Dental organisations welcome PSA report on health regulation

Dental industry bodies have welcomed the findings of a new Professional Standards Authority (PSA) report highlighting the need for reforms of health sector regulation.

The report, entitled Rethinking Regulation, has indicated that current healthcare regulatory models are out of date, over-complicated and expensive, while calling for a new focus on fundamentals and trust.

In response, the General Dental Council (GDC) agreed with the idea that regulators need to increase their focus on preventing breaches of standards, noting it is already taking steps to achieve this.

It pledged to work alongside the PSA and the Department of Health to create a regulatory framework that is fit for purpose.

Meanwhile, the British Dental Association (BDA) said current healthcare regulation is damaged by the fact that "antiquated laws remain standard practice", noting that the GDC is one of the worst-performing regulators in the UK, and therefore in need of the most comprehensive reforms.

Mick Armstrong, chair of the BDA, said: "Effective independent regulation requires trust, and rebuilding that will mean genuine engagement, not just lip service."