The professional layman

I read with interest your editorial on the professional layman. Two years ago I wrote to you about my concerns of the make-up of the GDC and the risk that a lay person could be appointed Chair. I am dismayed that this has now come to pass.

As a regulatory body the GDC is responsible for setting professional standards, quality assuring education and registering dentists and DCPs. It should enhance patient safety and improve quality of care thus ensuring public confidence.

As the GDC has now been halved in size, the fact that we now only have four dentists sitting on the Council should be a major cause of concern for both dentists and the general public alike, particularly with regard to quality assuring education which, in my opinion, is the keystone to the provision of high quality dental care.

I have only known one Chair of the GDC personally – Professor Sir Frank Lawton. I remember my very first day at dental school. Sir Frank was the dean and he addressed all the first years informing us that we were very privileged to be dental students receiving a first class free education (those were the days) and, in order to repay our debt to society, we should all be thinking of working in Liverpool's soup kitchens in our free time! He emphasized the requirement for us to uphold standards rigorously and be ethical in all our dealings, both professionally and personally. It made an impression on me that has lasted to this day, along with my admiration and respect for him as both an educationalist, a practitioner and a leading professional.