The GMC has announced that it is to begin a 3 month consultation into the management of fitness to practise hearings.
The consultation will consider whether, during the period immediately preceding the hearing, there can be more effective communication between doctor and defence teams in order to agree sensible time estimates. The consultation paper also asks for views on whether the parties can take steps to narrow the issues in dispute and what steps the GMC could take to ensure that pre-hearing arrangements are adhered to.
The GMC’s Director of Standards and Fitness to Practise, Paul Philip, said:
“The vast majority of doctors are good doctors working in often difficult circumstances. Each year we hold around 200 public hearings to examine whether a doctors fitness to practise is impaired. This consultation will examine ways of further improving procedures particularly so the minority of very complex cases, can be resolved in good time.
“Proposed changes to the way in which hearings are managed are designed to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the GMC’s processes and we are very keen to seek views and suggestions to help us inform where improvements can be made.”
The consultation is to run until 10 August. Those who wish to take part can do so at: https://gmc.e-consultation.net/econsult/default.aspx
22 May 2009