The DDU welcomes news the GDC has introduced case examiners to improve the efficiency of the fitness to practise process.
Case examiners will now have powers to decide whether a case should proceed to a fitness to practise investigation or whether practitioners could agree undertakings to avoid any further punishment and the DDU has warned that it will be vigilant in monitoring the impact of case examiners on the fitness to practise procedures.
Head of the DDU, John Makin, said the DDU had contributed to the training of the 14 case examiners to help them better understand the perspective of the registrant in fitness to practise hearings.
‘Efficient, proportionate and fairer’
‘Now the GDC case examiners have completed their training and have started work, the DDU will monitor their impact on fitness to practise hearings,’ John Makin said.
‘We want to make sure they have the desired effect of making the process more efficient, proportionate and fairer for all involved, without compromising safety.
‘GDC fitness to practise investigations can be incredibly stressful for the dental professional involved and, until now, the hearings process has been slow and cumbersome.
‘We hope the new case examiners will play a role in improving the system and achieving a better outcome for all involved.’
