GDC Registration Verification: How Airlocum Keeps Your Practice Compliant
✅ At a glance Every locum on Airlocum is GDC-verified before they can appear in search results. GDC registrations are re-checked every 28 days — not just at onboarding. Expired or suspended registrations are blocked automatically. You cannot book an unregistered locum. Verification documents for every locum you book are accessible directly from your dashboard. |
Booking a locum with an expired or lapsed GDC registration exposes your practice to regulatory risk, CQC non-compliance, and potential indemnity issues. Airlocum removes that risk entirely with automated, continuous GDC verification — running 24 hours a day, every day, across every locum on the platform.
The Risk with Traditional Verification
Most dental staffing agencies perform GDC checks manually, typically once a year at the annual renewal date of 31 July. This approach creates a compliance window that most practices are unaware of:
Traditional agency approach | Airlocum |
Manual GDC check, typically once per year (31 July) | Automated check at onboarding, then every 28 days |
Expired registrations may go unnoticed for up to 12 months | Expired or suspended registration blocked within 28 days — usually same day |
No alert when a locum’s registration lapses mid-year | Locum removed from search results automatically on expiry |
Compliance depends on staff remembering to check | Compliance runs automatically — no manual action required |
No advance warning to locum | 60-day expiry alert sent to locum so they can renew in time |
How Airlocum’s GDC Verification Works
Verification runs in two stages: at the point a locum joins the platform, and on an ongoing basis for as long as they remain active.
1 | Onboarding check | When a locum registers on Airlocum, their GDC number is validated instantly against their name in the GDC register. • GDC number confirmed as active and matching the registrant’s name • Invalid, expired, or mismatched registrations are blocked automatically • Locum does not appear in search results until verification passes |
2 | 28-day continuous monitoring | Every active locum on the platform is re-checked against the GDC register on a 28-day cycle. • Registration expires or is suspended → locum removed from search results immediately • Locum receives a 60-day advance alert before their registration expires, giving them time to renew • Locum is automatically reinstated in search results once renewal is confirmed |
What Practices Can Access
For every locum you book, Airlocum makes their verification documents available directly from your dashboard. You can open and review them at any time — including during a CQC inspection.
📂 Your compliance record for CQC inspections A CQC inspector asking how you verify locum GDC registration can be shown the verification documents for each locum directly from your Airlocum dashboard. The documents confirm the locum’s GDC number, registration status, and the date of verification — giving you a complete, timestamped compliance record for every locum who has worked at your practice. No manual filing, no chasing certificates. The record is built automatically as you book. |
Airlocum’s automated GDC verification supports your practice’s compliance obligations under CQC, GDC, and NHS frameworks. For queries about how the verification record satisfies specific regulatory requirements, contact the support team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to accidentally book a locum whose GDC registration has lapsed?
No. A locum with an expired or suspended GDC registration is removed from search results automatically and cannot be booked. The check runs continuously on a 28-day cycle, so the maximum possible gap between a registration lapsing and a locum being removed from the platform is 28 days — in practice, suspensions are typically detected and acted on immediately.
How does Airlocum's GDC check compare to a manual agency check?
Most dental staffing agencies check GDC registration manually, typically once per year at the 31 July renewal date. Airlocum re-checks every locum every 28 days and checks against the live GDC register at the point of onboarding. This means a locum whose registration is suspended in October — months after an annual agency check — would still be blocked on Airlocum within 28 days.
Where can I find verification documents for a locum I have booked?
Verification documents for every locum you have booked are accessible from your Airlocum dashboard. If you have difficulty locating them, contact the support team via live chat — response time is under 2 minutes.
What happens if a locum’s GDC registration lapses after I’ve booked them?
If a locum's GDC registration lapses or is suspended after a booking is confirmed, contact the Airlocum support team immediately via live chat. The team will advise on next steps and assist with finding alternative cover.
Does Airlocum verify other compliance documents beyond GDC registration?
Yes. Airlocum also verifies indemnity insurance and Hepatitis B vaccination status for dental nurses. See the related articles below for how each of these checks works.
Questions about compliance? Contact the Airlocum support team via live chat at airlocum.co.uk — ask to speak to a person for direct assistance. Email: [email protected] | Phone: 07716 580305 |
