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John Makin says one positive statistic during the pandemic is the ongoing fall in the number of GDC cases. The GDC latest statistics on its fitness to practise (FtP) activities contains some good news. The latest annual report and statistical report, which the GDC has a statutory duty to publish, shows an 18% reduction in…
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John Makin, head of the DDU, explains why the GDC needs powers to reform its fitness to practise procedures. Nobody likes to think they might undergo a GDC investigation or, end up before a fitness to practise hearing. And it’s true that the likelihood of involvement in a GDC complaint is low and one which…
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John Makin explains why the DDU puts its members at the heart of any decisions it makes on defending or settling cases. The DDU’s dentist for dentist ethos means we understand the need to support the reputation of individual members and the wider profession. A good example of this is in the way our experienced…
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John Makin reveals the issues that have prompted most requests for advice and support during the pandemic in 2020. The coronavirus outbreak has been an anxious and challenging time in dental practice. Health concerns, financial pressures and the need to adapt to wholesale changes in working arrangements have caused real anguish. However, dental professionals have…
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John Makin reflects on how we can still learn important lessons from a difficult 2020. Many dental professionals are used to dealing with high pressure situations, stressful decisions, and anxious patients. However, the pandemic magnified these challenges to an unprecedented level during 2020. Over the course of last year, there was a variety of new…
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The number of blue-on-blue complaints cases is up 10% on previous years, the latest GDC report shows. Here John Makin gives his thoughts. According to the GDC’s Fitness to Practise Statistical Report 2019, the number of fitness to practise (FTP) complaints decreased by 16%. From 1,643 in 2018 to 1,415 in 2019. Cases raised by…
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John Makin talks about his love for skiing and the importance of hobbies to avoid burnout within dentistry. Please introduce yourself My name is John Makin and I am head of the Dental Defence Union (DDU). I qualified in Manchester in 1983. Worked as a general dental practitioner in Lancashire and Devon before joining the…
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John Makin, head of the Dental Defence Union, reflects on how we can still learn important lessons from a difficult 2020. Many dental professionals are used to dealing with high pressure situations, stressful decisions, and anxious patients. But the pandemic has magnified these challenges to an unprecedented level during 2020. Over the course of the…
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John Makin hopes for a legacy of understanding and respect once the memories of 2020 have faded. As we look back on a tumultuous and disruptive year for dental professionals and their patients, it’s tempting to look at how 2020 will be remembered in future years. I, for one, hope we will look back with…
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One of the first decisions you need to make as a young dentist is about your professional indemnity. It can be a confusing area. Head of the Dental Defence Union, John Makin, answers your top five queries. 1. Why do I need professional indemnity? Even when carefully managing risks when treating patients, dental professionals can…
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John Makin, head of the DDU, clears up confusion about the types of indemnity on offer. Colleagues adapting their practice to the pandemic will know that a week is not only a long time in politics. It is a long time in the dental practice too. While the deluge of new guidance issued in the…
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John Makin welcomes a review of the GDC’s Scope of Practice and explains why this is so important now. DDU welcomes the findings and conclusions of the GDC’s Scope of Practice Review: Final Report, published in May. The report’s findings showed support from the profession for the continued existence of the Scope of Practice (SoP).…
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John Makin warns the public should not hold dental professionals to an unattainable standard after the applause fades away. Every Thursday evening, people up and down the UK ‘clap for carers’. This is in recognition of the efforts of NHS staff and other key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s an uplifting moment. But when…
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John Makin looks at the current advice over whether dental practices can reopen and if they are indemnified when they do. Many DDU members have contacted us recently to ask ‘Am I indemnified if …’ . We have made it clear members should consider all relevant guidance from authoritative sources. They should make a risk-assessed…
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John Makin urges dental professionals to regularly check relevant websites to stay up to date with the latest advice. Dental practice has changed dramatically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s natural for dental professionals to be feeling unnerved by the speed and scale of the transformation. We have heard from many members concerned…
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John Makin remarks on the growing number of complaints coming from other dental professionals. Efforts by the General Dental Council (GDC) to better signpost those raising concerns about fitness to practise (FTP) to local processes rather than the regulator have begun to pay off. The number of complaints to the GDC about FTP decreased by…
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John Makin says dental professionals need to be cautious when marketing cosmetic facial treatments. Two new documents appeared in my inbox recently that highlighted the need for dental professionals to tread cautiously when promoting cosmetic facial treatments to patients. Firstly, the General Dental Council’s (GDC) latest Patients and Public survey. This looks at the views…
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John Makin recounts his time in Tanzania with the charity Bridge2aid. Travelling overseas is always a rewarding experience to learn about new cultures and to push yourself out of your comfort zone. There is the opportunity to learn how local dentists work, when you take an elective placement, often with extremely limited resources. In short,…
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John Makin explains why the GDC’s changing emphasis is something the dental profession should welcome. Fortunately, relatively few dental professionals undergo a GDC investigation. Even fewer have any action on their registration as a result. In 2018 the GDC’s Professional Conduct Committee imposed erasure or suspension in just 125 cases. Or 0.1% out of 116,173 registrants. However,…
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