Latest updates from the GDC

A view from the Chair: consulting on our proposed corporate strategy 2026-2028

Lord Toby Harris, GDC Chair, takes a closer look at our proposed corporate strategy 2026-2028, which is now out for consultation. We want to build trust and improve efficiency, while supporting the dental team to provide safe and effective care. We need to invest if we want to modernise our systems and processes, and have shared details of our expenditure and efficiency plans for the next five years. 

Give your views on our next corporate strategy

You can help to shape our next corporate strategy by reviewing our plans and providing your views before the closing date of 21 August 2025.

Our proposed strategy for dental regulations includes plans to do more to support the dental team to provide the right care for their patients, and improve our fitness to practise process by maximising patient safety and reducing the unintended impacts. We’re also proposing that we think more broadly about how we protect the public, by working collaboratively to influence issues that affect the public and patients, particularly to help address growing oral health inequalities and access to dental care.

Review and respond to our corporate strategy consultation.

Registrar visits Chalmers Emergency Dental Centre

The dental team at NHS Lothian took our Chief Executive and Registrar, Tom Whiting, through its service at the Chalmers Emergency Dental Centre during a visit to Edinburgh last week. The service provides care to registered and unregistered patients with a dental emergency, such as trauma, uncontrolled pain or ulceration.

Discussions on issues including access to services, registration and dental education were also held with the Scottish Government and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on the two-day visit to Scotland.

PSA consults on the Standards of Good Regulation

The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) recently invited views on proposals to revise the Standards for Good Regulation and the Standards for Accredited Registers; the consultation closed on 8 May.

The PSA has asserted that change is necessary to meet growing demand for services and emerging risks from new roles, technology and service models, and suggested that we all need to redouble our collaborative efforts to ensure regulation and registration are capable of supporting and anticipating these changes.

Review our response to the consultation.