Help for witnesses - Attending the hearing
Contents
Introduction
On the day of the hearing you should aim to arrive at the MPTS hearing centre in good time for the start of your evidence.
You will have been given 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 before the time you have been allotted. Please come to the reception desk in the main foyer. You will be met by a member of staff or a witness service volunteer, 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.
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 not discuss the case or your evidence with anyone else, including other witnesses, because 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 because of a delay or change in circumstance, you will be asked to return on another day.
Public access to the hearing
Most 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, 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.
Support for disabled people
The hearing centre has wheelchair access and a loop system for people with hearing loss. If you have a disability, communication difficulties or other additional needs, please contact us before the hearing to ensure we can make any necessary arrangements for you to give evidence.
Arrangements could include providing a sign language interpreter or assistance for a witness with a visual impairment such as providing information in an alternative format, or mobility assistance on the day of the hearing.
Childcare
Please do not bring children to hearings if you can possibly avoid doing so. Our expenses policy provides information on claiming reimbursement for caring arrangements, where these are incurred as a result of giving evidence to a hearing.
If you really have no option other than to bring children with you, please could you ensure that they will be accompanied by an adult at all times. If you are involved in the hearing, this means you will need to bring another adult to provide care while you are giving evidence.
Please remember that, for their own safety, children must not be left unattended.
Unfortunately, due to health and safety reasons, staff and witness service volunteers are unable to take responsibility for any children, even for short periods.
Who will be at the hearing?
The MPTS panel and panellists - the panel is made up of doctors (medically qualified) and lay people (not medically qualified), who are 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 – the barrister presenting the case against the doctor. The barrister will ask a witness questions about their evidence.
Doctor (or doctors) – the person (or people) 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 – the person presenting the case or speaking 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 adviser - registered medical practitioners appointed to advise the panel on issues relating either to a doctor’s health or to their performance. Where no issues relating to a doctor’s health or performance are raised, specialist advisers will not be present.
Panel secretary – a MPTS staff member responsible for the administration of the hearing.
Shorthand writer - the person who takes a note of the hearing.