Private dentists' new regulations

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Private dental practices in Wales will be regulated more closely and in the same way as NHS dentists from the new year, it has been announced.

The assembly government says private practitioners will have to register with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales.

The watchdog will be able to inspect private practices to the same standards as NHS services and act on complaints.

But the director of the British Dental Association for Wales said it was just adding another layer of administration.

Currently, all dentists are regulated by the General Dental Council, but outside the NHS there is no systematic inspection of premises and facilities against national standards. These regulations will act as a strong mechanism to encourage continuous improvement in the provision of private dental treatments Peter Higson, Health Inspectorate Wales

The assembly government said the new regulations, which come into force on 1 January, will mean dental treatments are regulated "to the same high standards as NHS care".

Health Minister Edwina Hart said: "It is important that there is uniformity of regulation between NHS and private care as many patients often choose to supplement their NHS care with private treatment, often from the same dental practice."

'Up to standard'

Peter Higson, chief executive of Health Inspectorate Wales, added: "These regulations will act as a strong mechanism to encourage continuous improvement in the provision of private dental treatments and the improvement of clinical governance throughout primary dental care in Wales.

"Registering dental practitioners will also assist in identifying where wholly private dental care is being undertaken in Wales."

But Stuart Geddes, director of the British Dental Association for Wales, said he believed the new regulations were not needed.

"You have to remember that barring about 20 practices in Wales anyway, they're all visited by dental reference officers or the independent practice advisors so there is that already in place," he said.

"We're looking at a very small number of practices. In general, the private practices are very very well equipped and are really up to standard.

"The General Dental Council would certainly have something to say if you didn't comply with things like cross infection control so the necessity for doing what the assembly is now proposing to do isn't really there."