How much will it cost to access information

  1. Summary
  2. Access information we hold about you
  3. Access information about what we do
  1. What is our publication scheme?
  2. Costs to access information
  3. What to do if you’re not satisfied with our response to your request

How much does it cost to get a publication?

We don't normally charge for providing information under our publication scheme. And we try to make most of our published information available on our website.

However, if you want a hard copy or the information is only available in hard copy, there might be a charge.

Printouts and photocopies

Single copies of GMC and Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) printed publications are available for free. 

To order printed copies of publications, please:

We reserve the right to charge you for providing hard copies. This also applies if you ask for multiple copies, large numbers of documents or information which is archived and no longer on our website.

Charges will be based on costs of retrieval, photocopying, printing and postage. We will let you know how much this will cost at the time of your request and you'll need to pay in advance.

Where charges are applied, black and white photocopies and printouts of web pages or documents will be charged at a standard rate of 10p per A4 side of paper, plus postage.

What do you charge for postage?

We charge postage to applicants at cost. Unless otherwise requested, information will be sent by Royal Mail second class post.

Waiving fees

We don't normally charge for simple requests for information under our publication scheme. For example, we usually waive fees where the associated costs are less than £50. This is per applicant per 12-month period. But, we do reserve the right to review our position on charging. 

How much do transcripts cost?

All MPTS hearings are digitally recorded. For members of the public, transcripts of public hearings are produced and made available when:

  • the hearing being transcribed has finished
  • the hearing determination is published on the GMC Medical Register and / or the MPTS Website
  • the cost of producing the transcript has been paid.

The cost of producing a transcript varies but can typically be up to £800 (+VAT) per day of the public hearing. 

Transcripts are not produced until the cost has been paid.

Where we already hold an electronic version of the transcript, no charge will be made if the person who made the initial request was a member of the public.

In all other circumstances the transcript will be reviewed to ensure it meets the confidentiality requirements of UK legislation. Dependent on the content, this will incur a cost of £1.25 or £2.25 (+VAT) per page. No charge will be made if the total cost is under £25.

Transcripts will not be provided until the cost has been paid.

Where the transcript is only held on paper, our charges will include retrieval from our archives and photocopying or scanning.
Our policy is to email transcripts. Therefore, any request for a paper copy will incur an additional charge for postage and packaging costs, plus a charge for printing where the transcript is held electronically.

Requests are made by completing a form on Request a hearing transcript - MPTS (mpts-uk.org).

If you are a member of the public and you wish to request a transcript (or just a quote) please complete the ‘Public’ form.

If you were personally involved with the hearing you wish to be transcribed, please read the instructions on the webpage and complete the form most relevant to you. Depending on your relationship to the hearing, the above charges may not apply.

Please note that we do not provide copies of digital recordings.

To request Registration Appeal transcripts, please email appeals@gmc-uk.org.

To request Public Investigation Committee Hearing transcripts, please email investigationscommittee@gmc-uk.org.

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