The General Medical Council welcomes the debate to be held in the House of Commons on Tuesday July 4 about changes to the Medical Act that will take forward the next stage of the GMC's reforms of medical regulation.

The GMC has worked very closely with the Department of Health in England in developing the proposals. The Order, also to be debated in the House of Lords on Thursday July 6, will, if approved by Parliament, enable a number of reforms including strengthening the GMC's oversight of medical education and improving its fitness to practise procedures and the arrangements for initial registration.

The changes to initial registration will remove unnecessary differences for International Medical Graduates. The move to a single registration structure will also provide greater clarity for patients when consulting the medical register, and reduce the regulatory burden on employers.

The GMC's role in medical education involves setting standards and quality assuring the first year of practice following qualification. The new Order makes a number of changes that reflect the current emphasis on outcome based training. The changes will also put the GMC in a stronger position to respond quickly to changing needs and developments in medical education.

The changes to the fitness to practise procedures incorporate strengthening the GMC's powers and duties to disclose and publish fitness to practise information for the benefit of patients and employers. They also include a requirement for a fitness to practise declaration for all doctors at the point of registration and the creation of a power for 'consensual disposal' of certain cases. This power, which will be the subject of extensive consultation before implementation, will enable certain classes of cases to be concluded in a way that secures public protection without the need for a hearing. Among other things, this will spare patients the strain of giving evidence at a public hearing.

Sir Graeme Catto, President of the GMC, said:

"This legislation is another important step in the GMC's reforms and we are delighted that it has come before Parliament this week. We will continue, working with the Government, to drive forward our programme of far-reaching reform to deliver a responsive framework, which maximises the beneficial impact of regulation while minimising its burdens."

General Medical Council, UK