United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

(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 not less than 4 dentists where such a group considers the quality and performance of specific treatments and approaches to treatment, and

"the relevant period" means - 

(a) subject to head (b) below, where a dentist's name is included in a dental list and he is providing dental services - 


(i) on 24th May 2001, the period of three years commencing on that date,

(ii) from a date after 24th May 2001, the period of three years commencing with that later date,



and each successive period of three years thereafter;

(b) 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 head (a), to which is added any such continuous period during which he is not providing dental services."; and

(b) after paragraph 31E (as inserted by paragraph (b) above) insert - 

(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 head (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 relating to 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.