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CQC Inspections; a practical guide to answering the CQC 5 key questions
DENTAL BULLETIN, ISSUE 54 From 1st April 2015 the CQC introduced a new inspection regime for dental care providers. We explained the reasons for this in issue 9 of our dental bulletin. Here we go into more detail in respect of the CQC 5 key questions that are so important in every inspection. The CQC 5 key questions The CQC will ask whether your practice is: 1. Safe? 2. Effective? 3. Caring?...Read More
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Clawback Clauses; will yours hold up in Court?
If an associate fails to meet their UDA target and the NHS imposes a Contract Sanction as a result, the Practice will want to ensure that they are protected against any losses. This can be achieved by inserting a clawback clause into the associate agreement, requiring the associate to pay a fixed amount for any unachieved UDAs. However, care must be taken when using clauses of this type....Read More
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Disciplinary investigations – when can you suspend an employee?
If an employee has been accused of serious misconduct, an employer may wish to suspend the employee whilst an investigation is carried out. However, employers often forget that suspension should be a last resort and not a matter of course. In this article we set out the circumstances in which you can suspend an employee and, as dental solicitors, give practical tips for managing the suspension...Read More
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Dental Complaints; is there an alternative to litigation?
Although dentists may feel under attack a lot of the time, the risk of litigation is actually reasonably low. Dental complaints can often be dealt with through excellent communication skills and a willingness to listen and respond sensitively to the concerns raised by the patient. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to resolve disputes or complaints by patients internally. This can be the...Read More
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Dental Records – who is entitled to access them?
Our dental clients often contact us with questions regarding who has access to dental records other than the patient. Dental practices will receive requests from family members, other dentists, external organisation such as social services and coroners and sometimes even the police during the course of a criminal investigation. In this article we clear up the confusion over who actually does...Read More
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Treating young people: the age of consent
Can I treat a young person without their parent’s consent? Whilst the Children’s Act of 1989 states that a person legally becomes an adult on their 18th birthday, young adults aged 16 or over are presumed in law to have capacity and are entitled to consent to their own treatment. However, their refusal to accept medical treatment can in some limited circumstances, such as risk of death or of...Read More
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