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John Makin on how to temper the fallout when a relationship between practice and associate turns sour. Dentists have traditionally worked in general practice on a self-employed basis. In most cases, it’s a win-win situation, as the associate can focus on caring for their patients and developing their skills without the additional pressures of practice…
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John Makin advises that it helps to have a clear picture of the types of products on offer when choosing an indemnity provider A report by the consumer group Which? found that the small print on an average car, home, pet or travel insurance policy document is harder to understand than Stephen Hawking’s A Brief…
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John Makin on why it’s important and ethically sound to inform your patients when their dentist uproots to another practice. When a popular associate decides to move to pastures new, it’s only human to feel disappointed, but also a little worried. It is not just a matter of replacing a respected member of the dental…
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John Makin examines the real issue threatening to undermine indemnity provision for dentists. Dental professionals considering the recent consultation from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on appropriate indemnity may be forgiven for thinking there is something wrong with the dental indemnity market. But, I’m happy to report that discretionary indemnity provided by…
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John Makin predicts which dentolegal stories will be making headlines over the next year. Having worked for the DDU for a number of years – advising dentists on issues as varied as how to respond to an incident in which a patient swallowed a dental burr to how to deal with a General Dental Council…
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John Makin clears up the confusion about data controllers. With the spotlight on data protection following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), many practices have been reviewing their current arrangements. One area that seems to have caused confusion and has prompted calls to the DDU is the distinction between a data processor…
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Dental professionals need to know how to respond when they get a call from a journalist, says John Makin. Dentistry is one of the few professions where the consequences of a mistake or adverse incident can generate significant media coverage. At the DDU, we regularly advise dental professionals who are alarmed to have been contacted…
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The skills needed to be a good practitioner are as much technical as they are personal, John Makin says. Understanding what a patient wants and values is central to being a good dental practitioner, but do we always get this right? In my experience, complaints can often arise when there is a mismatch between what…
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John Makin explains that dentistry is a balancing act between commercial interests and patient care. There can be little doubt that modern high-street dentistry is, necessarily, delivered in a commercial, business-like environment. However, the current Dentists Act, which dates back to 1984, has always recognised both the practice and business of dentistry. Much has changed…
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NHS England is trying to clear up the confusion over when and how to refer patients to specialists, John Makin says. If performed to a good standard, the success rate of root canal procedures is 90%, according to the British Endodontic Society. In most cases, GDPs have the skills and training to do this. However,…
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Dental professionals must have adequate and appropriate professional indemnity before they can treat patients, but how can they be sure indemnity providers are providing good value for money? John Makin answers 10 probing questions about indemnity. 1. Why have indemnity costs increased for some dental professionals over recent years? Dental Defence Union (DDU) subscriptions are…
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John Makin says there needs to be fairer treatment of complaints not investigated by the GDC. Readers of my previous columns will be aware that the GDC’s more proportionate approach to fitness to practise complaints is paying dividends. Some 70% of matters referred to the GDC are not considered to be allegations of impaired fitness…
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John Makin talks through the dos and don’ts of patient complaint handling. NHS complaints about dental treatment in England have almost doubled from 7,664 in 2015/16 to 13,493 in 2016/17, according to recently published figures from NHS Digital. Colleagues reading about this increase might be forgiven for feeling downhearted; however, there may be a positive…
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John Makin offers advice on the complaints handling process. Last year, the DDU’s dentolegal advice line received more than 2,500 enquiries from dental professionals about the handling of patient complaints. This accounted for a third of the 7,700 calls we received in 2016, with clinical matters and claims accounting for around 10% of calls each,…
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A mistake which casts doubt on your honesty and integrity can attract attention from the GDC, says John Makin. At this stage of your training, you’ll be actively looking for the next step in your career, but whether you are applying for your next position, accepting a new role, or publishing your work, dental professionals…
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John Makin reflects on the GDC’s latest plans for reform. Few would disagree with the stated aim in the GDC’s recent discussion document Shifting the balance, of easing the fitness to practise burden on the profession. The GDC says it intends to reduce the number of complaints it receives by focusing on local complaints resolution.…
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Too many complaints about dental colleagues are going straight through to the GDC, John Makin says. When I was a young dental student back in the early 1980s I was taught never to criticise the work of a colleague, as you couldn’t be sure of the circumstances under which the treatment was provided. In my…
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John Makin explains how you can handle negative online comments. An increasing number of patients are turning to websites such as NHS Choices to rate their dental experience. But when does patient feedback cross the line from constructive criticism to unpleasant abuse? This is a question that the Dental Defence Union (DDU) is being asked…
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