Pay attention

UK-wide dental defence organisation MDDUS has asked members to be aware of particular aspects of the new GP17 which was introduced in Scotland at the beginning of August 

This form differs from the previous version in a number of respects and Practitioner Services have set up road-shows, online teaching and a helpdesk in a coordinated effort to avoid any confusion.

However, Doug Hamilton, dental adviser at MDDUS, suggests that there are certain provisions which perhaps merit additional consideration from a dento-legal perspective.

“Members should be particularly mindful of the new requirement to provide details regarding incomplete treatment,” says Hamilton. “There are now two boxes, one which stipulates that the patient has failed to return and the other that the patient has withheld consent to further treatment.

“At first glance, it is difficult to identify the reason for this inclusion. It may have relevance where claim forms are opened and closed in quick succession, a pattern which tends to come under close scrutiny, particularly where circumvention of the prior approval limit is suspected.