GDC to maintain dental registration fee levels in 2012

The General Dental Council (GDC) has announced that it will not be increasing its registration fees for dentists and dental care professionals in 2012.

A decision has been taken as part of the industry body's latest budget to maintain fees at their 2011 levels of 576 pounds for dentists and 120 pounds for dental care staff.

These fees are used by the GDC to fund its work in a number of key areas, including upholding quality standards, assuring high-calibre dental education, helping patients with complaints and keeping dentists abreast of regulatory changes.

Commenting on the decision, the organisation said this falls in line with its current operational strategy and the government's command paper on effective use of GDC resources.

The body will also be seeking to make a number of improvements to its operational effectiveness in the coming year.

This comes in the same month that the GDC announced the election of Kevin O'Brien as its new chair, effective immediately.