Dentists Act 1984

[F1 36M. Guidance U.K.

(1) The Council shall prepare and from time to time issue guidance as to the standards of conduct, performance and practice expected of registered dental care professionals.

(2) Such guidance may make different provision in relation to different cases or classes of case, and in particular in relation to different descriptions of registered dental care professionals.

(3) The Council shall keep such guidance under review and may vary or withdraw it whenever they consider it appropriate to do so.

(4) The Council shall from time to time publish guidance issued under this section.

(5) Before issuing such guidance or varying or withdrawing it, the Council shall consult—

(a) such persons to whom subsection (6) applies as the Council consider appropriate;

(b) the bodies within subsection (8); and

(c) such bodies to which subsection (9) applies as the Council consider appropriate.

(6) This subsection applies to persons who appear to the Council to be representative of one or more of the following—

(a) users of the services of registered dentists;

(b) users of the services of registered dental care professionals;

(c) registered dentists;

(d) registered dental care professionals;

(e) employers of registered dentists; and

(f) employers of registered dental care professionals.

(7) The Council shall exercise their function under subsection (5)(a) so that the persons consulted are, taken together, representative of all the categories of person mentioned in subsection (6)(a) to (f).

(8) The bodies within this subsection are—

F2 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) Local Health Boards in Wales;

(c) Health Boards in Scotland; [F3 and]

(d) [F4 Health and Social Care trusts] in Northern Ireland [F5 ; and

(e) the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.]

(9) This subsection applies to bodies which make arrangements, for the provision of dental services, with one or both of the following—

(a) registered dentists,

(b) registered dental care professionals,

but are not within subsection (8).

(10) The Council may charge such fee as they consider reasonable for the provision of a copy of the guidance to any person.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 36K-36V and cross-heading inserted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(4)-(7) of the amending S.I. (see the London Gazette, issue nos. 57734, 57975, 58050 and 58769, dated respectively 19.8.2005, 5.6.2006, 21.7.2006 and 18.7.2008)) by The Dentists Act 1984 (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2011), art. 31 (with Sch. 7) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2006/1671)

F2 S. 36M(8)(a) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 35; S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

F3 Word in s. 36M(8)(c) omitted (N.I.) (1.4.2022) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 3), s. 8(1)(b), Sch. 1 para. 66(3)(a); S.R. 2022/102, art. 2(b)

F4 Words in s. 36M(8)(d) substituted (N.I.) (1.4.2022) by Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 3), s. 8(1)(b), Sch. 1 para. 66(3)(b); S.R. 2022/102, art. 2(b)

F5 S. 36M(8)(e) and preceding word added (N.I.) (1.4.2022) by Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 3), s. 8(1)(b), Sch. 1 para. 66(3)(c); S.R. 2022/102, art. 2(b)