Dental Protection comments on GDC v Williams “top up fees” judgment
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 19th May 2023
In the case of GDC v. Williams, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment and held that supplemental fees (described as top-up fees) in addition to the NHS charge were permitted under the NHS Regulations – in this particular case for a more aesthetically pleasing ceramic crown.
Commenting on the case, Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said: “This judicial precedent has many implications. Dental professionals work in a complex system and there are many interdependencies. This complexity is compounded by what the Court noted as ‘unclear Regulations’ which were ‘not at all straightforward.
“There will inevitably be unforeseen and unintended consequences of any policy change, not to mention that the introduction of a top-up fee would in effect create a new hybrid category of care and raises questions about how, for example, the replacement or repair (guarantee) Clause is applied.
“The GDS contract was not drafted with this in mind, and a redrafting of the Regulations is perhaps now inevitable to provide the much-needed clarity. Optimists may argue that this development presents a wider opportunity – a catalyst to drive system reform.
“Pending further clarification, we advocate the precautionary principle and advise members to refrain from offering patients top-up options or accepting top-up fees from patients.
“It is in the interests of the profession and patients to ensure that any changes to the regulations are consistent with the judgment. We are in discussions with stakeholders to represent our members’ interests. We look forward to receiving further guidance and will be keeping members updated as the implications for them become clearer.”
