Doctors are being offered a helpful new leaflet to explain important developments in medical regulation to their patients.
Most doctors in the UK have a licence...it’s important that patients understand these new rules.
Paul Philip, Acting Chief Executive, GMC
Understanding a doctor’s registration: a guide for patients and carers, has been issued by the General Medical Council (GMC) and translated into eight different languages in addition to English for doctors to make available to their patients.
It explains that, to practise medicine in the UK, doctors must hold both registration and a licence with the GMC. Previously, doctors had to hold GMC registration only.
Only doctors registered with the GMC and with a licence to practise can, for example, write prescriptions and sign death certificates.
“Most doctors in the UK have a licence but it’s important that patients understand these new rules. For example, if a patient wants to go for private treatment, it’s important that they check a doctor has a licence that allows them to practise in the UK.”
Both leaflets are part of a suite of patient information materials available in a range of formats and languages. These are all downloadable from www.gmc-uk.org
Notes to editors:
You can find out more by visiting www.gmc-uk.org/understandingregistration
Understanding a doctor’s registration: a guide for patients and carers, is available to download from http://www.gmc-uk.org in the following languages:
- English
- Arabic
- Bengali
- Chinese
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Punjabi
- Urdu
- Welsh
For further information please contact the Media Relations Office on 020 7189 5454, out of hours 020 7189 5444, fax 020 7189 5401, email press@gmc-uk.org, website http://www.gmc-uk.org.
The General Medical Council licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK. Our purpose is summed up in the phrase: Regulating doctors, Ensuring Good Medical Practice.
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
- dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt
©2009 General Medical Council Press Office
