GDC Appeals

GDC appeals are heard in the High Court. There is, however, a strict 28-day time limit for an appeal to be lodged. Due to recent case law, if highly exceptional circumstances can be proved, the High Court may, in very limited situations, accept a GDC appeal outside of the 28-day time limit. However, this is rarely allowed so the timescale needs to be strictly adhered to.

Dentists

When hearing a GDC appeal the High Court has the following options:
- Dismiss the appeal;
- Allow the appeal and quash the decision being appealed;
- Substitute the decision being appealed for any other decision which could have been made by the relevant GDC’s Practice Committee;
- Remit the case back to the GDC’s Practice Committee to dispose of in accordance with directions

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Cost of making an appeal

The High Court will ordinarily make a costs order that the loser pays the winner’s legal fees. Therefore, if an appeal is fought but lost, the dental professional will usually face being ordered to pay the GDC’s legal fees for the appeal, having already paid their own legal fees. Losing an appeal can be a very expensive exercise for the medical professional..

At Richard Nelson LLP, we consider it is essential that you obtain expert legal advice about the merits of your case before lodging an appeal.

Our expert lawyers will, for a fixed fee, review the evidence in your case and the GDC’s original findings and give you straightforward, honest advice about the prospects of success for your GDC appeal. This will enable you to make an informed decision about how to proceed.

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Lodging your appeal & preparing for the hearing

With GDC appeals, the sooner legal advice is sought the better. Not only does the appeal form need to be lodged within the 28-day time limit, but this needs to be accompanied by fully argued legal grounds of appeal and a fully paginated bundle, which takes time to prepare.

Richard Nelson LLP‘s defence lawyers can help you to lodge your appeal and prepare for the hearing, in compliance with the complex High Court directions. We can, of course, also represent you before the High Court in your hearing. Given the costs provisions at a High Court hearing, any dental professional would be well advised to be legally represented in an appeal to maximise their prospects of success.

Contact us without delay for urgent advice about your potential appeal to allow our expert dental defence lawyers to advise you on the merits of your case and your prospects of success.

Our defence lawyers have expertise in representing dentists, dental professionals and dental students with GDC fitness to practise investigations and with a variety of other regulatory problems such as:

– GDC Fitness to Practise
GDC Investigating Committee responses;
– GDC Professional Performance Committee;
– GDC Health Committee;
– GDC Professional Conduct Committee;
GDC Interim Orders Committee;
– GDC Appeals
– Criminal Investigations and proceedings;
GDC Registration advice;
– GDC Registration Appeals Committee;
GDC Restoration Applications;
– Police investigations and criminal proceedings for dentists;
– Assistance in disclosing issues to the GDC;
– Commercial Disputes;
GDC Hearings
University fitness to practise investigations for student dentists;

Specialist solicitors

Our multidisciplinary team is made up of specialists in a wide range of services, which means you'll always be represented by an expert in your area.

No-strings initial call

Get in touch to arrange a no-obligation, fully confidential call to discuss your case and work out if you want to continue.

Nationwide support

Speak to solicitors in one of our offices throughout England and Wales, or arrange calls and remote meetings.

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Use the form on the right to get in touch with our team and arrange an initial call to discuss your situation. We will use this no-obligation, fully confidential initial call to learn more about your case and help you understand your options going forward.

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