A single blow

In my column last month I echoed numerous dentists’ concerns with the Care Quality Commission’s registration process. At the very least, I had hoped that by the time my article was published that the CQC would have clarified issues for dentists who are being forced into the unwelcome new regulatory regimen. Unfortunately, one month on, we appear to be no further forward then we were back then. Information from CQC sources still appears contradictory and confused. Attending workshops run by CQC staff has not proved particularly helpful either as the regulatory staff themselves are not always well informed.

The British Dental Association has called for a delay in the process but it has fallen on deaf ears. Dentists from all over the country have written to their MPs asking for help in stopping the CQC juggernaut heading towards dental practice. In return, MPs promise to investigate further, but most tend to end up with replies from Andrew Lansley (or at least signed with his name) stating how the CQC will be regulating with a light touch and will require very little time from dentists to comply with all the paperwork. I suspect the letter has been drafted by a civil servant who will be strongly backing the CQC processes and would not want it to be scrapped.