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Tackling Concerns Nationally

This working group is chaired by Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, Chair of the Healthcare Commission and Emeritus Professor of Health Law, Ethics and Policy at University College London. He chaired the public inquiry into children's heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (1998-2001).

Final report

The Tackling Concerns Nationally Working Group will support the establishment of an independent body to adjudicate (i.e. to judge and make final decisions) on medical fitness to practise cases brought before the General Medical Council (GMC).

An independent adjudicator is being established because the Government believes that the final decision making body in medical fitness to practise cases should be independent of both the GMC and of the doctor in question to ensure absolute fairness.

The final report has been submitted to Ministers making recommendations on

  • the status of the new body and its interaction with other organisations;
  • composition of the board of OHPA and principles of governance for the body;
  • general principles around the composition and conduct of Fitness to Practise panels;
  • funding mechanisms;
  • the development of policies on the disclosure of information;
  • the need to collect information on equality and diversity issues; and
  • the process of transition to the new body of adjudication cases from the GMC and GOC and, potentially, other regulators.

Feedback

If you would like to comment on any of the papers or the work of this group then please send them to the email address below

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