Originally published in September 2003
Private dentistry has been put under the microscope by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) following a complaint lodged by the Consumer Association in 2001 which alleged that competition was ineffective. Now the OFT report on the private dentistry market has resulted in an Action Plan for Private Dentistry, published by the Government in June 2003.
Information for patients
The Government will work with the General Dental Council (GDC)and the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI)to ensure that:
- all professional staff in dental practices are registered and comply with the existing requirements in the GDC ’s guidance ‘Maintaining Standards ’on the provision of information to patients, and
- the guidance is enforced to ensure that dental practices:
- Clearly display to consumers indicative prices for key services
- Give patients written treatment plans
- Issue itemised accounts for treatment carried out
- Prominently display the services available under the NHS, and those available privately
- Make available Department of Health information on NHS treatments
- Ensure patients know whether they will be treated under the NHS or privately; what the options are; and the reasons for offering private treatment
- Use appropriate consent forms for mixing NHS and private dentistry
- Routinely forward patients ’records when patients change dentists
The OFT is to carry out an awareness campaign to publicise the entitlement of patients to receive this information.
Clinical pathways
The Government will support the development of evidence based clinical pathways in treatment provision. It is hoped that the use of clinical pathways in combination with new remuneration arrangements will address current concerns about incentives for dentists to under or over treat patients.
Complaints procedures
The Government will work with the GDC and other bodies on the introduction of a private dentistry complaints scheme.
The GDC will be given a range of additional sanctions to impose on dentists – sanctions that will be relative to the type and gravity of professional misconduct. They will be introduced during 2004.
Changes and consultation
The Government is committed to lifting the restriction on the number of corporate bodies that can carry out the business of dentistry,and it will consult on a number of proposals in its action plan.The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.