Features: Responding to a national emergency
25 March 2009
In the event of a national emergency such as a pandemic, the UK is likely to need doctors more than ever.
In order to meet a surge in demand for doctors in a future emergency, the GMC is ensuring its registration processes are flexible and sufficiently swift, yet robust. Here, the GMC’s Director of Registration and Resources, Neil Roberts, explains how the GMC is preparing.
What preparations has the GMC made in the event of a national emergency such as a pandemic?
During an emergency involving human illness or the loss of human life, the GMC now has the power to grant temporary registration to persons deemed by the Registrar to be fit, proper and suitably experienced.
Who will be deemed fit, proper and suitably experienced?
A ‘fit, proper and suitably experienced’ doctor deemed eligible for Temporary Registration in an Emergency – or TR(E) – would be one who had been registered with the GMC in the past (or currently with another medical regulator overseas) and about whom there are no concerns regarding his or her fitness to practise.
How long will it take to get registration?
While the GMC’s normal registration procedures are extremely rigorous, in the event of a national emergency some aspects of these may need to be put to one side to ensure that eligible doctors can be granted registration more swiftly.
Will there be restrictions on these doctors’ practice?
The maintenance of public safety throughout a pandemic or a similar emergency will be paramount. We will aim to ensure that TR(E) doctors are only allowed to practise within the limits of their knowledge and skills.
What might a temporarily registered doctor be asked to do during an emergency?
We do not yet know what doctors returning to practice under TR(E) will be invited to do by the NHS, but this may involve assisting with the provision of death certification and prescribing medicines relevant to the pandemic/event.
Can a temporarily registered doctor carry on practising after the emergency is over?
TR(E) can only remain active for the duration of an emergency. Once the government declares the emergency to be over a doctor’s TR(E) will expire.
Where can I find out more information about pandemic planning?
In the event of a pandemic the GMC will publish further information on its website. There will also be information available at www.ukresilience.gov.uk/pandemicflu.aspx.
Good Medical Practice – Pandemic Influenza
The GMC has produced new guidance, Pandemic Influenza: Good Medical Practice – Responsibilities of doctors in a national pandemic, which provides the basis for doctors’ work should a national pandemic crisis occur.
The guidance follows the GMC’s close involvement in the Department of Health’s planning for the event of a national pandemic, and would apply should a UK Level 3 pandemic – involving a new virus outbreak in the UK following sustained human-tohuman transmission – be announced by the Chief Medical Officer (England).
In this guidance some of the usual requirements – such as participating in appraisal and performance review – have been lifted. Other requirements, such as the duties to act honestly, are unchanged.
In many cases, we have recognised the pressures and restrictions that may accompany a pandemic by adding qualifying clauses to the guidance, recognising that constraints on time and other resources may limit doctors’ ability to provide detailed information or help for patients.
This guidance should be read in conjunction with the guidelines issued by all of the UK Health Departments. Pandemic Influenza: Good Medical Practice – Responsibilities of doctors in a national pandemic is published on the GMC website.
Visit: www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/news_consultation/medical_pandemic.asp.
We will be reviewing any feedback after six months in order to consider amendments.