?
There is no account made for part-time workers, this suggests one flat fees for all. Disproportionally this disadvantages part-time colleagues.
1. A 64% rise in any retention fee suggests either poor management or poor planning.
2. Everyone would agree that the profession needs sound regulation.
There are a number of other ways in which the GDC could reduce costs. These should be better demonstrated.
Examples
- The stated greatest demand is fitness / conduct, so if investigated, and found guilty, then that persons retention fee should rise for a given
period. A significant number of complaints come back to trying to generate extra income / not spend money. This would be better than a simple
slap on the wrist and warning.
- Make policies less vague, where there are acres of grey area. This encourages individuals to push the margins. Be specific and act.
- Why wait for a patient to complain before acting and nipping a situation in the bud. If members of the profession are concerned then this should
be sufficient to, at least, review a situation. Examples would be advertising and the supervision of DCPs / roles. As a member of the profession, I
don't have great faith that the GDC protects patients.
- Possibly reflect a persons practice to the fee, in a similar model to indemnity. For example part time having a lower fee than full time.
The consultation document contains a broad statement of policy and it does not provide sufficient detail and rationale as to how the proposed
level for 2015 has been decided upon. There appears to be considerable inefficiencies as to how the ARF is spent and a policy should contain
details as to how changes can be implemented and cost savings made before the ARF can be determined. A considerable proportion of
expenditure relates to FTP cases and this area should be firstly addressed. Consideration should be given to a sliding scale of ARF, depending upon
the likelihood of a particular area of professional practise or individuals being brought to a FTP hearing.
I do not think that GDC should be based in London. Need to move out to save expenses on renting. Secondly GDC assess dentists from Non EEA
through IELTS and ORE exams but there is no such assessments for EEA graduates. Is this actually the cause for increase in complaints. GDC need
to publish this data for general public to know.
Take into account the income of the dentists.
I do not feel there has been adequate attempt by the GDC to review it's complaints process and to make efficiency savings.
This rise will cripple new dentists. Acknowledgement should also be made for those working part-time or on maternity leave.
you should consider charging admin fee (payable by person complaining) when complaint is raised, as many complaints are driven by third party
organisation.
The information provided is confusing and incomplete
how many of the cases that go to the GDC are from non-UK graduates?
Honest and detailed information about how the GDC has been run for the past few years and why it has got into this position in the first place, if it
has been managed badly, which seems to be the case quite clearly as they have not been able to manage their affairs and finances, then this
needs to be addressed immediately.
The current consultation is entirely inappropriate. The plans to increase the ARF must be placed on hold until a thorough and independent review
of the GDC has been undertaken as I do not believe the GDC to be fit for purpose at the moment. The GDC should be regulating the profession in
a meaningful, positive and inclusive manner. Currently, the GDC has managed to alienate a large proportion of the profession it is supposed to
regulate by imposing heavyhanded, undemocratic edicts. It expects the very profession it undermines to fund these activities. If the GDC so
desperately requires funds to continue to bring the profession down, perhaps it should be seeking to fill the gap in it's finances by cutting out
some of it's unnecessary expenses. Advertising for complaints for instance.
A percentage breakdown of which categories/specialties of dentistry utilise more resources.
I work part-time (approximately 18hrs per week). I do not place implants, I do not carry out any short term orthodontics. I carry out general family
dental care. I am therefore strongly against this very unfair proposed increase in ARF.
Typical cost to take a complaint to a FtP hearing
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Much more transparency.
Listen to dentists and acknowledge their concerns.
why is the GDC empire building?
Disclose all information relating to the resignation of alison Lockyer
I think this increase is a disgrace. I work for salaried services, and we have part-time members of staff, for whom this cost will be over a month's
wages. These fees need to be proportional to the individual dentist. No other professional bidy pays anywhere near this amount of money per
annum. Why dentists?!
Cost of building works (estimates and actual) and how this will be funded.
Systems in place to streamline costs....why is each case so expensive?
Yes, your resources could be reduced if you acted in an unbiased way. The answer is to log the initial consumer/patient complaint and then ask
that they follow the practice complaint policy. If they have not made a complaint within the practice the issue should not be taken up with the
GDC. Most complaints can go away after communication pathway is opened up between the dentist/practice and the patient. Reduce your costs.
Don't increase our costs!
The number of fitness to practice cases has risen by 110% - What is the likelihood of this increasing in the future and how can this increase be
dealt with other than by increasing ARF fees to arrange more fitness to practice hearings?
Details as to the cost of chasing those illegally practicing dentistry should be reported, including any costs recovered from doing so. These are
clearly people not contributing to GDC costs and, as service users, should they not be?
In terms of dental education, do the Universities contribute funds to the GDC in terms of paying for inspections and reports? How much do these
establishments contribute? Should their contribution increase as the cost of funding the service increases?
Every dentist currently pays the same ARF fee regardless of their level of training and type of practice. It does not seem to take into consideration
dentists who may be working part time or who are pursuing further training. These dentists have reduced working hours so are they not less likely
to be at risk of receiving a complaint?
I understand that there has been use of some reserves over recent years as a buffer when the number of complaints increases. What would be
the plan if these reserves were used before increasing the ARF? Is a reserve of 10million pounds on-top of assets of 50million pounds not
excessive for a public body?
Why was the increase not gradually introduced as the number of complaints increased?
What would be the impact on the finances of dental workers in the current climate where wages are not increasing, to increase the ARF?
This seems to be a random number
You national press adverts seemed to me to be ludicrous and inflammatory
An explanation of how you have managed to loose control of the finances would be a start.
How could you allow the costs of FtP to escalate to £19,500 per day ? – Who is fattening their wallet off the registrants money ?
There has to be pay cuts at the GDC, starting from the very top whilst the registrants fees must not increase even by a few pennies.
How dare you give an open blank cheque to the external solicitors who then trawl through records looking for minor and irrelevant charges when
in reality they are scamming the flawed process and maximising their billable time.
Why does the GDC believe that the way to regulate the profession is by fear ?
Do you recognise that a number of suicides are a consequence of your approach?
I am aware of at least one child (baby) who will never get to know her dad as he committed suicide rather than face the Kafkaesque GDC.
Is it really appropriate in a civilised society for GDC to regard its registrants as being guilty unless proved innocent ?
What is the GDC doing to reduce the number of frivolous complaints?
For the sake of transparency, it might be deemed prudent to itemise what 'Fitness to Practice Panellist Costs' and 'Counsel Fees' are made up of.
These seem excessive and are probably paid at a very high daily rate.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Why punish new dentists for mistakes of previous ones?
Salary information
Resoning for not considering moving to a less costly location to keep rental cost down. As wages are not increasing in the dental profession.
Moving to suburbs of London will make more sense and be more cost effective.
GDC's previous consultation on the approach to setting the ARF said that "[t]he GDC’s concern is to ensure that we only charge registrants the
amount that it costs us to regulate them and to issue a right to practise to individual registrants." The consultation also said that "We have stated
above that the Annual Retention Fee should be calculated according to the cost to us of regulating dental professionals and that we should not
take into account the income and circumstances of individual registrants."
The current consultation provides no evidence to suggest that the GDC has complied with this policy in setting the new ARF. It provides no
analysis of reasonable and tangible differences between different types of dentists as far as the the cost of regulating them are concerned. For
example, salaried dentists working for NHS trusts might not cost the same to regulate as private dentists carrying out complex procedures outside
the NHS.
The GDC, by not even considering whether such differences in costs exist, is acting unreasonably and in a discriminatory manner.
Cost cutting would be a better solution rather than imposing a further cost to employment.
what evidence is there that you have drawn up a provisional budget consistent with an inflation-based increase in the ARF, or that you have
considered taking your staff off its final-salary based pensions into a defined-contributions system like almost every other public body and every
private one, why domyou want to raise an extra £18m to hear complaints about the NHS when the Private Complaints Procedure costs only
£500,000 in total.
Yes . You are there only because there are some professionals who are "offering" the chance to sue them forgetting that without them GDC and
patients can do nothing .
Without dentists patients can not complained and without dentist GDC DO NOT EXIST .
you have advertied for patients to complain to you . this does not seem appropriate since you expect practices to have an in house complaints
system .. This could be the reason your costs are projected to rise. we professionals should not be paying for this.
The steps taken to reduce the out of control rise in FTP.
All concerns and complaints MUST in the first instance be referred to local resolution. Only the most severe cases should progress to GDC and
FTP. The enormous costs associated with FTP make this essential financially but also to avoid disproportionate sanctions against registrants.
Trivial or vexatious complaints appear to lead far too easily to "fishing trips" and sanctions for aspects unrelated to the initial complaint.
The GDC is a regulator and has a duty to protect patients. It is not an ombudsman to arbitrate in disputes between patients and registrants. GDC
involvement should be only after it has been demonstrated that the dispute reveals genuine concerns relating to patient safety.
Advertising in national publications that private patients not completely happy should raise a complaint can only increase the burden on an
already overstretched budget.
The GDC's advertising and exposure in social media must inform the public that complaints can not be considered by the GDC until all local
resolution has been explored.
I do not feel that a clear account for this massive increase has been given . I would like to see evidence that you have drawn up a provisional
budget consistent with an inflation based increase in ARF
The GDC needs to completely revolutionise the way complaints are handled. The current system is clearly unsustainable. Rather that simply asking
us for more money with which to prosecute us (!) you need to strip out all of the minor complaints which could be handled locally, set a high bar
for complaints to reach FTP, and work to reduce the legal costs involved, increased salaried in-house lawyers. The only winners in the current set
up are the lawyers.
Your resource needs are based on a lack of insight into why there has been an increase in complaints, how other regulators have dealt with similar
increases and have other regulators have not had to increase their fees
Have all options for reducing operating costs been taken into account? For eg. many public sector bodies are ceasing final-salary based pensions
and beginning a defined-contributions system.
There needs to be more justification as to why the GDC requires an extra £18m to hear complaints about the NHS given that the Private
Complaints Procedure costs only £500,000 in total. More effort needs to be made to advise patients they need to be using practice 'in house'
complaints procedures before the case is taken on by the GDC.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Yes. Please review why you have failed to screen out vexatious and trivial matters at a screening stage by a qualified peer dentist; viz a GDP, if it
concerns a GDP and a consultant if it concerns a consultant.
You have so many FtP cases which fail, which could be avoided at a saving of £78,000.
If you could screen 110 such cases yearly in a professional screening stage and reject 95% of these in a year, that would save nearly £8m
Why have you not done this and not explained this?
Why do you take so many complaints from NHS England/PCTs when they have not gone through local resolution? Again this could save money,
perhaps £3 or 4 m yearly, by insisting they go through the due legal process first. By not doing this you are breaching your own guidelines.
Why have you not evaluated and explained the cost of this?
These efficiency improvements must preceed any ARF increase
As representatives of all UK trainees in Paediatric Dentistry, we wish to express the following concerns and comments regarding the proposed,
unprecedented and unacceptable increase in the
annual retention fee on behalf of the Group.
1) Dedication to Professional Development: We believe that Paediatric Dentistry trainees’ dedication to their continued professional development
is evidenced by their chosen career pathway and the personal and pre-existing financial sacrifices that they make in order to pursue
and provide specialist care to the most vulnerable persons of our population. Trainees attend recognised training courses and complete an excess
of the recommended annual verifiable CPD.
They work hard to maintain a knowledge that keeps them at the forefront of developments within their specialty and the wider field. Trainees on
specialist training pathways strive to achieve excellence in their chosen fields and therefore, as a group, we believe that trainees are less likely to
become involved in GDC complaints procedures and disciplinary hearings. Specialty trainees work in employer indemnified positions, under the
direction and supervision of experienced consultants. We believe this means we pose less risk to the public and therefore, areless likely to be
subjects of the GDC’s complaints panel. This should accordingly be reflected in a subsidised or reduced ARF. Many trainees are also responsible
for educating undergraduate dentists and in doing so contribute to the development and strengths of the emerging dental workforce. It is noted
that trainees in Paediatric Dentistry have negligible or no scope for private practice that might increase their risk to the public.
• Could the GDC please provide transparent data that details the number and associated costs of
case hearings that trainees in all specialties, and particularly in Paediatric Dentistry, are responsible for?
• Could the GDC please advise whether we can expect an increase in the ARF for inclusion on the specialist list and on what data regarding our risk
to the public the cost of inclusion on the specialist list will be based?
2) Enabling Excellence: Young dentists and trainees feel the financial impact of the proposed
increased ARF especially heavily. Young dentists’ confidence and trust in the GDC’s ability to regulate the profession is falling. The culture of fear
and apprehension that are widespread within
the profession are detrimental to young dentists. The proposed ARFis equivalent to half of one month’s salary for young dentists and trainees.It is
noted that the 2011 White Paper Enabling Excellence requires regulators to minimise the financial burden on individual registrants and that
trainees are crippled with pre-existing financial burdens as a result of their training costs, pre and post---graduation from University. On-going
costs to the Royal Colleges as examination fees and annual subscriptions add to the burden.
• Could the GDC please advise whether any consideration has been given to requesting a subsidised or reduced ARF for dentists in these groups?
• If not, could the GDC explain why this is the case?
3) A Crisis of Confidence: It is clear that the profession has united in rejecting the proposed increase in the ARF. It is also clear that the profession
is in the midst of a crisis of confidence in the
GDC and feels most unsupported for the commitment and dedication that the vast majority of
registrant sdemonstrate on a daily basis. We understand that the proposed ARF is far and above the highest charged by any comparable
healthcare regulator. We note that the Professional Standards Authority report concluded that the GDC had failed to meet seven out of 10
standards
governing registrants’ fitness to practise. What plans have been put in place to finance these fa
What plans are there to screen complaints about registrants? I am sure this would lessen the burden on the GDC and therefore the financial
burden on registrants.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
As you project 3500 complaints to be received this year yet only 296 will go to FtP panel what happens to the rest of the complaints. Is the GDC
making efficiency savings whilst triaging these complaints for example by not dealing with complaints that have not been initially taken up with
the dentist in question rather than wasting GDC resources? Are complaints that are inappropriate for the GDC to deal with being very swiftly
dismissed?
What changes are being made based on the Professional Standards Agency's damning report on the performance of the GDC especially due to the
high turn over of staff which is a costly process?
Grabbing more of our money to fund your rotten system is NOT the answer.
It is not meant to be a gravy train for the lawyers and advisers that "work" for the GDC, it is meant to be a regulatory system in an open, fair and
honest way. A last resort, not a primary option for people to complain about a dentist.
YOU should be ashamed of even thinking you can continue to rip us off without even having a regulator who has teeth, looking at what you are up
to. If a dentist acted in any way similar to the GDC, you would want them strung up, but I won't hold my breath that you will listen.
Why the GDC has chosen to attack dentists rather than offer any support of any kind. It is clear from the CQC statistics that a far greater degree of
patient satisfaction applies to our profession than other healthcare providers, yet their regulators do not behave in this way.
A cost analysis to discover how costs could be reduced to manage within reasonable range to match income.
I feel that the cost of operating in London is disproportionate the councils needs. More to a more central location out of the urban area.
An explanation of the reasons why you have failed to adopt any reasonable method of sorting complaints at a local level which has worked so
successfully in the past and an acknowledgement that your failure to have done so is the reason for the unjustifiable increase in costs.
Have you considered other solutions to save money i.e. lower excessive salaries and pensions to your staff?
Why are the GMC not increasing there fees by such a large amount. The FTP process is out of touch with reality and out of control. This is not the
fault if dentists. Stupid charges are being made against dentists. To few cases are being allowed to be resolved locally, dentists are being held to
random by a regulator which is not fit for purpose.
It's just too much
Relocated to cheaper region of uk
At least get a dentist as a chief exec
Me, going to retire and leave dentistry, just too scary to practice any more
No report from the GDC on the findings from the professional standards agency.
The reason why the GDC needs to rent offices in London, which adds to costs with people having to travel to the city and book expensive London
hotels etc
Why the process is aggressive and even simple cases are drawn out over long time frames.
The fees paid to expert witnesses and the GDC panel/employees
Why the GDC are spending something in the region of 6 million pounds on the building in London.
An account of how complaints are triaged. and who does this process.
Why DCP's are included in the same group but carry very different responsibilities.
Why the GDC saw fit to spend money and advertise their services in the national press while every dental practice has a written complaints
process that is open and on view to all patients that also shows the GDC's details.
The reason why the previous GDC president resigned from her post and the costs involved.
Why the GDC feels that it is in patients interest to publish registrants details on their own social media feeds, as this is not appropriate behavior
for registrants under standards of dental practice.
I want evidence that you have drawn up a provisional budget consistent with an inflation-based increase in the ARF
What other options were considered? In business if your costs are rising there are often various levers that can be pulled to bring more into line
with income. Raising fees by a disproportionate level appears a naive solution.
Yes. questions that are not inherently biased to produce the answer you want.
The level of FTP cases and associated expenses is ridiculous, better filtering is needed, patients should not be able to bypass local procedures
before complaining direct.
The NHS contact is not fair or equitable, it is now impossible to practice without fear of litigation or bankruptcy. The contact must clearly state
what is included and what is not. Fix the contract and you will fix many of the problems. This may not be in your remit officially but this situation
cannot be allowed to continue.
No one can be perfect in every way , it is time that the GDC realised this and made some allowance that we are ONLY HUMAN. Defensive dentistry
whether NHS or private is not in the public interest. The vast majority of us are trying to do our best in very difficult circumstances.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
On 10th July the Federation wrote to Evlynne Gilvarry, the Chief Executive of the GDC, to seek further information about the advertisement
placed by the GDC in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday 5th July. From the reply we received, we discovered the advertisement was the last in a
series of three national advertisements, one of which had been placed in a health supplement of The Guardian and the other in an edition of Saga
magazine, in addition to the one placed in the Daily Telegraph. These three advertisements cost almost £28,000.
Our objections to these advertisements and this particular failure of judgement by the GDC are:

The advertisement is an example of the lack of perspective the GDC has and its almost obsessive desire to alienate the dental
population, rather than working with the profession.

Producing the advertisement in the way you have directly contradicts the Government’s objective of reducing the litigious culture and
the burden it places on small businesses.

The decision to advertise in this way was made without any discussion with the representatives of the profession.

Placing such poorly judged advertisements in the national media is an obscene misuse of funds. As the GDC is the sole body responsible
for both the setting and collection of registrants’ fees, dentists have no option and are forced to pay in order to work and keep their livelihoods.
Dentists have become increasingly alienated from the GDC over the past 15 years. There are a number of reasons for this, but in the main it is due
to the lack of democracy, the political appointment of board members, and increasing administration and unreasonable demands placed on
professionals by a non-professional GDC staff.
In order to maintain the confidence of registrants, it is vital that any regulator of a profession (and we stress the word ‘profession’) is
representative of that profession, is balanced in its constitution and is efficient in discharging its duties.
The main objective for dentists with regards to complaints is to handle locally any dissatisfaction that their patients have. I would emphasise to
you that the relationship is between the professional and their patient. Only if a resolution cannot be achieved between the patient and their
dentist, should the complaint be escalated.
It is completely unacceptable for a regulator with an almost unfettered power over the profession, to use registrants’ own money to undermine
the relationship professionals have with their patients in such a blatant and aggressive manner. The advertisements make no mention of the
proper procedures for making complaints, specifically that the dental practice should be approached directly in the first instance.
This advertisement was designed purely to undermine the public’s trust in the profession and magnify the most unpleasant aspects of the
compensation culture. For the advertisement to state that unless the patient is “completely satisfied” they should complain to your organisation
is unrealistic and applies a burden of satisfaction that no public body can achieve. These advertisements taint the GDC with the same distasteful
reputation for ‘ambulance chasing’ type behaviour that some well-known dental law firms have. The GDC must maintain far higher standards of
behaviour than this; it should be encouraging local resolution and attempting to avoid unnecessary litigation.
The financial management of the GDC is currently a subject of serious concern as it is anticipating an increase in the registration fees for dentists
of 64%. By contrast, dentists have experienced a reduction in their income of approximately 10% over the past couple of years. Whilst dentists
have been prepared to accept their share of the financial burden on the economy, the GDC appears unaware of the economic climate affecting
registrants and the public, and the importance of living within its means.
Such a proposed increase in fees is insulting to all dent
You have given a breakdown of how much it costs to have a fitness to practice hearing, but the sums are phenomenal. Surely venues can be found
that cost less per day but would serve the purpose. I think funds are being inappropriatey used. Placing adverts in the telegraph news paper is
another example of inappropriate use of funds. If a patient feels the need to complain, they will. They need not need reminding by a big
newspaper ad. Adverts like that seeks opportunists who want to make a quick buck irrespective of anything else
I am concerned that the GDC is not filtering complaints or raised concerns effectively. Surely some of the cases should not proceed as far as they
do ,especially given the high costs involved.
Added to this the very long delays in hearing cases -up to two years in some cases I believe cause enormous distress to the Registrant facing
charges which are often found to be unfounded.
After nearly 40 years in practice I have to say that I am no longer confident that the GDC is "fit for purpose".
precise details of all and every disbursement paid to solicitors and barristers during the relevant period AND clear reasons for the payments being
made.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
This consultation seems to be asking questions so that predefined outcomes supporting the outrageous raise in ARF can be met, showing that the
profession 'agrees' with the idea...
I found the 'personal' email from William Moyes insulting 1 - "the proposed fee increase is £1 per day" - there are not 369 days in a year! Not only is the maths wrong, making the statement untrue (what
else is therefore not to be trusted?), but it makes you sound like a cheap salesman 'look it's sooooo affordable'.
2 - I presume all staff working at/for the GDC (including all contractors, sub contractors, temps etc) will all be taking a £1 a day pay cut too? As
well as hiking our fee, that would be fair...
3 - It's not my fault you did not raise the ARF since 2010. As a business if I put my prices up 64% at least some customers would leave and go
elsewhere unless of course they are tied to me by law ( I have no option to be registered if I wish to remain in my chosen profession). Also, for
those working to the NHS contract, we cannot even set our own prices, so we can't pass on any ARF raise.
"We have used these financial reserves to reduce the gap between our income and expenditure at certain points over the past 3 years. " This
seems unwise as it has lead to the big hike now, and also if your projected reserves are so low, you risk bankruptcy, especially if someone were to
sue you and win for loss of earnings etc.
4 - is it a good idea, when you are admitting to be struggling to deal with levels of complaints/FTP hearings, to advertise for more complaints?
Especially if the advert encourages people to complain if anything but 100% happy, and doesn't point out stage 1 of any complaint process should
be complain to practice!
Does the demographic of the 27% who did not know how to complain who you claim to be tryign to reach match the demographic of Saturday
Telegraph readers.
Does being concerned that " the public would lose confidence in dental professionals" go hand in hand with encouraging people to complain?
When all practices should already have complaints policies available and highlighted with signs?
You should crack down on causes of complaint, rather than try to keep up with rising numbers whilst still encouraging complaints direct to you
that may we be able to be dealt with in-house or at a local level (at far reduced expense!)
Given you admit your system is creaking under the load, and has recently been found not fit for purpose, I suggest you should get your own
house in order before coming 'asking' for more money. Asking for more money sounds as though you aren't planning on remedying your
problems, just risking throwing good money after bad! If I out a proposal like this for my business to my accountant or bank manager, they would
fall off their chair!
I feel that you should look at the GMC, and see how they can manage so well on a lower fee (which has come down in recent years...). Although
there is a warning of futher rises, I saw no note that the ARF may fall if your figures are wrong...
In proportion to the increased level of complaints being received by the GDC which involve fitness to practice can the conclusion be drawn that
the quality of dentistry being provided in the UK has fallen off a cliff or is there some other factor at play?
If the dentists are placed under the constraints that other professionals are under then surely any retention fee should be increased in proportion
to that or is our profession being singled out?
Further isn't one way of protecting the public to look at the contractual pressures imposed from above, HMG and therfore the causal factor not
being the proffession itself for the increase number of cases. Should not the government be held accountable and have to pay for this level of
regulation?
The way the questions have been asked also calls into question whether this is actually a consultation at all as the dices already seem to be
preloaded with the response. Hardly makes for an objective excercise and use of limited resources.
The fat that it can be claimed against income tax is irrelevant as it is the principle, the increased costs and working within the constraints of our
current economic climate should be constraints under which all regulators have to work under. What is to protect the proffesion from a further
hike in fees by 600% with the same justification that the number of complaints requires the fees payers to take all the burden? When would it
stop before the proffesion is financially brought to its knees and there is nobody left?
I'm distraught to hear of this proposal, this is a shockingly high increase by any standards. Associates are the backbone of general practice & can ill
afford such an increase. The cost of practice is becoming unbearable, professional indemnity is already too expensive. This is just another nail in
the coffin.
I cannot agree with the scale of this increase.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
The actual cost of fitness to practice cases
An assessment of the proportion of fitness to practice cases which could in fact have been resolved locally or by other simpler/cheaper method, if
assessed by a dentist in the first instance. I am aware that 70% of cases do not lead to suspension etc
An assessment of the cost and savings of a peer reviewed screening of complaints in the first instance so that spurious complaints are thrown out
early.
The actual budget you are allowing for renovations, and an assessment of what could be saved by having cheaper premises outside of London.
An assessment of the relevance of FTP cases of complaints against DCPs where you are also pursuing the supervising dentist
A detailed explanation of where GDC money is spent.
The GDC needs to reduce expenditure not just expect dentist and DCPs to cover the excessive costs.
I am a dental nurse on minimum pay – you are doing nothing short of stealing from me (who is least able to afford) to furnish your lavish lifestyle.
Shame on you.
As all I do is assist the dentist, there is no genuine reason for me to have to register.
Only the deluded amongst you buy into the scam of taking money off me on the pretext of protecting the patient. Deep down you know this is all
about taking money from the poor to make yourselves richer.
Why do you encourage by advertising in the national press complaints be made thus increasing your costs?
Why do you waste funds on frivolous complaints?
Why are FTP hearings so expensive?
Why are there so few general dental practitioners on the GDC?
Why isn't a practising NHS general dental practitioner in the chair of the council?
You have given information based upon your views of an increased workload, if cases of a trivial nature were referred back to the complainant to
respond often things can be resolved without the need for full investigation. Sometimes empire building brings with it set up costs and it is not for
the profession to fund an expansion beyond the original remit of the GDC.
To call this proforma a response is not acceptable, the questions are loaded, there is insufficient space to respond correctly to the various aspects
of the consultation and you have used the professions funds to advertise and bombard the profession with reasons why they should vote for this
increase, that is unacceptable and an unprofessional use of fees.
When we look at the review of Professional regulatory bodies this organisation received very poor comments to which they had to respond, if a
service unfit for purpose is currently being delivered the answer is not to place greater investment. I would suggest getting your own house in
order before expanding your remit.
I work 2 days a week, less than £8 per hour and have to support a family including daughter with mental illness and grandchildren from a broken
family.
Every pound I earn is desperately needed and cannot afford to pay the ARF as it stands, any increase will mean I’ll have to quit my job.
But you don’t care about that, do you ?
NHs dental complaints are down 20% -I question your estimations.
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh [RCSEd] supports the premise that patient safety is paramount and strives to increase standards in the
Dental and Medical professions. It supports the need for high standards in all aspects of care and sets these standards in the duties it performs.
The College, however, has been mindful of pay restraints and seeks to keep costs down as much as possible. This is particularly pertinent for DCPs
who would be hard hit by the proposed increases.
With a recent Professional Standards Authority report revealing operational weakness, perhaps a review is required to consider if resources might
be better managed in order to support key activities such as registration. On the basis of the information currently available, the RCSEd does not
fully understand the need for a 64% rise in the ARF, but can see some justification in an increase in line with the rate of inflation.
Misgivings about the level of the increase are reinforced by a lack of information. For instance, more information about how the financial needs of
the Fitness to Practice committees are estimated would be useful. Clarity about the factors behind the 110% rise in the number of complaints
would be welcome.
Finally, RCSEd believe this consultation could have been set out in a more productive format. Limiting responses to Yes or No questions restricts
our ability to scrutinise and comment on what is both a significant and complicated issue.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Please review why you have failed to screen out vexatious and trivial matters at a screening stage by a qualified peer dentist; viz a GDP, if it
concerns a GDP and a consultant if it concerns a consultant.
You have so many FtP cases which fail, which could be avoided at a saving of £78,000.
If you could screen 110 such cases yearly in a professional screening stage and reject 95% of these in a year, that would save nearly £8m
Why have you not done this and not explained this?
Why do you take so many complaints from NHS England/PCTs when they have not gone through local resolution? Again this could save money,
perhaps £3 or 4 m yearly, by insisting they go through the due legal process first. By not doing this you are breaching your own guidelines.
Why have you not evaluated and explained the cost of this?
These efficiency improvements must preceed any ARF increase
More information as to why there should be so many more FTP hearings. You are just firefighting at the moment - there seems to be no clear
objective to reduce the number of hearings by educating new registrants as to their responsibilities, attempting more local resolution and
ensuring only the most serious cases reach the hearing stage. Reading the hearing lists and proceedings there it is blindingly obvious what the
problems are - the GDC should be proactively doing something about it rather than waiting for problems.
Why have the gdc failed to meet their own set standards?
This fee increase is unfair for working mothers who work part time and not in line with other professions
I feel a more detailed break down in the budget would be prudent and a consultation on where further savings can be made
How you intend to reduce costs substantially to render any ARF increases unnecessary, as an alternative to your proposed action.
Why, when you say you don't have enough money to fund your fitness to practice committees do you put an advert in the paper encouraging
people to complain about their dentists?
1 Why, instead of better resource management, the GDC is intent on spending above its means by unnecessary expansion into complaints, often
trivial, anonymous or vexatious.
2 Some justification for spending on national newspaper advertismements inviting the public to complain directly to the GDC rather than use inhouse complaint systems, PCTs, or Health Boards' existing mechanisms. Surely the GDC realised that it was opening a Pandora's Box of complaints
that would have been better handled locally.
3 Why newsapaper adverts were targetted at the more articulate and well-educated readership, a form of social discrimination.
4 Why the GDC has seemingly indicated that it will increase ARF by 64% regardless of whatever outcome is shown by the "consultation".
5 Why did the GDC not realise until now that it was facing a financial disaster?
6 Why did the GDC not have the foresight to see that, by not increasing ARF by around the rate of inflation for the past 4 years, they have made
the problem worse. A 64% rise in ARF is unacceptable. The GDC know that whatever the dental profession say, in the end there is no choice but
to pay whatever rate of ARF chosen by the statutory body.
7 Why the GDC has lost the confidence of the dental profession?
8 Why is the GDC's own regulator unhappy with its performance?
I think the GDC should also be providing an explanation as to why money is being used out of it's limited funds for activities which cannot be
justified for patient or public protection. I refer to the recent money spent on taking out adverts in the Tribune newspaper in order to drum up
more complaint business for the GDC and why this waste of money was even necessary. Another good example was the unnecessary survey of
the public in approximately 2011 whether they know their dentist is not a medical practitioner and whether or not they should be addressed as
doctor, something that was decided on years ago that the example of the rest of the world would be followed, so why waste time and money
reinvestigating this issue? Most registrants are also disappointed with the way the GDC has conducted itself when one of the previous GDC chairs
resigned.
Further information about costs for fitness to practice hearings and to what extent alternative cheaper options (for venues, panelists' fees, legal
fees) have been explored is necessary to make a judgement about whether the costs your have set out for them are reasonable or not. I think to
the average member of the public, a cost of £19,500.00 per day would seem outrageously expensive and I agree. The GDC must do more to
reduce its costs before passing this onto Registrants by way of the annual retention fee.
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Reasons for such a steep increase in fees so suddenly. From further information seems due to inefficiency of GDC, why should dentists pay for
that?
How was the 18 million calculated? was some kind of regression analysis used to predict future needs? If not, where does this figure come from?
Do the calculations take in to account issues such as the effect the Jackson reforms have had? If so, would this not indicate that we are in a
"bulge" year?
You have not allowed me to ask this for subsequent questions. I'd like to know what you are doing to keep costs under control. I hear rumours
about changes ti Fitness to Practice, but nothing has been officially announced. Reform of the FTP process is fundamental, but we haven't been
told about he plans that are afoot, and no information has been given about there may change the cost projections.
I believe the GDC should raise the ARF by no more than inflation or by the amount the NHS UDA value has risen, and they should explore ways to
perform within their budget .
How the GDC is trying to reduce complaints from the public. Such as are complaints asked if they have complained directly to the dental practice
and followed the practice complaints procedure before complaining to the GDC. This could reduce GDC costs by reducing the number of
complaints, especially complaints that are not relevant or appropriate for GDC investigation.
How the GDC can justify spending thousands of pounds on adverts for the dental complaints service that do no it mention speaking to the treating
dentist directly if a patient is unhappy with their treatment. This is a tactic akin to "no win no fee" law firms and puts the whole dental profession
in a negative light. How does the GDC expect to promote professionalism and excellent standards in dentistry if it on the other hands encourages
patients to complain. The GDC's main role is to protect patients and to achieve that it should be working with dentists and dental professionals to
promote collective pride in the profession rather than undermining us.
How can the GDC claim to be controlling it's costs when it spends its money on advertising and a London headquarters. It could reduce costs
significantly by moving it's base north to a more central location in the UK, which would be better for patients and registrants.
Evidence that the GDC has seriously looked at the FTP process with a view to making massive savings. The evidence is to the contrary. There are
too many cases being referred to IC for trivial issues, ie issues that are objectively below the threshold for investigation.
A further breakdown of historic spending on external legal costs and any internal costs. This may be of interest given the introduction of the
LASPO Act.
Above all, why was there no communication with the profession on this for four years when fees were static, given that a rise in costs would have
been easy to project? And why was more effort not made in 2010 to push the Government to legislate? Waiting for the Queen's Speech in the
year before an election is guaranteed to ensure that nothing is done for years.
3. 3) We said we would provide a clear account of what we are doing to keep our costs under control, do
you agree we have?
100%
90%
80.2%
80%
70%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
19.8%
10%
0%
1
1
2
2
Name
Yes
No
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
Name
Yes
No
N
Percent
19.8%
80.2%
4383
4. 4) Based on the principle that we will only charge dentists what it costs us to regulate them, do you
agree that the ARF for dentists in 2015 should be £945 to enable the GDC to raise sufficient funds to deliver
its statutory functions?
96.9%
100%
90%
80%
70%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
3.1%
0%
1
1
2
Name
Yes
No
N
2
Name
Yes
No
Percent
3.1%
96.9%
4419
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
5. 5) Based on the principle that we will only charge DCPs what it costs us to regulate them, do you agree
that the ARF for DCPs in 2015 should be £128 to enable the GDC to raise sufficient funds to deliver its
statutory functions?
100%
90%
80%
76.0%
70%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
30%
24.0%
20%
10%
0%
1
1
2
Name
Yes
No
N
2
Name
Yes
No
Percent
24.0%
76.0%
4365
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
6. Are you a:
About you:
If you are responding as an individual please complete the following section.
100%
90%
86.0%
80%
70%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
8.6%
10%
1.5%
0.1%
1.0%
0.5%
1.7%
0.7%
3
4
5
6
7
8
0%
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
2
Name
Dentist
Dental care professional
Student (dentist)
Student (dental care professional)
Dental educator/trainer
Other healthcare professional
Member of the public
Other
Name
Dentist
Dental care professional
Student (dentist)
Student (dental care professional)
Dental educator/trainer
Other healthcare professional
Member of the public
Other
N
Percent
86.0%
8.6%
1.5%
0.1%
1.0%
0.5%
1.7%
0.7%
4434
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
7. If you answered 'dental care professional' to the above question, are you a:
100%
90%
80%
74.6%
70%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
9.0%
10%
9.0%
6.2%
1.0%
0%
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
Name
Dental nurse
Dental hygienist
Dental therapist
Orthodontic therapist
Dental technician
Clinical dental technician
N
2
3
4
0.3%
5
Name
Dental nurse
Dental hygienist
Dental therapist
Orthodontic therapist
Dental technician
Clinical dental technician
Percent
74.6%
9.0%
9.0%
1.0%
6.2%
0.3%
390
6
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
8. Where do you practise?
100%
90%
80%
78.6%
70%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
11.3%
10%
4.9%
3.2%
2.1%
0%
1
1
2
3
4
5
Name
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Other
N
2
3
4
Name
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Other
Percent
78.6%
3.2%
11.3%
4.9%
2.1%
3759
5
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
9. What is your age?
100%
90%
80%
70%
Percent
60%
48.8%
50%
40%
30%
25.6%
20%
10%
14.2%
8.4%
1.7%
1.2%
0%
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
Name
Under 24
24-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
N
2
3
4
Name
Under 24
24-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Percent
1.7%
48.8%
25.6%
14.2%
8.4%
1.2%
3781
5
6
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
10. Are you:
100%
90%
80%
70%
Percent
60%
54.4%
50%
45.6%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1
1
2
Name
Male
Female
N
11. Your name:
12. Your email address:
2
Name
Male
Female
Percent
54.4%
45.6%
3755
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
13. What is your ethnic origin?
100%
90%
80%
70%
Percent
60%
49.3%
50%
40%
30%
20%
15.2%
10%
0%
0.5%
1
12.2%
3.7%
3.2%
0.8%
0.2%
0.2%
1.1%
0.2%
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Name
Bangladeshi
Indian
Pakistani
Other Asian background
Black African
Black Carribean
Other Black background
White and Asian
White and Black African
White and Black Carribean
Any other mixed background
White British
White Irish
Any other White background
Chinese
Any other ethnic background
N
10
11
7.0%
4.0%
0.1% 1.0%
12
13
Name
Bangladeshi
Indian
Pakistani
Other Asian background
Black African
Black Carribean
Other Black background
White and Asian
White and Black African
White and Black Carribean
Any other mixed background
White British
White Irish
Any other White background
Chinese
Any other ethnic background
Percent
0.5%
15.2%
3.7%
3.2%
0.8%
0.2%
0.2%
1.1%
0.2%
0.1%
1.0%
49.3%
4.0%
12.2%
1.4%
7.0%
3315
1.4%
14
15
16
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
14. Name of organisation:
15. Email address:
16. Which of the following best describes your organisation:
100%
90%
80%
70%
63.4%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
30%
28.9%
20%
10%
0%
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
0.0%
1.9%
2
3
4
2.6%
3.2%
5
6
Name
Body representing dentists
Body representing DCPs
Body representing patients or the public
NHS/Health service organisation
Dental school (undergraduate)
Postgraduate dental deanery
Name
Body representing dentists
Body representing DCPs
Body representing patients or the public
NHS/Health service organisation
Dental school (undergraduate)
Postgraduate dental deanery
N
Percent
28.9%
0.0%
1.9%
63.4%
2.6%
3.2%
470
Consultation on the ARF fee level for 2015
05.09.2014 10:27
17. Where is your organisation based?
100%
90%
81.9%
80%
70%
Percent
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10.1%
10%
2.5%
3.0%
2.5%
3
4
5
0%
1
1
2
3
4
5
Name
England
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Wales
UK-wide
N
2
Name
England
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Wales
UK-wide
Percent
81.9%
10.1%
2.5%
3.0%
2.5%
602