GMC announces launch date for doctors licences - 08 June 2009

Source
The GMC has announced the launch date of a milestone in medical regulation.  From 16 November, all doctors will need a licence in order to practise medicine in the UK.
 
Currently, to practise medicine in the UK, a doctor has to be registered with the GMC. But from 16 November, all doctors will need a licence in addition to their GMC registration to undertake any form of medical practice in the UK, including, but not limited to, writing prescriptions, holding a post as a doctor in the NHS, and signing death and cremation certificates.
 
Since 20 April 2009, the GMC has been contacting all doctors on its register to find out whether they wish to take a licence.  Some doctors, such as academics or researchers, won’t need a licence to practise and are therefore choosing to hold registration without a licence.
 
GMC Chair Professor Peter Rubin said: 

•  “We have received a good response to the licensing campaign, having asked 225,000 doctors whether they want a licence to practise.  So far, almost 50% of doctors have responded, with the vast majority choosing to take a licence.
•  “The introduction of the licence is the first step towards a new system called revalidation, the process through which doctors will be asked periodically to demonstrate that they are up to date and fit to practise in the job they do.
• “Licensing is a major milestone. The next stage is to implement revalidation.  Once we have the results back from the pilots we will be in a position to draw together a more coherent revalidation timetable.”

The GMC has produced a guide, Revalidation: Information for Doctors and Frequently Asked Questions, which aims to answer doctors’ queries about revalidation.  The guide can be accessed at www.gmc-uk.org/revalidation
 
For further information please contact the Media Relations Office

Press Office 020 7189 5454, Out of hours 020 7189 5444, fax: 020 7189 5401 email: press@gmc-uk.org website: http://www.gmc-uk.org.

The General Medical Council licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK. Our purpose is summed up in the phrase:
Regulating doctors
Ensuring good medical practice.

The law gives us four main functions:

• keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
• fostering good medical practice
• promoting high standards of medical education
• dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt

09 June 2009
 

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