Concerns about a General Medical Practitioner are generally raised by a patient, private healthcare body, NHS Hospital Trust or Primary Care Trust.
If local complaints procedures are inadequate, a referral to the GMC may result if there is an allegation that a doctor’s fitness to practise is impaired. This may be for any one of the following reasons: misconduct; deficient performance; a criminal conviction or caution; physical or mental ill-health or a decision by a regulatory body either in the British Isles or overseas.
It is important that you do not ignore correspondence from the GMC notifying you that a complaint or information has been received by them. Often if you seek advice at an early stage, representations can be made on your behalf to persuade the GMC that the matter does not require any investigation by them.
Any comment you make at the preliminary stage of the investigation will be compared with future submissions. Therefore careful consideration should be given to any written comments made as this is the beginning of the construction of your defence.
