General Medical Council facts for kids
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| Formation | 1858 |
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| Type | Charitable organisation |
| Purpose | Medical licensing |
| Headquarters | Regent's Place Euston Road London |
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Region
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United Kingdom |
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Staff
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1,236 (2018) |
The General Medical Council (GMC) is an important group in the United Kingdom. It keeps an official list of all doctors. Its main job is to "protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public." This means they make sure doctors are good at their jobs and follow rules.
The GMC decides who can become a doctor in the UK. They can also stop doctors from working if needed. They set the rules for medical schools too. Being on the GMC's list gives doctors special rights. It is against the law to pretend you are a registered doctor. The GMC gets its money from fees paid by doctors. It became a registered charity in 2001.
Contents
History of the GMC
The GMC was created by a law called the Medical Act 1858. It was first called the General Council of Medical Education and Registration of the United Kingdom. At first, doctors themselves chose the members of the GMC. Doctors trusted the GMC a lot back then.
What the GMC Does
The GMC has several key jobs. All its work helps keep a list of doctors. This list shows who is a "registered medical practitioner" in Britain.
Keeping the Doctor Register
The GMC controls who gets on the List of Registered Medical Practitioners. This list is often called "the medical register." The Medical Act 1983 law says the GMC's main goal is to keep people healthy and safe.
Setting Medical School Standards
The GMC also sets the rules for medical schools in the UK. They work with other countries' groups to make sure medical degrees are recognized. Since 2010, they also set standards for doctors' training after medical school.
Doctor Licensing and Checks
Since 2012, the GMC has a system for licensing doctors. This is separate from just being on the register. It also has a "revalidation" system. This means doctors are regularly checked to make sure they are still good at their jobs.
How the GMC Works
In the UK, there are no laws stopping just anyone from helping patients. This means it's not a crime to give medical help. However, Parliament has given the GMC special powers. These powers give legal benefits to doctors who are registered with the GMC.
Being registered with the GMC gives doctors special rights. For example, only registered doctors can charge for medical advice in court. Only registered doctors can work in NHS hospitals or prisons. Also, only registered doctors can sign important papers like sick notes. It is a crime to pretend to be a registered doctor.
The GMC says its main goal is to keep the public healthy and safe. The GMC gets its money from yearly fees paid by doctors. Doctors pay these fees to stay registered. These fees have changed over the years. In 2011, fees were lowered to help doctors.
Registering Doctors in the UK
The GMC keeps a list of medical practitioners. No law stops an unregistered person from practicing medicine. But it is a crime if someone pretends to be a registered doctor. People can choose any type of treatment they want.
Being registered with the GMC gives doctors special rights and duties. Doctors can get "provisional" or "full" registration. Provisional registration is for new doctors after medical school. They get full registration after their first year of training. Doctors from outside the UK can also apply for registration. They must meet the GMC's rules for skills and English language.
The GMC's register includes details like a doctor's name, address, and date of qualification. It also shows their fitness to practice history. Not all details are public. The GMC also runs a test called the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test (PLAB). Doctors from outside the European Union must pass this test. If a registered doctor does something wrong, they can be removed from the medical register. This is called being "struck off."
Licensing and Revalidating Doctors
The GMC now licenses doctors and regularly checks their practice. This is called revalidation. When licensing started in 2009, some doctors chose not to get a license. These doctors might be lecturers, managers, or working overseas.
Since December 2012, licenses are not automatically renewed. Doctors must go through a revalidation process every five years. This process checks if they are still fit to practice. Doctors who are registered but not licensed are still checked by the GMC. They must also follow the GMC's rules for good medical practice.
Setting Standards for Doctors
The GMC sets rules for how doctors should act. These rules are about professional and ethical behavior. The main guide is called Good Medical Practice. This guide explains what the public expects from doctors. It also helps the GMC decide if a doctor is fit to practice.
The guide was first written in 1995 and has been updated since. It now has four main areas of duties. One important change is that doctors must act quickly if they think patients are at risk. The GMC also gives advice on other topics. These include treating young patients, end-of-life care, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
Medical Education Oversight
The GMC checks medical education and training in the UK. They have "quality assurance" programs. These programs make sure medical schools meet the right standards.
In 2008, the government agreed to combine the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) with the GMC. This merger happened in 2010. The idea was to have one group oversee a doctor's education from start to finish.
Handling Misconduct and Fitness to Practise
If there are concerns about a doctor's ability to practice, the GMC can investigate. The GMC's job is to make sure doctors are safe for patients. They do not fine doctors or give money to patients. The results of their investigations are public.
The GMC can give advice or warnings to doctors. They can also set conditions on a doctor's work. They can suspend a doctor or remove them from the medical register. This means the doctor is "struck off."
It has been shown that the GMC's processes sometimes affect non-white doctors more. These doctors are complained about more often. They are also investigated more and get harsher punishments. In 2021, a UK court found the GMC guilty of racial discrimination. This was against a non-white doctor. The court found the GMC treated him differently than a white doctor for the same issue.
Emergency Driving Rules
Being registered with the GMC also allows doctors to use green flashing lights on their cars. These lights can be used when a doctor is going to a medical emergency. They help other drivers see the doctor's car. These lights do not mean doctors can break traffic laws.
Changes and Improvements
Since 2001, the GMC's decisions are checked by another group. This group is called the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE). The GMC also answers to the UK Parliament.
In the 2000s, the GMC made big changes. These changes happened partly after the Harold Shipman case. The GMC wanted to improve its organization and rules. One big change was making the Council smaller. They also made sure there were equal numbers of doctors and non-doctors on the Council. In 2002, the number of members went from 104 to 35.
In 2011, the GMC agreed to separate its investigation work from its decision-making. A new group, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, now makes the final decisions. This change happened because the GMC used to do both jobs.
Since 2012, doctors' licenses are regularly checked through revalidation. Doctors keep a record of their learning and work. This record is checked by another medical professional. It helps show the GMC that the doctor is still fit to practice.
In 2011, the government suggested changes to how healthcare workers are regulated. They wanted to make the system simpler and cheaper. They also said that if regulators could not lower costs, they might be combined. There were talks about the Nursing and Midwifery Council merging with the GMC.
GMC Leaders
The GMC Council has six medical professionals and six non-medical members. The Privy Council appoints all members. The current Chair is Dame Carrie MacEwen. She has been in this role since May 2022. The chief executive and registrar is Charlie Massey.
Christine Murrell was the first woman chosen for the GMC in 1933. However, she passed away before she could start. In 1950, Hilda Lloyd became the first female member of the Council. In 2019, Clare Marx became the first female Chair of the Council.
Other Healthcare Regulators
The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) is an independent group. It works to keep patients and the public healthy and safe. The PSA checks the work of nine different groups that regulate health professionals.
These groups include:
- Health and Care Professions Council (for other health professions)
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (for nurses and midwives)
- General Optical Council
- General Dental Council
- General Chiropractic Council
- General Osteopathic Council
- General Pharmaceutical Council
- Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
- General Medical Council
The PSA advises the UK government on health professional regulation. It also looks at how well these groups are doing their job.
