BME Doctors Forum meets with MPTS Chair

Members of the BME Doctors Forum met with His Honour David Pearl, Chair of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) on 11 July 2012.

The MPTS is a new impartial adjudication function for doctors, and a key part of the GMC’s fitness to practise (FTP) reforms. The new tribunal service was launched on 11 June this year, taking over all FTP cases relating to registered doctors from the GMC. It makes decisions on what action is needed to protect patients.

David Pearl is the independently appointed Chair of the new tribunal service. He is now responsible for appointing, training, appraising and mentoring MPTS panellists and legal assessors.

Forum members raised a range of issues with David during the discussion, including the visibility of BME clinicians and lay people on FTP panels; outcomes for BME doctors and international medical graduates (IMGs); and the equality and diversity training provided for panellists.

The MPTS Chair updated members on the work being done to create a new identity and build public confidence in the new service. He also spoke about the governance and accountability structures within the tribunal and the importance of ensuring that hearings are run efficiently and take place in an environment where people are comfortable.

Based in a dedicated centre in Manchester, the MPTS is part of the GMC but operationally separate from the regulator’s complaint handling, investigation and case presentation work. It is also accountable to Parliament.

The GMC’s Deputy Chief Executive, Paul Philip, who also attended the meeting, said that the GMC has not been able to performance-manage panellists directly. The advent of the MPTS means that operational arrangements could be put in place to do this, and that panellists will receive ongoing feedback from the MPTS Chair. Panels continue to be independent and accountable for their own decisions.

For more information about the work of the MPTS visit www.mpts-uk.org