From this November all doctors will need a licence to practise medicine in the UK, the GMC has announced.
Currently a doctor has to be registered with the GMC in order to practise but from 16 November, all doctors will need a licence in addition to this registration. This will be required to undertake any form of medical practice in the UK, whether it’s working for the NHS or privately, signing death and cremation certificates, or even writing prescriptions when retired.
Since April, 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.
Professor Peter Rubin, the GMC’s chair, 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.”
At-a-glance guide to revalidation.
Tags: GMC, Revalidation
