Dentists are required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of Quality Improvement (QI) activity in each 3 year cycle (e.g. August 2019-July 2022), under the NHS Scotland Terms of Service for Dentists [1], it can also contribute to verifiable continuing professional development (CPD) as long as it meets the CPD criteria specified by the General Dental Council.
In Scotland, from 2017, the requirement to undertake Clinical Audit activities was amended to allow a broader range of QI activities. The 2017 Amendment Regulations of the Terms of Service for Dentists [2], define QI as ‘the systematic, critical and reflective analysis of the quality of dental care provided by the dentist, and of any changes made by the dentist to bring about improvement in quality of care, patient experience, patient safety and clinical effectiveness, (including the processes used by that dentist for diagnosis, intervention and treatment and use of resources)’.
Funding (QI activity allowance) is available through NHS Education for Scotland (NES) for general dental practitioners who undertake QI activities if approved by NES or an NHS Board.