Reading List

Curated reading to support and extend learning from The Mental Capacity Act for Dental Nurses.

GDC Standards and Dental Nurse Practice

• GDC Principle 3, obtain valid consent
  Guidance on patient understanding, capacity, ongoing consent and documentation.
  https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle3/principle3

• GDC Principle 2, communicate effectively with patients
  Relevant to supported decision-making, accessible communication and checking understanding.
  https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle2/principle2

• GDC Principle 8, raise concerns if patients are at risk
  Use this where capacity, consent, coercion or safeguarding concerns are not being addressed.
  https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle8/principle8

• GDC Standards for the Dental Team
  The full professional standards framework for dental professionals.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/standards-for-the-dental-team

• GDC Scope of Practice
  Covers dental nurse role boundaries, competence and escalation to appropriately trained colleagues.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/scope-of-practice

• GDC Safe Practitioner framework: Dental Nurse
  Guidance on professional behaviour, communication, ethics, patient safety and speaking up.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/about-us/safe-practitioner/safe-practitioner--dental-nurse.pdf?sfvrsn=bae145a5_4

Mental Capacity Law and Decision-Making

• GOV.UK Mental Capacity Act: making decisions
  Official collection of MCA resources for England and Wales.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mental-capacity-act-making-decisions

• Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice
  The statutory Code of Practice for decisions made under the MCA.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice

• GOV.UK guide for health and social care workers
  A practical official guide to MCA decision-making for health and social care staff.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-social-care-workers-mental-capacity-act-decisions/making-decisions-about-your-health-welfare-or-finances

• NHS consent to treatment: assessing capacity
  Patient-facing explanation of capacity, best interests, IMCA and Court of Protection referral.
  https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/consent-to-treatment/capacity/

• GOV.UK health and welfare lasting power of attorney
  Official information about the role of health and welfare attorneys.
  https://www.gov.uk/manage-lasting-power-attorney/health-welfare

• Court of Protection
  Official GOV.UK page for the court that deals with mental capacity matters in England and Wales.
  https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/court-of-protection

• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
  Official resources for DoLS in England and Wales.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dh-mental-capacity-act-2005-deprivation-of-liberty-safeguards

UK Differences and Governance

• Scottish Government Adults with Incapacity medical treatment code
  Scottish code for medical treatment under the Adults with Incapacity framework.
  https://www.gov.scot/publications/adults-incapacity-scotland-act-2000-code-practice-third-edition-practitioners-authorised-carry-out-medical-treatment-research-under-part-5-act/

• Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland: Adults with Incapacity Act
  Scottish overview of medical treatment, section 47 certificates, welfare attorneys and safeguards.
  https://www.mwcscot.org.uk/law-and-rights/adults-incapacity-act

• Northern Ireland MCA Code of Practice and key documents
  Department of Health signpost for Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 documents.
  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/mental-capacity-act-code-practice-and-other-key-documents

• NICE shared decision making NG197
  Guidance on patient-centred decision-making and communication support.
  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng197

• CQC Regulation 11, need for consent
  England-specific regulation on consent and capacity in regulated services.
  https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/regulations-service-providers-and-managers/health-social-care-act/regulation-11

Use these references to reinforce legal principles, clarify role boundaries for dental nurses, support assisted decision-making, and guide escalation when capacity or decision-making authority is unclear.