Philippa Dredge
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Dental Hygienist
First registered on:
04 Aug 2011
Current period of registration from:
04 Aug 2011 until: 31 Jul 2026
Warning from:
15 Aug 2024
until:
14 Aug 2025
Warning:
We considered an allegation that on 3 May 2023, the registrant was convicted at North Shields Magistrates’ Court of driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol on 18 April 2023 under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.5 (1)(a), and Driver not in a position to have proper control on 18 April 2023 under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 s.104.
We were satisfied that there was a real prospect of the factual allegation being found proved and there was a real prospect of the statutory ground of conviction being established by a Practice Committee. However, we also determined that due to the nature of the conviction, and the low likelihood of repetition, there was no real prospect of the registrant’s fitness to practise being found to be currently impaired by reason of conviction.
We reminded ourselves that the registrant has been dealt with by the criminal justice system, and that it is not our role, nor the purpose of the fitness to practise process, to punish the registrant for a second time. However, we considered that to close the case without action would fail to take into account the need to promote and maintain public confidence in the dental professions and to promote and maintain proper professional standards and conduct for members of those professions.
We consider that driving a motor vehicle having consumed excess alcohol is unacceptable, demonstrating a lack of judgment as well as risking harm to members of the public.
We have taken into account our Indicative Outcomes Guidance (February 2018) and consider that a warning in this case is necessary. Furthermore, we consider that publication of the warning for a period of 12 months is appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances and will ensure that a message is sent to the registrant and to the wider profession regarding the importance of maintaining appropriate standards of conduct.
The registrant is reminded that this warning will form part of her fitness to practise history and she may be required to disclose it even after the period for publication has expired.
We formally warn the Registrant that:
• the commission of a criminal offence is unacceptable conduct for a registrant and should not be repeated. Any further criminal convictions will be viewed seriously and will likely call into question her fitness to practise.
• She should, as required by the General Dental Council’s ‘Standards for the Dental Team’ (September 2013) publication, maintain appropriate standards of behaviour in her personal life, as detailed in Standard 9.1 ‘You must ensure that your conduct, both at work and in your personal life, justifies patients’ trust in you and the public’s trust in the dental profession’.