How to apply GDC standards at dental school part 2

It’s not enough to pass your exams and assessments with flying colours. If you want to show you have what it takes to be a dental professional, you also need to meet the standards of practice and behaviour expected by your dental school and the GDC, as set out in:

• your university’s student code of conduct
• the General Dental Council’s (GDC) ‘Student professionalism and fitness to practise’
• the GDC’s ‘Standards for the dental team’.

This is the second of three articles exploring the nine principles in the GDC's 'Standards' from a student perspective so you can be confident about how these apply in your practice and personal life.

Principle four: maintain and protect patients’ information

When a student recognised a patient at the supermarket self-check-out with a companion, they approached her to say hello and started chatting about their next appointment at the dental school. The patient later complained to the l school that it was a breach of her privacy to have her treatment discussed in a public place.

What happened next

The student was upset when their personal tutor told them about the complaint but realised why their attempt to be friendly had gone badly wrong. The student wrote a letter of apology for their actions and for embarrassing the patient. They explained they had reflected on what had happened and understood that they had breached their confidentiality by talking about their dental health in a public place, promising they would not make this mistake again. The patient was satisfied with the apology and the dental school took no further action.

Applying the standards

Principle four - Maintain and protect patients' information

As in this case, most breaches of confidentiality happen accidentally but that doesn’t diminish the impact on the patient whose personal information has been disclosed. The GDC specifically warns that “you must not talk about patients or their treatment in places where you can be overheard by people who should not have access to the information you are discussing” (para 4.2.4). You need to be careful when you are in clinic reception areas and waiting rooms, corridors and other public spaces. Nor should you post identifiable patient information on social media, even private discussion forums for dental professionals (para 4.2.3).

The GDC regards patient confidentiality as a matter of trust and central to the relationship between patients and dental professionals and this applies to any information that you learn in your professional role. Although most patients are happy for their details to be shared with others involved with their care, you still need to get their consent and you must always seek informed consent before sharing information for any other reason (explaining who, what, why, how the information will be used and the likely consequences). If someone refuses consent, you should respect this unless there is an overriding public interest such as a risk to the patient's safety, but you should seek advice about this first.

Principle five: have a clear and effective complaints procedure

A student attended a DDU presentation on complaints handling at their dental school and was surprised to hear the DDU adviser say that saying sorry to a patient who had complained could be part of an effective response and was not an admission of wrongdoing. They later asked whether an apology was tantamount to admitting liability and could encourage the patient to make a claim.

What happened next

The DDU adviser reassured the student that there were no legal concerns about apologising when something had gone wrong and that a sincere apology went a long way towards rebuilding trust with an unhappy patient, rather than a more defensive response. The adviser explained that that this was a common misconception among registered dental professionals too but Section 2 of the Compensation Act 2006 explicitly states that, "an apology, offer of treatment or other redress, shall not of itself amount to an admission of negligence or breach of statutory duty".

Applying the standards

Principle 5 - Have a clear and effective complaints procedure

No one likes to be on the receiving end of a complaint but the GDC expects you to respect patients’ right to complain and respond promptly, constructively and politely, following your organisation’s complaints procedure. In the DDU’s experience, speed, empathy and a willingness to listen can often be all that are needed to resolve concerns and ensure complaints don’t escalate to the next stage (the Ombudsman for NHS treatment or the Dental Complaints Service for private treatment).

Under para 5.3 of its standards guidance the GDC sets out the principles of effective complaints handling which emphasises the need for good communication throughout. For example, it says you should provide details of the complaints procedure and timescales; keep the patient updated about any delays; offer “an apology and a practical solution where appropriate”; and ensure your written response is “clear, deals with the patient’s concerns and is easy for them to understand”.

If a patient complains directly to you while you’re still a student, listen to their concerns   and report what’s happened to the clinic supervisor so they can manage the situation. Be open, honest and reflective with your tutor if you’re asked to give your account and seek DDU advice if you need it.

Principle six: work with colleagues in a way that is in patients’ best interest

A student dentist saw a patient who needed a filling   and periodontal treatment. Realising they had not completed enough restoration procedures, the student decided to do the filling himself but referred the patient to a student therapist for the periodontal work. The student therapist questioned this approach, asking why she could not do both treatments at the same time, saving the patient additional visits to the clinic.

What happened next

Having spoken with his colleague, the student dentist recognised that he was not acting in the patient’s best interest by splitting their treatment this way. After seeking advice from his tutor, the student amended the treatment plan and the patient later commented how convenient it was to get the treatment done in fewer visits.

Applying the standards

Principle 6 - Work with colleagues in a way that serves the interest of patients

Whether a patient requires the skills of a dentist, dental care professional or a specialist, the GDC says “you must work effectively with your colleagues and contribute to good teamwork” (para 6.1) in order to “provide appropriate dental care for your patients” (para.6.1.1).

Effective communication and co-operation between team members is particularly important when it comes to referrals and delegation. Whether you’re making the request or being asked to take on a task or referral, you must be sure this is appropriate for the individual patient and always be respectful and fair to your colleagues.

For example, the GDC continues that you should only refer or delegate to another member of the team “if you are confident that they have been trained and are both competent and indemnified to do what you are asking” (para 6.3.1) and you must ensure your request is clear and includes all relevant information. Equally, you should only accept such a request if “you are clear about what you are being asked to do and that you have the knowledge and skills to do it” (para 6.4.1).

The GDC’s Scope of Practice guidance sets out the skills and abilities each registrant group should have after qualifying and what additional skills they can develop with further training. However, no one should accept a task they feel unable to carry out safely or which they believe isn’t appropriate for the patient. Nor should they be put under pressure to do so.

For continuity of care, it’s also important to record the names of the other dental professionals involved in providing dental care and discussions about a patient’s treatment plan.

Next time, we'll look at how dental students can apply GDC principles on working within their professional knowledge and skills, raising concerns and ensuring their personal behaviour retains patients’ confidence. 

This page was correct at publication on 22/11/2024. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.