Posts Tagged ‘Licence to practise’

Doctors are given their licences to practise

By Mike Broad - 20th November 2009 4:49 pm

A historic milestone in the regulation doctors was passed this week with the introduction of licences to practise.

While most doctors have been underwhelmed by the event, it is significant - in order to practise medicine in the UK, a doctor has to be both registered with the GMC and have a licence to practise.

Since Monday, 218,153 doctors now officially have a licence.

The GMC said licensing has a number of implications for doctors and their employers that they should be aware of. The licence gives a practising doctor the legal authority to write prescriptions, sign death certificates and exercise a wide range of other legal ‘privileges’. And it applies to all doctors working in the UK, whether working in the NHS or the independent sector, either on a permanent or locum basis.

Employers must ensure that the doctors they employ have a licence to practise if their work requires them to do so.

Professor Peter Rubin, chair of the GMC, said: “The successful start to licensing is a major milestone towards the introduction of revalidation, a new process by which doctors will have to regularly demonstrate to the GMC that they remain up to date and fit to practise in the job they do.”

The licence to practise does not have an expiry date, but commits holders to revalidation. Revalidation is currently being piloted. The first revalidations will not happen before 2011, and these are likely to be with volunteers.

Read an interview with Prof Peter Rubin.

Read more on revalidation.

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First step taken on road to revalidation

By Mike Broad - 6th November 2009 11:22 am

Only 3% of doctors have yet to specify whether they want a licence to practise to the GMC a head of its 16 November licensing deadline.

In the first significant step towards revalidation, 220,000 doctors in the UK were asked to let the GMC know whether they required registration with or without a licence to practise.

In total, 97%, over 213,000 doctors, made their choice. Two hundred thousand doctors have chosen to hold registration with a licence and 13,500 doctors have chosen to be registered without a licence.

The minority of doctors who have not let the GMC know their decision will be granted a licence when licensing is introduced on 16 November 2009.

From this date, in order to practise medicine in the UK, a doctor will have to be registered with the GMC and hold a licence to practise.

The GMC said those doctors who have informed them need do nothing more. Letters have been sent to all doctors who have responded to the campaign confirming their decisions and that their registration will be updated on 16 November to reflect whether or not they hold a licence to practise. This will also be shown on the GMC website.

Professor Peter Rubin, chair of the GMC, said: “The introduction of licensing on the 16 November is the first practical step towards the introduction of revalidation. The first revalidations are likely to begin in 2011 and will mean that all doctors are regularly demonstrating to the GMC that their skills and knowledge are up to date to do the job they do.”

Read a guide on revalidation.

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Sign up before you lose practising privileges

By Stephen Campion, chief executive of HCSA - 16th July 2009 11:24 pm

Was I surprised to learn that health minister Lord Darzi had resigned from the government? Well it was a bit of a shock when the announcement came, but I can’t say I lost much sleep over it. I guess his patients need him more than he needs to be a non-elected Minister of State. But that is his decision.

Am I surprised that only 50% of doctors have decided to be licensed by the GMC? Thinking about it I think the answer is “not really” given that even today there are senior doctors complaining that they have to through tortuous bureaucracy to apply for Article 14 recognition to secure a CCT. Some complain that they were never advised of this change - and yet the GMC is adamant that all doctors had received comprehensive details of these “new” requirements. I say “new” because all this happened over 10 years ago and there are some today who say that they were not made aware of what was going on.

This is not a matter of “who is right and who is wrong” but a reflection of fact. Communications are never perfect; and neither often is the response, or lack of it. But in something as critical as being licensed with the GMC, whether one likes it or not, my bet is that after the closing date of 14 August this year there will be some doctors in limbo - or worse. Worse, because unless properly signed up with the GMC employment, practicing privileges and livelihoods are at stake.

So if doctors have yet to respond to the GMC now is the time to do so. Hospital Dr is right to highlight this. Don’t just rely on the GMC to tell you all you need to know!

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Countdown to needing a licence to practise

By Mike Broad - 14th July 2009 4:44 pm

The GMC is urging doctors to let them know whether they require a licence to practice prior to the 14 August deadline.

It comes amid accusations that doctors haven’t been sufficiently informed about the new regulatory system.

Under the new rules, doctors will need a licence to practise and be registered with the GMC in order to be able to treat patients. Doctors are supposed to let the GMC know within the next month.

Only a minority of doctors, who do not treat patients, such as some academics and researchers, will not need a licence.

But some doctors are still unaware that they have to let the GMC know that they want a licence. It’s estimated that nearly half of doctors are yet to register their preference.

One hospital doctor, who wished to remain nameless, told Hospital Dr: “I haven’t registered whether I want a licence to practise yet. I didn’t know what one was until earlier this week when a colleague mentioned it and I looked blankly at him. Lots of people don’t.

“Maybe I have been mailed stuff about it but nothing has jumped out at me. I often don’t get time to go through it.”

GMC chair Professor Peter Rubin said he had opted for a licence so he could continue running a weekly blood pressure clinic in Nottingham.

He said: “We’ve made it as easy as possible for doctors to let us know their decision. If they are not sure they should visit the GMC’s website and click on Licensing help which will answer any questions they may have.”

From 16 November and doctor wishing to practise medicine in the UK will, by law, need to both hold registration and a licence to practise. The GMC will be writing to all doctors at that stage to confirm their status.

Stephen Campion, chief executive of HCSA, commented: “Communications are never perfect; and neither often is the response, or lack of it. But in something as critical as being licensed with the GMC, whether one likes it or not, my bet is that after the closing date of 14 August this year there will be some doctors in limbo - or worse.

“Worse, because unless properly signed up with the GMC employment, practicing privileges and livelihoods are at stake. So if doctors have yet to respond to the GMC now is the time to do so.”

Meanwhile, the GMC has appointed Niall Dickson as its new chief executive. He will take up his post in January next year. He joins the GMC from The King’s Fund, where he has been chief executive since 2004. Prior to that, he was the BBC’s social affairs editor.

Rubin said: “The GMC is leading a major programme of regulatory change for doctors – including the introduction of revalidation. This is a challenging time and Niall Dickson is ideal for the job. He brings a wide understanding of the complex issues involved in delivering top quality healthcare in the UK.

“As a former broadcaster, he also has a strong record in communications, which will be vital in helping us to engage with doctors, patients and the public about the changes which are coming.”

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