High Profile doctors support GMC licensing campaign

High profile doctors have today lent their support to the latest phase of the GMC’s licensing campaign.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, BMA Chair; Dr Ramesh Mehta, BAPIO President; and Dr Frances Elliot, Chief Executive of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland have all contributed messages on a new GMC website, Licensing help , aimed at helping doctors to make their decision about taking a licence.

The site is part of a drive to encourage doctors to contact the GMC with their licensing decision before the 14 August deadline.

Licensing help* contains information about the licensing options available to doctors and how to contact the GMC.

More than half of all doctors have already responded to the campaign and the remainder will receive a reminder letter from the GMC this week.

On the site, Dr Hamish Meldrum, BMA says:

“I’ve already made my licensing decision and I would encourage all doctors to do the same.

“It is in all of our interests to ensure that the GMC has the best information available in order to plan ahead so, please, make sure you let the GMC know about your decision as soon as you hear from them.”

Dr Ramesh Mehta, BAPIO said:

“I would urge all doctors to respond to the GMC’s campaign – and make their decision – as quickly as possible.

“I work as a consultant and lead paediatrician at Bedford Hospital. As a doctor in medical practice, I will need to hold registration with a licence.”

Professor Peter Rubin, Chair of the GMC said:

“I’m very grateful to everyone for lending their support to our campaign. We’ve had a great response so far and I hope these messages will encourage the remaining doctors to get in touch ahead of our August deadline.

“I have made my decision and it was pretty straightforward. I want to continue my weekly hypertension clinic in Nottingham, which means I’ll need registration with a licence.

“We’ve made it as easy as possible for doctors to let us know their decision. If they are not sure they should visit the GMC’s website and click on Licensing help which will answer any questions they may have.”

Currently, to practise medicine in the UK, a doctor has to be registered with the GMC. But from 16 November 2009, all doctors will need a licence, in addition to their registration, to undertake any form of medical practice, including writing prescriptions, holding a post as a doctor in the NHS, and signing death and cremation certificates. Some doctors, such as academics or researchers, may not need a licence to practise and are therefore choosing to hold registration without one.

Once doctors have made their decision they should contact the GMC by post, online or by calling 0161 923 6277.

* Please be aware that the GMC's Licensing help website is no longer available. For more information about the options available to doctors, please visit our Licensing: it's time to decide pages.