What Tom Whiting’s BDIA Speech Means for Dental Professionals

Sunil Abeyewickreme, Partner at gunnercooke llp, who regularly represents registrants of the General Dental Council (GDC) in Fitness to Practise cases, comments on the speech made at the BDIA Dental Showcase by Tom Whiting, the Chief Executive Officer of the GDC, on 14 March 2025.

Tom Whiting, CEO of the General Dental Council

As legal representatives who act on behalf of dental professionals facing Fitness to Practise (FtP) proceedings, we welcome Tom Whiting’s acknowledgment of the evolving challenges within the dental sector and the GDC's intention to modernize and collaborate more effectively with stakeholders.

It is encouraging to hear of efforts to improve transparency and regulatory processes. For too long, many registrants have found the FtP process not only stressful but often prolonged unnecessarily, with significant impact on their mental health and professional standing. Any commitment to streamline these processes, ensure proportionality, and focus on remediation and learning rather than punishment is crucial — and we hope Mr. Whiting's words translate into meaningful action.

At the same time, I urge the GDC to ensure that it does not inadvertently undermine the careers and reputations of skilled and caring professionals over minor or remediable issues. The balance between public protection and fairness to registrants must remain at the heart of regulatory reform.

If the GDC under Mr. Whiting’s leadership is serious about engaging with the profession, we — as representatives of registrants — would welcome opportunities to contribute to the development of these reforms. A more collaborative, transparent, and proportionate approach will benefit not only the profession but also the public whom registrants all serve.

In conclusion, I look forward to seeing how these aspirations will be implemented in practice and the rights of registrants protected in any future regulatory framework.

Sunil Abeyewickreme

Partner, gunnercooke LLP