GDC and BDA at odds again over ARF consultation

The General Dental Council (GDC) has rejected criticisms from the British Dental Association (BDA) over the current consultation on the level of its annual retention fee (ARF).

Playing down accusations that its handling of the process has been flawed or unlawful, the GDC has reiterated its stance that the consultation is based on a clear policy and that sufficient information is available for dentists to make informed responses.

The GDC is planning a 64 percent increase to the ARF, which the BDA argues is unnecessary and harmful to the industry. Last month, it threatened to bring a judicial review, arguing that the current consultation should be suspended.

According to the GDC, there have been more than 4,000 responses to the process so far, all of which will be carefully considered before a final decision on the ARF rise is made in September.

However, the BDA continues to assert that the GDC has not addressed key concerns, while stating that the regulator will not have time to properly consider all the relevant opinions in the timescale it has set out.

Mick Armstrong, chair of the BDA's principal executive committee, said: "The GDC has left barely a fortnight to weigh up the views and evidence from thousands. Again, we will leave it to dentists to draw their own conclusions."