Dr. Tariq Drabu Expresses Concern Over GDC Fitness to Practise Procedures
(PRWEB) July 10, 2014 -- Dr. Tariq Drabu is a Manchester-born and educated dentist and specialist oral surgeon. He was one of the youngest dentists to ever graduate in the United Kingdom, and is now the owner of the very successful Langley Dental Practice. Dr. Drabu spent years working in some of the busiest dental hospitals in the UK and Saudi Arabia before completing his Fellowship in Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Dr. Drabu is the Clinical Lead Dentist for the Oral Surgery Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services at NHS Heywood Middleton and Rochdale. He is also an active tutor and mentor to postgraduate dentists in oral surgery at UCLAN Dental Clinic in Preston.
Dr. Tariq Drabu was speaking about a recent press release on the General Dental Council website on a dental website. The press release, which was published on the 27th of June, 2014, can be read here.
Dr. Tariq Drabu in Manchester said, “The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) has yet again published a report that is critical of the GDC's fitness to practise procedures. The GDC met only three of the ten Standards of Good Regulation for fitness to practise (FTP). This follows on from earlier annual reports from the PSA which have found shortcomings in FTP in previous years.
The report identified a number of serious concerns about the GDC’s Investigating Committee process and practices, including:
• The holding of private discussions between Investigating Committee secretaries and Chairs about individual cases prior to Investigating Committee meetings
• Preparation of draft decisions or parts of draft decisions by Investigating Committee secretaries in advance of Investigating Committee meetings
• Substantial changes made by GDC staff to Investigating Committee decisions following the meetings."
Dr. Tariq Drabu went on to say, “I was very concerned at the contents of the report. It clearly indicates that FTP cases are being predetermined with the support of GDC (non dental) staff. This may be because the median time taken from receipt of initial complaint to the final fitness to practise hearing determination in 2013/14 was 100 weeks."
Dr. Tariq Drabu closed in saying, “The GDC exists to protect the public and regulate the dental profession. It is there to impose sanctions such as conditions on practise, suspensions, and erasure of dental professionals who are seen to be a risk to the public. However, before imposing these sanctions, it must go through a through and transparent process which does not prejudge the outcome. The shortcomings expressed in this report are a cause of real concern and worry since for a dental professional, the prospect of undergoing FTP procedures is incredibly stressful, and to have the thought that findings are being predetermined or even altered before a case is heard is a real worry. I will be writing to my MP to express my concern and will encourage all other dental professionals to do the same."
About Dr. Tariq Drabu:
Dr. Tariq Drabu is a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon. This Manchester-born and educated dentist was one of the youngest dentists to graduate in the United Kingdom. He has worked at some of the busiest hospitals in the UK and Saudi Arabia, and completed his Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He is the owner of the very successful Langley Dental Practice, and is also the Clinical Lead Dentist for the Oral Surgery Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services at NHS Heywood Middleton and Rochdale. Tariq Drabu also teaches and mentors postgraduate dentists in oral surgery at the UCLAN Dental Clinic in Preston.
Tariq Drabu, Tariq Drabu, http://www.tariqdrabu.co.uk, +44 1616432428, [email protected]
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