The British Dental Association (BDA) has said it will seek a judicial review if the General Dental Council (GDC) fails to reveal its evidence behind a proposed 64% hike in the annual registration fee (ARF).

The GDC recently commissioned a report from accountants to test the assumptions underpinning its ARF consultation.

While the GDC has agreed to a BDA lawyer’s request to share this report when it is finalised, the dental regulator has not given other answers to other questions in an exchange of legal letters. As such, the BDA has threatened to seek a court order to ensure that the GDC discloses key information.

Mick Armstrong, chairman of the British Dental Association’s Principle Executive Committee, said: “From the start, the GDC has stubbornly refused to disclose the key information behind its planned fee hike.

“We’ve sought reasonable clarity, but all we have been left with is a growing list of unanswered questions. Today we couldn’t be clearer – the GDC has to come clean or we will seek a court order.

“The GDC has options, it can still change tack and avoid unnecessary legal action. We, however, will not waver in our determination to secure proportionate, fair and affordable regulation.”

Milsted Langdon’s head of Dental Services, David Jacobs, is a member of the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants & Lawyers (NASDAL), meaning we are able to draw on a wealth of knowledge and expertise from accountants and lawyers around the country who, between them, act for over 5,000 dental clients in the UK. To find out how our specialist accountants for dentists can help you, please contact us.