Fitness to Practise rules changes consultation (GMC253)

We are planning to hold a public consultation about changes to the rules governing our fitness to practise work from 13 March for a period of eight weeks ending on 8 May 2015. This consultation is the final phase in a reform programme we have undertaken to achieve the operational separation of our investigation and adjudication functions. The Department of Health consulted on changes to the Medical Act 1983 in autumn 2014 which established the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in law and introduced a right of appeal for the GMC, as a party to proceedings, where we think a panel decision is not sufficient to meet our overarching objective of protecting the public. The changes to our rules implement these changes and introduce other reforms aimed at streamlining our processes. The key questions we plan to ask include: a) do you agree with the proposed rules setting out the governance structure for the MPTS Committee?; b) do you agree with the proposals to set out an overriding objective to deal with cases justly and fairly in our rules?; c) do you agree with our proposal to award costs where either of the parties has breached a rule and direction and they have behaved unreasonably?; d) do you agree with our proposal to allow for review hearings on the papers (i.e. where the parties agree on the outcome, their attendance in person at a hearing is not required)?; e) where a doctor does not comply with either a reasonable request for information or does not comply with a request to be assessed, do you agree with our proposal to refer the doctor to a panel for a hearing with the power, where a panel makes a finding of non-compliance, to suspend or impose conditions?