Following a formal public consultation by the Welsh Government The Private Dentistry (Wales) Regulations 2017 will come into force from the 1 April 2016 and will be regulated by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales.
Main changes
- Individual dentists will no longer be required to register with HIW to provide private dental care in Wales.
- All dental practices where private dental care is provided will have to register with HIW. (The “provider” will be required to register under the new regulations– ie a person, partnership or organisation who carries on a private dental practice)
- Dental Care Professionals who provide private direct access care from their own practice will have to register with HIW if they want to provide these services in Wales.
- Dentists or dental care professionals who use lasers for dental treatment will no longer have to register as an independent hospital to use this equipment. Their use will be covered in the HIW dental registration process.
- Dentists will no longer need a new DBS certificate every 3 years. DBS checks and certification are being aligned with NHS dental practice requirements.
Who will this affect?
- Dentists in Wales who provide any amount of private dental care in a dental practices
- All Dental Care Professionals (DCPs) who provide private direct access services from their own practice (dental hygienists, dental therapists, clinical dental technicians).
- Practices in which DCPs provide direct access services are called “private dental practices” under the new regulations.
Next steps
The practice registration process will open on 3rd April 2017. 2017-18 will be a transition year while all practices submit their applications to register however all dentists currently registered with HIW must maintain their registration with us until all practices where you provide private dental care are fully registered under the new regulations.
Any dentists seeking to provide private dentistry for the first time and are working at a practice not yet registered will need to submit an application to register as an individual dentist under the 2008 regulations
DCPs who provide private direct access services from their own practice will be required to submit an application for registration by 30th September 2017.
All dental practices where any private dental care is provided must submit an application for registration by 31st March 2018 at the latest.
Application forms and guidance on the registration process will be available on 3 April 2017
