Confidentiality

General Dental Council v Savery [2011] EWHC 3011 (Admin)

Counsel: For the claimant: Philip Havers QCFor the fifteenth interested party: Ian Winter QCSolicitors: For the claimant: Capsticks LLPFor the fifteenth interested party: Hempsons

When investigating allegations by an insurance company of possible fraudulent claims concerning treatment of patients by their dentist, the court ruled that the GDC was entitled to pass on patients’ records to its investigating committee and, if necessary, to its practice committee. The GDC did not need to seek a declaration from the court that it was entitled to disclose patients’ records even where the patients had not consented to the disclosure.