According to Principle 5 of the GDC, what should be established in a dental practice?

Principle 5 of the General Dental Council (GDC) emphasizes the importance of having a clear and effective complaints procedure established in a dental practice. This principle is crucial for fostering trust between patients and the dental team, as well as for maintaining high standards of professional practice.

Having a well-defined complaints procedure ensures that patients feel their concerns can be heard and addressed in a timely and transparent manner. It allows for systematic handling of issues, promoting an environment where patients can raise complaints without fear. This not only helps in resolving issues but also enables practices to identify areas of improvement and enhance patient satisfaction. Establishing such a procedure is fundamental for a practice committed to continuous professional development and patient care, underlining the GDC's standard of maintaining high ethical practices in dentistry.

While effective patient engagement strategies, open-door policies for staff, and comprehensive training programs are all important components of a successful dental practice, they do not specifically address the critical need for handling complaints effectively, which is the focus of Principle 5.