Medical Act 1983

Knowledge of English AssessmentsU.K.

[F1[F25C.(1)The General Council may make rules—

(a)authorising the giving of directions by any of—

(i)the Investigation Committee,

(ii)a Fitness to Practise Panel,

(iii)such other persons as may be specified in the rules,

requiring a registered person [F3or a person seeking restoration to the register] to undertake an assessment of that person’s knowledge of English;

(b)specifying circumstances in which such an assessment may be undertaken otherwise than in accordance with a direction.

[F4(1A)The reference in sub-paragraph (1) to a person seeking restoration to the register is a reference to a person applying under section 41, or by virtue of section 31(8) or 31A(1)(c), for the person’s name to be restored to the register.]

(2)An assessment required to be undertaken by virtue of this paragraph must be undertaken in accordance with rules made by the General Council under this paragraph; and the rules shall, in particular, provide—

(a)for the procedures to be followed F5... when directing a F6... person to undertake such an assessment;

(b)for the F6... person who is required to undertake such an assessment to provide information in respect of that assessment to such persons as may be prescribed under the rules;

(c)for the information provided by virtue of paragraph (b) to be disclosed to such persons as may be prescribed under the rules.

(3)If the Registrar is of the opinion that a [F7registered] person who is required to undertake an assessment of that person’s knowledge of English has failed to undertake that assessment or has undertaken the assessment but has failed to provide the information requested in respect of that assessment the Registrar may—

(a)refer the matter to the Fitness to Practise Panel, and

(b)if he does so, shall without delay serve on the person a notification of the making of such a referral.

(4)Where a matter is referred to the Fitness to Practise Panel under sub-paragraph (3), they may, if they think fit—

(a)direct that the person’s registration in the register shall be suspended (that is to say, shall not have effect) during such period not exceeding 12 months as may be specified in the direction; or

(b)direct that the person’s registration shall be conditional on the person’s compliance, during such period not exceeding 3 years as may be specified in the direction, with such requirements so specified as the Fitness to Practise Panel think fit to impose for the protection of members of the public or in the person’s interests.

[F8(4A)In deciding whether to give a direction under sub-paragraph (4), a Medical Practitioners Tribunal must have regard to the over-arching objective.]

(5)Where under sub-paragraph (4), the Fitness to Practise Panel give a direction for suspension or a direction for conditional registration the Registrar must without delay serve on the person concerned notification of the direction and of the person’s right to appeal against it under sub-paragraph (7).

(6)While a person’s registration in the register is suspended by virtue of a direction under sub-paragraph (4)—

(a)the person is to be treated as not being registered in the register notwithstanding that the person’s name still appears in it, but

(b)sections 31A, 35C, 35CC, 35D, 35E and 39 are to continue to apply to the person.

(7)An appeal shall lie to the relevant court (within the meaning of section 40(5) of this Act) from any direction of a Fitness to Practise Panel given under sub-paragraph (4) and on an appeal under this paragraph the relevant court may—

(a)quash the direction,

(b)substitute for the direction any other direction which the Panel could have made, or

(c)remit the case to the Registrar for him to refer it to a Fitness to Practise Panel to be disposed of in accordance with the court’s directions,

and the decision of the court on any appeal under this sub-paragraph shall be final.

(8)Subject to paragraph 9, an appeal under sub-paragraph (7) must be brought before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which notification of the direction was served under sub-paragraph (5).

(9)Sub-paragraphs (6) to (9) of paragraph 1 above shall apply in relation to rules made under this paragraph as they apply in relation to rules under that paragraph.]]

Textual Amendments

F1Sch. 4 substituted (7.7.2004 for the substitution of Sch. 4 para. 5A(2) for specified purposes and paras. 1, 5A(1)(3)(3A)(9), 6, 7(3)(4)(6) as notified in the London Gazette dated 2.7.2004, 1.11.2004 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 8.10.2004) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/3135), arts. 1(2)(3), 14 (with Sch. 2 and savings in The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) Order 2002 (Saving Provision) Order of Council 2004 (S.I. 2004/1731), arts. 1(1), 2)