Attending the GMC hearing
Contents
Day of the hearing
You should aim to arrive at the hearing in good time for the start of your evidence. You will have been informed of a time to arrive, but please ensure you take account of any possible delays that may occur and aim to arrive at least half an hour prior to the time you have been allotted. Please report to the security desk in the main foyer, and they will provide you with a visitor’s pass and direct you to the lifts and where to go. You will be met by a member of GMC staff, who will take you to the witness waiting room.
The witness waiting room has a free hot and cold drinks machine and a selection of newspapers and magazines will be available. Please let a member of GMC staff know if there are any problems with the facilities in the waiting room.
Waiting to give evidence
You will be asked to wait in the witness room along with other witnesses until you are required to give evidence. No witness (except an expert witness) is permitted to be present during the hearing before giving evidence. While you are waiting to give evidence you should avoid discussing the case or your evidence with anyone else, including other witnesses, as this might prejudice the proceedings.
All cases are dealt with as quickly as possible, but sometimes hearings can overrun and witnesses may be required to wait some time before being able to give their evidence. If you are unable to give evidence on the allotted day due to a delay or change in circumstance, you will be asked to return on another day.
Public access to the hearing
Most GMC hearings are held in public. There will be a public ‘gallery’ where the press and public sit to watch the proceedings, usually at one end of the hearing room. Sometimes the panel will ask the press and public and witnesses to leave the hearing if there are any confidential matters to discuss. If this happens, you will be guided back to the witness waiting room until the hearing restarts.
Who will be at the hearing?
The panel and panellists - The panel is made up of doctors (medically qualified) and lay people (non medically qualified) known as ‘panellists’. One member of the panel will act as the chairman. The chairman will ensure that the hearing is conducted fairly, and they have a duty to protect the interests of all people involved in the case including witnesses.
Legal assessor – an experienced barrister or solicitor who advises the panel.
GMC barrister – they present the case against the doctor. They will ask a witness questions so that they can give their evidence.
Doctor(s) –the person(s) against whom allegations have been made. In most cases the doctor will be defended by a barrister. Occasionally, the doctor will be unrepresented and will defend their own case.
Doctor’s barrister or other representative – they present the case or speak on behalf of the doctor. They will put the doctor’s position to the panel. They will ask the witness questions about their evidence.
Specialist health or performance advisor – these are registered medical practitioners appointed to advise the panel either in relation to issues relating to a doctor’s health or to their performance. Where no issues relating to a doctor’s health or performance are raised, specialist advisors will not be present.
Panel secretary – a GMC staff member responsible for the administration of the hearing
Shorthand writer- who takes a note of the hearing.
