Revalidation - updating the legislation
The introduction of revalidation represents the biggest change to medical regulation in 150 years. Implementing this change requires significant updating of the legislative framework within which the GMC operates.
Medical Act 1983
The Medical Act 1983 ('the Act') provides the legal basis for everything that we do. It gives the GMC specific powers and duties to carry out its functions.
This includes our powers and duties in relation to licensing and revalidation.
The changes to the Act necessary for the introduction of revalidation are contained in amending legislation that has been approved by Parliament.
Although this legislation has been approved by Parliament, not all of the provisions that they contain have come into force. They will not do so until we are ready to start revalidation.
Health and Social Care Act 2008
Our plans for revalidation are also affected by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (HSCA) which received Royal Assent on 24 July 2008. The HSCA is available on the UK legislation website.
The HSCA deals with a wide range of issues, many of which are unconnected with medical regulation.
However, it also includes provisions for the creation of 'Responsible Officers' (usually Medical Directors) within local healthcare organisations who will have specific powers in relation to the delivery of revalidation processes at a local level, including making recommendations to the GMC about doctors' revalidation.
The legislation and regulations covering the new statutory role of Responsible Officer were introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 October 2010 and in the rest of the UK on 1 January 2011.
The Responsible Officer regulations can be found at:
Further information on this role in relation to revalidation is available on our page on Responsible Officers.