Don’t risk your livelihood over nurse re-registration
With the first anniversary of compulsory registration for dental nurses coming up, nurses will have to deal with renewing their registration. We expect that around the beginning of June the GDC will write to all dental care professionals (DCPs), including dental nurses, enclosing a form for the 2009-2010 registration period. Your dental nurse will have to complete and return it to the GDC before 31 July. The GDC is keeping the registration cost at last year’s price of £96.
If the GDC does not receive the necessary paperwork by 31 July, your dental nurse will not be able to work. This would have a serious impact on the treatment of patients and could result in an increase in practice costs if an agency nurse has to be recruited. The process for restoration to the register is more involved than the simple re-registration process. The GDC will ask you to complete a new form, provide proof of continuing professional development, and health and character references, as well as a higher fee (currently set at £120).
It is the responsibility of the dental nurse to keep the GDC up to date with contact details. All registrants should ensure that they have provided the GDC with their current address. However, you should ensure that your dental nurse keeps their address current and follows the registration renewal process in the next few weeks.
If a dental nurse, or any DCP for that matter, does not receive their letter from the GDC they should contact the GDC directly to discuss re-registration. Contact the GDC by email or call 020 7887 3800.
