Features: Licensing: have you decided?
Licensing - it's time to decide
25 May 2009
Our campaign to support the introduction of licensing in Autumn 2009 is now underway.
GMCtoday takes a closer look at how this major change will affect doctors in different professional situations.
Since our campaign began earlier this year, tens of thousands of doctors have already confirmed their decision about whether or not they want to hold a licence to practise when licensing is introduced. For many doctors there will be legal and contractual reasons which mean they will need to hold a licence. The option to remain registered without a licence is an alternative option that may suit some doctors.
By now you will have received, or will shortly be receiving, information from us to help you make your decision. Whatever you decide, it’s important that you let us know. If you have not yet decided, GMCtoday outlines some case studies to help you. These are based on enquiries we have received from doctors about making their decision.
Visit www.gmc-uk.org/timetodecide to read more about licensing and the options available to you. If you received a form about licensing from us, please complete and return it to us or call us on 0161 923 6277 to give us your decision. Thank you.
Some case studies
DOCTOR A is currently practising overseas
Doctor A trained in the UK as a GP and now lives and works abroad and plans to be there for the foreseeable future. She would like to keep her options open so that she can return to the UK to practise. Doctor A has decided not to take a licence because she will not need one until she comes back here to work. She does, however, want to demonstrate to overseas regulators that she is in good standing with the GMC, so she has decided to remain registered without a licence and will be paying a lower annual retention fee of £145.
DOCTOR B has recently retired from full-time practice
Doctor B is retired so she no longer practises fulltime as an NHS GP, but she remains registered because she still does occasional locum work. She knows that even though she has retired from her NHS job, she must stay registered and take a licence to be able to continue to do locum work from time to time. She will continue to pay the same annual fee of £410.
DOCTOR C has both NHS and private practice
Doctor C is a consultant neurologist in the NHS who is on the Specialist Register. He also has a clinic at an independent hospital. As an NHS consultant, he will be taking a licence because the law requires this. He knows that, regardless of his NHS practice and whether or not he is on the Specialist Register, he still needs a licence for his private practice.
DOCTOR D recently retired
Doctor D has recently retired from his career in orthopaedic surgery in the NHS after 30 years. He has decided that he will not be continuing with any form of medical practice and therefore there will be no reason for him to take a licence. He considered whether to relinquish his registration entirely, but decided that he wanted to retain a connection with the profession and so, when licensing is introduced, he will remain registered but without a licence.
DOCTOR E works for a drug company
Doctor E works in the pharmaceutical industry. He also holds an honorary senior lecturer contract at his local university, where he does some teaching. No aspect of Doctor E's current practice legally requires him to hold registration; however, he is registered because both the company he works for and the university he teaches at require this. Doctor E will be taking a licence to meet the continuing requirements of his employer.