(This note is not part of the Order)
These Regulations further amend the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992 which regulate the terms on which general dental services are provided under the National Health Service Act 1977.
Regulation 2 contains provisions amending the length of time dentists have to respond to complaints made by or on behalf of patients or former patients under their practice based complaints procedure. The time permitted to dentists to formally acknowledge complaints is reduced from three to two days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays), whereas the time permitted to provide a complainant with a written summary of investigations and conclusions is increased from 10 to 20 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays) .