Introduction

This page provides information about our Fitness to Practise hearing process. It is part of our online guidance about hearings, called Information for Doctors.

We have developed these pages to help you prepare for your Fitness to Practise (FTP) Panel hearing as you are likely to be unfamiliar with the environment of a hearing and the procedure followed. You may, for example, be unaware that you have a right to attend and be represented, to present evidence and to call and cross-examine witnesses.

If you are a member of a medical defence organisation (MDO) and are being assisted by them, or have organised your own legal representation, your legal adviser will be able to provide you with information and advice on what is involved.  If you are a member of an MDO and have not already contacted them, you may wish to do so [see Section 8 Contact information].

You may be interested to note that the Bar Pro Bono Unit is a charity which helps to find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers. The Unit may be able to assist with advice and representation and help at mediation for cases in all legal areas, in all tribunals and courts in England and Wales, including those where proceedings have not yet started. Pro bono assistance is only available to those who cannot afford to pay and who do not have the benefit of support from an MDO. Contact details for the Bar Pro Bono Unit are included in [see Section 8 Contact information].

If you are represented, many of the actions set out below are those that will be undertaken by your representative. However, you may nevertheless find this information helpful. If you are representing yourself, it may be particularly useful.

We would welcome any comments you may have in relation to the information set out in this document. The information can be made available on request in Braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk, via e-mail and in large print. Wherever possible, we will provide the information in the format you require. Please contact us [see Section 8 Contact information] to discuss your requirements and any other additional needs in advance of your hearing. 

Our hearing procedures are set out in The General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules 2004 (as amended) (the Rules). We will send you a copy of the Rules with the Notice of Hearing. Alternatively, you can access a copy of the Rules online (145kb, pdf).We will also send you a copy of the Medical Act 1983 (615kb, pdf), which is available online.

For ease of reference, this document is split into eight sections as follows:

Section 1 - Before the hearing

Information on pre-hearing case management, attending the hearing, submitting documents, about the GMC hearing centres, including support and facilities available, is set out in the Before the hearing section.

Section 2 - Attending the hearing

Information on when to arrive, public access, who will be at the hearing and more, is available in the Attending the hearing section.

Section 3 - The three stages

Information on the three separate stages of the hearings procedure, including a flowchart, on the Indicative Sanctions Guidance for FTP Panels and review hearings is set out in The Three Stages section.

Section 4 - The order of proceedings

Information on how the hearing will proceed, including non-attendance, preliminary legal argument, confirmation and admissions and the order of presentation at Stage 1 is set out in The order of proceedings section.

Section 5 - Other hearing information

Information about giving evidence, submitting documents, the hearing timetable and adjournments is provided in the Other hearing information section.

Section 6 - At the end of the hearing

Information on what happens at the end of the hearing, including information on the right of appeal, is set out in the At the end of the hearing section.

Section 7 - Glossary

For a glossary of the terms used in the process please see our Glossary section.

Section 8 - Contact information

GMC and other contact details, including the MDOs and the Bar Pro Bono Unit, are set out in the Contact information section.