Quentin is delighted to report overwhelming support for the campaign, which to date has returned the following results:
- 92 per cent felt the current GDC regulation did not particularly need to have a wider scope
- 99.4 per cent did not feel the CQC regulation would produce any significant improvement for patients
- 99.1 per cent were not confident CQC staff are sufficiently knowledgeable about dentistry
- 90.5 per cent felt it would reduce the time available for the provision of dentistry
- 95.6 per cent are likely to pass on the costs of regulation to their patients, rather than bearing the cost themselves
- 94 per cent agreed to being joint signatories to an appropriately worded letter to the national press, and
- 99.1 per cent expressed themselves happy for DPAS to lobby on their behalf against this extra regulatory burden.
Quentin commented, ‘I always find it extraordinary how many poll results show a 51/49 split on almost any subject, whether it be national politics, Europe, Brussels sprouts or whatever. Even questions which seem totally clear cut rarely produce a more pronounced swing than, say, 75/25 on the subject. These results, with hundreds of dentists responding, show almost unanimous views.’
Such extreme results send an unambiguous message to the powers that be, and buoyed by such support Quentin intends to continue his lobbying activities, while at the same time, being aware of the powers of the health department, he underlines the importance of preparing for imminent CQC registration.
‘Many dentists will already be fully compliant in most respects, and are drafting out registration forms. Others will be less well organised, they may still be working on certain written protocols and procedures and may have to register as non-compliant in a particular area but with an action plan regarding gaining compliance by next April. If any DPAS customer feels they need assistance with registration, they can by all means contact us on cqc@dpas.co.uk and we will try to point them in the right direction.’