The Department of Health has announced the creation of the Care Quality Commission which will regulate health including dentistry and social care by merging the majority of the functions of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission.

Its creation is the Government's formal response to the November 2006 consultation document The future regulation of health and adult social care in England. It received over 100 responses from interested organisations, including the BDA, to its consultation and a Bill will be introduced in the next session of Parliament accompanied by a partial impact assessment (including an equality impact assessment) analysing the costs and benefits of these proposals. Subject to the passage of this legislation, the new commission will be established in 2008.

The new Care Quality Commission will be able to take action against any registered organisation, including dental practices, which puts patients or users of services at risk and will have the power to inspect, undertake investigations, issue warning notices, fine providers and even close down services.

The detail and scope of how the regulatory body will affect dentists has yet to be worked out, including whether its remit will extend to dentists who provide treatment solely on a private basis. This will be decided following discussions with the BDA and the GDC over the winter.