Attending a fitness to practise hearing

Please let us know of any arrangements you need us to make for your attendance at an in-person fitness to practise hearing (for example, if you need wheelchair access or an induction loop). You can email info@dentalhearings.org or call us on 020 7167 6080

The hearings reception is separate to the GDC’s main reception area and is open from 8:30am. When entering the building, please inform the main reception that you are here for a fitness to practise hearing and they will direct you to our reception where fitness to practise hearings staff are available to assist with any queries.

If you have venue accessibility requirements, there is a buzzer at our building entrance so that syou can use to speak to someone at the reception to help you use the access lift.

The Committee

Cases are heard before a committee made up of three people, drawn from a pool of independently appointed dental professionals and lay people. The Committee members are independent of the GDC and bring a wide range of experience, backgrounds, and perspectives, helping to ensure balanced discussions and fair decisions.

The Committee Secretary and Legal Adviser

The Committee Secretary is responsible for making sure the business of fitness to practise hearing is conducted appropriately, including acting as a liaison between the Committee and the parties involved. The independent Legal Adviser, who is either a solicitor or a barrister, provides procedural legal advice to ensure the hearing is conducted appropriately. The Legal Adviser can also help explain the legal process to dental professionals who are representing themselves without their own legal representative.

The Committee Secretary and the Legal Adviser play no role in decision making. That is done solely by the three Committee members.

The GDC Case Presenter

At a Fitness to Practise hearing, there will also be a Case Presenter, who is usually a lawyer instructed by the General Dental Council (GDC).

The dental professional and their representative

A dental professional, either by themselves or with a legal representative, will usually be present at a fitness to practise hearing. Sometimes a dental professional who is without a legal representative may attend a fitness to practise hearing with a friend or a relative.

The Witness

The term "witness" is used to refer to any person who can give a first-hand account of specific events. This may be the person who has raised a concern or allegation against a registered dental professional. Expert witnesses appointed by either the GDC or the dental professional may also be called to give evidence to assist the Committee.

The public and journalists

Members of the public and journalists may be in attendance of a fitness to practise hearing that is held in public.

If you are a member of the public or a journalist who wishes to attend an upcoming fitness to practise hearing, please make a request to attend a hearing.