Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

Victim Support to give helping hand to GMC witnesses

Press Release

07 Oct 2011

Emotional and practical support is now available for patients and health professionals who may be asked to give evidence at GMC hearings.

Giving evidence at a hearing can be a daunting and emotional experience. We want to make sure that witnesses have access to sound, independent support, which should increase their confidence when giving evidence.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the GMC

The GMC and Victim Support have launched a joint initiative to provide independent emotional and practical support to witnesses who attend GMC hearings.

The service will be available to anyone making a complaint to the GMC as well as all witnesses giving evidence at a Fitness to Practise hearing, whether they have been called by the GMC or the doctor.

Complainants and witnesses who wish to take up this service will be provided with support in their local community during an investigation,¹ an opportunity to visit our hearing rooms before giving evidence, and face-to-face emotional support from an independent supporter on the day of the hearing.

Victim Support has already worked with the GMC to support 12 witnesses during a six month pilot. More than 200 volunteers will be given additional training to work with witnesses who have to attend a Fitness to Practise hearing.

The service is for patients and for health professionals who may be asked to give evidence about a colleague. Witnesses can refer themselves to the service or ask the solicitor dealing with their case to make a referral.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the GMC said:

“Giving evidence at a hearing can be a daunting and emotional experience. We want to make sure that witnesses have access to sound, independent support, which should increase their confidence when giving evidence.”

Victim Support has more than 20 years experience of running an independent witness service in the courts in England and Wales.

Javed Khan, Chief Executive of Victim Support said:

“Last year alone we helped 280,000 witnesses cope with the experience of going to court. I am delighted to be working with the GMC to extend this service to witnesses and patients involved in hearings by offering them emotional and practical support.

“We know that being involved in a hearing can be very stressful and traumatic, so it is vital that witnesses can turn to someone who is not directly involved with the proceedings to help them through the experience.”

The GMC has additional resources on its website to support witnesses, including a virtual hearing room and a Help for Witnesses leaflet (pdf).

 

 ¹ The support will be available either via telephone or in person, where possible, to all witnesses across the UK.

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact the Media Relations Office on 020 7189 5454, out of hours 020 7189 5444/ 07920 461497, email press@gmc-uk.org

The General Medical Council registers and licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK.

The law gives us four main functions:

  • keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
  • fostering good medical practice
  • promoting high standards of medical education and training
  • dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt

Victim Support is the national charity for people affected by crime. It has trained staff and volunteers giving free and confidential information, support and practical help to anyone affected by crime, whether or not is has been reported and regardless of when it happened. The charity also runs the Witness Service and the Victim Supportline. Victim Support offers help and support to over one million people every year. The website is at: http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

For further information about Victim Support, please contact Alex Flynn, Media and Campaigns Manager on 020 7268 0241.