Dental News - Continued cooperation for England’s dental regulation

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 19. July 2017

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NEWCASTLE, UK: The national group of governing bodies that are responsible for ensuring that people receive safe, high-quality and compassionate dental care throughout England is calling on the sector to continue putting quality and improvement at the heart of its work. The board, which includes the Care Quality Commission (CQC), recently published its report Working Together, Delivering Change, which calls for a cultural shift across the profession to help people obtain the best possible dental care available.

In the review, the Regulation of Dental Services Programme Board (RDSPB) states that certain developments, such as its joint statement on dental complaints, are significant steps towards achieving the desired goals, but the commitment must be reflected and embedded across the broader dental sector, including providers, regulators and commissioners.

In addition, the CQC has signed a new memorandum of understanding with the General Dental Council (GDC) to refresh its joint commitment to working closer together, improving data sharing and reducing duplication.

Dr Janet Williamson, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice and Dentistry, said: “As the regulator for health and social care, CQC is determined to make sure that people have access to safe and high-quality dental care, and to encourage improvement. We share this drive with our partners on the Regulation of Dental Services Programme Board and while the majority of dental services in this country are of a good standard, we need to see it from everyone involved in the provision and commissioning of dental care.”

Matthew Hill, Executive Director of Strategy at the GDC, said that the RDSPB is making a real difference by already delivering on some innovative new ways of working. “Cheshire and Merseyside LDN have established a network of peer review groups, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight LDC have also established a Practitioner Advice and Support Service to provide support to those on the front line.” However, Hill admitted that there are still many opportunities for regulators to work with dental teams to ensure the best possible care for their patients.

The RDSPB, which was established in 2014 to bring together organisations relevant to dental regulation, is made up of the CQC, the Department of Health, the GDC, Healthwatch England, the NHS Business Services Authority and NHS England.