GDC sets out three-year improvement roadmap

The General Dental Council (GDC) has set out a new roadmap for continuous improvement and reform over the next three years.

Responding to recent criticism of its performance from numerous quarters, the regulator's Patients, Professionals, Partners and Performance document details how it will improve its performance and efficiency to better support dentists and dental care professionals.

Key priorities will include the provision of improved information, better complaints handling, enhanced training resources and reduction in the time it takes to investigate cases.

It will also be working with partners in the NHS and other regulators to ensure there is support for dental professionals who are experiencing stress and to improve current regulations, while also operating with greater transparency.

William Moyes, chair of the GDC, said: "This is a pivotal moment in our history, as we move ahead with an exciting programme which will contribute to the significant improvements in dental regulation."

The recent criticism of the GDC has been such that Lord Hunt recently called for its board to resign during a House of Lords discussion, but Mr Moyes told Dentistry.co.uk that he believes this call was based on many complaints that have already been addressed.