Patient safety at the heart of Direct Access

In the past every member of the dental team had to work on the prescription of a dentist. This meant that patients had to be seen by a dentist before being treated by any other member of the dental team.

Following a detailed review of evidence and a full discussion at a Council meeting on March 28, 2013, it was agreed this should change as outlined below. Full guidance for registrants will be published before these changes come into effect on May 1, 2013.

Chair of the GDC Kevin O’Brien said:

"This decision has been made with patient safety as an upmost priority. Registrants treating patients direct must only do so if appropriately trained, competent and indemnified. They should also ensure that there are adequate onward referral arrangements in place and they must make clear to the patient the extent of their scope of practice and not work beyond it."

It should be remembered that: