Frequently asked questions: Dr to Dr

On this page you can find frequently asked questions about the Health assessment process. The answers are provided by a doctor who plays a role in the process.

Who will carry out my health assessment?

You will be assessed by two health examiners nominated by the GMC. The majority of health concerns relate to mental health or addiction issues, therefore in these cases both examiners will be Consultant Psychiatrists.

As a general psychiatrist who has acted as a health assessor for the GMC on several occasions, I have provided the answers below.

The GMC will always check that the health examiner has not had any previous connection with you in a social, personal or professional context.  If there is any possibility that you know each other, the examiner would not be asked to carry out the assessment.

How much information will the health examiner be given about the reason for my referral?

I will be given all relevant information received by the GMC, including a copy of the original complaint.

Where does the assessment take place?

I recognise that doctors will be anxious when arriving for an assessment and we try to be sensitive to this.

The assessment usually takes place in the health examiner’s normal place of work, which may be a hospital or community resource centre.

I try to find somewhere that is discreet so that you don’t have to sit in a waiting room where there may be people you know around.  To protect your confidentiality I may try to see you outside clinic hours.

Will there be a mental examination?

The health examiner who is a general psychiatrist (in this case me) will take a case history which covers current symptoms, past history and previous episodes where relevant.

I will also take a family and personal history including career, education, personal relationships, hobbies and interests, alcohol and substance misuse.

If you are unwell at the time of the examination, we will usually try to get an idea of what you were like before you were unwell. Sometimes there might be a mini mental state examination. 

The examiner will review objective and subjective signs when assessing mental state, and these will be recorded in the report. 

Will there be a physical examination?

You will only have a basic physical examination.  One of the examiners may take a blood or hair test to investigate any substances that you might be taking which could have an adverse impact on your health, such as drugs or alcohol.

If a more detailed physical examination is required we will write to the GMC to suggest a referral to a specialist.

Will you speak to people involved in my treatment?

The GMC will request your consent for me to contact anybody else involved in your treatment.

After the assessment I will contact your GP and any other treating doctor to discuss your health, your treatment including any medication, any results of relevant investigations and your progress generally. 

Do the two examiners discuss their findings with each other?

No.  The GMC asks for two reports which represent the independent views of two experts rather than an amalgamation of different opinions. 

However, they usually only need one set of blood tests, so we examiners may speak to each other to decide who will make the arrangements for testing.

What diagnosis or conclusions should I expect?

I will comment on whether or not I believe a doctor has a psychiatric diagnosis within the two international classification systems IC10 or DSM4.  If you would like to know more about the classification systems please see the information at the foot of the page ‘About health assessments’.

The GMC is also interested in any conditions which are in remission but have the potential for relapse. So there are some specific questions we will need to answer about you, for example

• if there is a mental disorder, how much does it impact on your functioning? 
• Are there any fitness to practise concerns?
• Are you fit to practise at all?
• Are you fit to practise with supervision?

Although the examiner will have to answer all of these questions, it may be that there are no concerns regarding your ability to practise medicine safely.  

How do you ensure that my personal information is treated in confidence?

The report is confidential and details are not disclosed to employers. The report may be used in any subsequent fitness to practise panel hearings but those parts of the hearing which relate to your health are held in private without press or public present.

All information about your health is removed from the minutes which are published on the GMC’s website and will not be disclosed to enquirers. 

If I disagree with the assessment can I get a second opinion/arrange my own assessment?

You can get your own report and submit it as evidence to the GMC. The GMC will still commission two reports separately from any evidence you may have submitted.

All the evidence will be considered before making a decision about your fitness to practise.