Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

'Licensing: it’s time to decide'

Press Release

23 Apr 2009

The GMC is rolling out the next stage of its licensing campaign by writing to all registered doctors across the UK.

Doctors have an important decision to make in advance of licensing being introduced.

Peter Rubin, Chair of the GMC

The GMC is rolling out the next stage of its licensing campaign by writing to all registered doctors across the UK. We are asking doctors to confirm whether or not they wish to hold registration with a licence to practise when licensing is introduced.

From Autumn 2009 doctors will, by law, need to be both registered and hold a licence in order to practise medicine in the UK. Doctors working overseas will not need a licence for the period they are out of the UK.

The annual fee for maintaining registration with a licence to practise will be the same as the current annual retention fee - £410. The annual fee for holding registration without a licence will be £145.

GMC Chair Professor Peter Rubin said: “Doctors have an important decision to make in advance of licensing being introduced. They will have the option of holding registration with or without a licence.

“The decision should be straightforward for most doctors. However, the decision they will make will depend on their professional situation and the particular activities they carry out.

“Legal and contractual issues will require many doctors to hold registration with a licence. However the option to be registered without a licence will provide some doctors, particularly those working outside of the UK, with an alternative.”

Licensing will be the first step towards the introduction of revalidation. When this new approach to medical regulation is introduced, doctors with a licence will be subject to revalidation. They will need to undertake the periodic renewal of their licence by demonstrating that they remain up to date and fit to practise.

These reforms will help doctors develop their professional practice throughout their careers, and contribute to higher quality of care for patients.

The introduction of licensing will begin in Autumn 2009. The GMC will announce the start date shortly and all doctors will know in advance when licensing will begin. Information to help doctors make their decision will be sent to them over the next few weeks.

More information can be found on the GMC’s website: www.gmc-uk.org.uk

 

The options available to doctors

In the licensing campaign, doctors have ONE of three options:

Option A - Registered with a licence to practise (£410)

All registered doctors will be entitled to a licence. This will legally allow doctors to undertake any of the activities for which UK law currently requires GMC registration.

Option B – Registered without a licence to practise (£145)

Those not practising may wish to remain registered without a licence.

Option C – No longer registered (no charge)