The cost of compliance

That’s according to a recent investigation by the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers (NASDAL). This sees an even greater increase than in 2014 when NASDAL last ran such an investigation (and a figure of 845 per cent).

The investigation found that the advent of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), HTM01-05 and a ‘culture of compliance’ had increased dentists’ costs massively.

Back in the mid-2000s, the essential requirements for setting up in practice were a one off registration fee to the General Dental Council and an annual retention fee and registration with the Information Commissioner’s Office. The scene is now very different.

In 2016, it has been estimated that it costs a single handed practitioner £15,150 on an annual basis to meet the requirements of CQC and compliance alone. Combined with the various mandatory registration fees and indemnity, the figure reaches £21,875, an overall percentage increase in the cost of compliance of 1086 per cent, compared to general inflation over the same period of 35 per cent.