The National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Amendment) (No.2) (Wales) Regulations 2001

1A

In the application of these Regulations in relation to Wales “FHSA” shall, in each place where this abbrevation occurs, have effect as if there substituted the words “Health Authority”.

Clinical audit activities31E

1

In the relevant period a dentist shall—

a

undertake at least 15 hours of clinical audit activities, and

b

take reasonable steps to ensure that any assistant of his also undertakes such activities.

2

In this paragraph—

• “clinical audit activities” means activities which involve the systematic and critical analysis of the quality of dental care provided by the dentist, including the processes used by him for diagnosis, intervention and treatment and his use of resources, and may include peer review by means of participation in meetings of a group of no fewer than four dentists where such a group considers the quality and performance of specific treatments and approaches to treatment, and

• “the relevant period” means—

  1. a

     subject to sub-paragraph (b) below, where a dentist’s name is included in a dental list and he is providing dental services—

     1. i

        on 1st August 2001, the period of three years commencing on that date,

     2. ii

        from a date after 1st August 2001, the period of three years commencing with that later date,

     and each successive period of three years

• thereafter;

  1. a

     where a dentist’s name remains included in a dental list but he does not provide dental services during any continuous period in excess of thirteen weeks, the period specified in sub-paragraph (a), to which is added any such continuous period during which he is not providing dental services.

Quality assurance system31F

1

A dentist shall establish, and operate in accordance with this paragraph, a practice based quality assurance system which is applicable to all the persons specified in sub-paragraph (2).

2

The specified persons are—

a

the dentist,

b

any other dentist either employed by him or engaged as a deputy, and

c

any employee of the dentist other than one falling within sub-paragraph (b) above.

3

A dentist shall ensure that in respect of his practice based quality assurance system, he has specified a person (who need not be connected with the dentist’s practice) to be responsible for operating that system.

4

A dentist shall ensure that in respect of his practice based quality assurance system, there is displayed in a prominent position in his practice premises, in a part to which patients have access, a written statement of his commitment to the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (5).

5

In this paragraph and in paragraph 31G “a practice based quality assurance system” means one which comprises—

a

a system to ensure that all dental care provided is of a consistent quality,

b

a system to ensure that effective measures of infection control are used,

c

a system to ensure that all legal requirements relating to health and safety in the workplace are satisfied,

d

a system to ensure that all legal requirements relating to radiological protection are satisfied, and

e

a system to ensure that any requirements of the General Dental Council in respect of the continuing professional development of dentists are satisfied.

Quality assurance system return31G

1

Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a dentist whose name is included in the dental list shall provide to the Health Authority by the 30th June each year a written return which states—

a

whether there has been compliance with all the systems specified in paragraph 31F(5) in respect of the period of 12 months ending on the 31st March of that year, and

b

whether any changes to his practice or procedures have occurred as a result of the operation of the practice based quality assurance system and if so, the nature of those changes.

2

Where a dentist practises in partnership with one or more dentists whose names are included in the dental list, the information referred to in sub-paragraph (1) shall be provided in respect of the partnership as a whole instead of by each dentist individually.

3

The return to be provided by 30th June 2002 shall relate to the period from 1st September 2001 to 31st March 2002.