PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: Monday, 17 September 2012
Dentists who misinform patients regarding treatment options run the risk of having their NHS contract terminated.
UK-wide dental defence organisation MDDUS is reissuing its earlier warning regarding this section of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) report on dentistry in light of the recently published government response.
The original OFT report, which came out in May, made recommendations with regards to a number of key areas, including direct access, complaints and the sale of private dental plans.
However, the information which is offered to patients about the availability of NHS dentistry was highlighted as an area of particular concern. In fact, the OFT estimate that 500,000 patients each year receive inaccurate advice about their right to receive certain treatments on an NHS basis.
Following the report, MDDUS emphasised the need for dentists to clarify whether charges are private or on the NHS and to ensure patient interests are put first when considering treatment options. Link to original article.
MDDUS dental adviser Doug Hamilton says: “MDDUS reminded members that the GDC require all patients to be given an estimate of costs which clarifies whether the treatment is being provided privately.
“Furthermore, NHS practitioners are contractually obliged to provide accurate information to their patients as to the availability and quality of NHS treatment.
“This advice by MDDUS has proved prescient now that the concerns regarding patient misinformation have been singled out by the UK government in its response to the OFT report.”
The government response endorses the OFT’s recommendation that PCTs, the GDC and the CQC take a more pro-active approach to ensuring that private and NHS dentists provide their patients with transparent and accurate pricing information prior to treatment being commenced.
“If anything, the government takes an even more aggressive approach, suggesting that the contracts of NHS providers could be terminated if patients have been deliberately misinformed, if NHS charges posters are not on display or if information leaflets are not available,” adds Hamilton.
Although the government paper confines itself to the OFT recommendations as they apply in England, some of the obligations to which it refers are mirrored in devolved legislation.
Therefore, MDDUS urges members throughout the UK to familiarise themselves with the applicable regulations.
If in any doubt, seek assistance from your dental defence organisation.
Ends
For further information contact Richard Hendry on 0845 270 2034 or 07976 272266, or email rihendry@mddus.com.
Note to editors
MDDUS (The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland) is a medical and dental defence organisation providing access to professional indemnity and expert medico- and dento-legal advice for doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals throughout the UK. For further information on MDDUS go to www.mddus.com.
This page was correct at the time of publication. 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.