GDC & GMC
GDC Registration – update January 2023
Email sent to all members of BAOMS
31 January 2023
Position statement on GDC registration requirements for oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other healthcare professionals regulated by statute
When I took over as Chair of Council in January 2020, one of my first tasks was to contact the GDC to see if we could develop a new policy document providing more clarity for colleagues on when OMFS surgeons who are registered with the GMC might also need dental registration.
We have worked with senior officials at the GDC for the last 18 months, building a relationship and emphasising how the ‘O’ in OMFS is part of a specialty regulated by the GMC. Working within the various frameworks and legislation around dentistry, we have been able to develop a new policy document with the GDC which should provide colleagues with clarity about the settings for dual registration.
The final version was approved by GDC Council just before Christmas 2022. Late last week we received an email from the GDC informing us that the policy will be published on 30 January 2023. However, it should be noted that we were not allowed to edit the final version following approval by GDC Council and we were hoping it would come to BAOMS Council first before being published by the GDC. Therefore this has not had our final signoff. We politely asked the GDC to delay publication pending approval by BAOMS Council, but they have told us that no further changes will be made to this version, but have offered to work with us going forward.
That aside, the GDC now, and importantly, recognise that irrespective of location (primary or secondary care), OMFS colleagues will be able to undertake oral surgery procedures as part of wider medical care. Some examples are included in the policy document to help illustrate this. Wider medical care can include anything that improves patient health. So for example, third molars, roots and carious teeth could be extracted in a dental practice setting without GDC registration in order to treat current problem or if the patient had been assessed by a colleague on the GDC register. In entirely elective cases, orthodontic extractions for example, the singularly registered OMFS would be carrying out a treatment prescription - effectively taking a referral from a GDC registrant.
We would recommend that colleagues read the document carefully and assess their own working practice against the guidelines. We cannot give advice to individuals about whether or not they wish to remain on the GDC register. Essentially, the GDC wish us to 'self regulate’ but are also available for advice.
We would strongly emphasise that undertaking any dental procedures (conservation, periodontal treatment etc) require GDC registration. However, as you will see from the final GDC policy document (which has required legal input and approval from GDC Council), most oral surgery procedures could be performed without the need for GDC registration.
The GDC have noted that the "registration requirements in their legislation has not changed. The purpose of the statement is to clarify the existing requirements, we do not expect any major disruption around registration arrangements for OMFS colleagues. We remain very happy to support any queries that may arise going forward."
Hopefully we will continue to develop our good and mutually beneficial relationship with the GDC. One area for future discussion will be the GDC CPD requirements for OMFS colleagues, which are currently not aligned with GMC requirements. We shall keep you updated!
The policy document is available on the GDC website
With best wishes
Peter
PA Brennan: Chair, BAOMS Council & Rob Banks: Honorary Treasurer (Honorary Secretary 2019-2021)
PMETB Review 2008
In June 2006, the Department of Health wrote to PMETB to request that the Board lead a review of the specialty training programme for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery across the four nations of the UK.
The primary purpose of the review was to determine whether the current OMFS training programme was fit for purpose - the outcome was that it was, and the board made several recommendations as to how it could be streamlined.