Medical Act 1983

5 General functions of [F1 the General Council] in relation to medical education in the United Kingdom. U.K.

(1) [F1 The General Council] shall have the general function of promoting high standards of medical education and co-ordinating all stages of medical education.

(2) For the purpose of discharging that function [F1 the General Council] shall—

(a) determine the extent of the knowledge and skill which is to be required for the granting of primary United Kingdom qualifications and secure that the instruction given [F2 in or under the direction of bodies or combinations of bodies] in the United Kingdom to persons studying for such qualifications is sufficient to equip them with knowledge and skill of that extent;

(b) determine the standard of proficiency which is to be required from candidates at qualifying examinations and secure the maintenance of that standard; and

[F3 (c) discharge their functions under section 10A below in respect of programmes for provisionally registered doctors.]

F4 (2A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5 (2B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F6 (3) Determinations of [F1 the General Council] under subsection (2)(a) or (b) above shall be published in such manner as they see fit.

(3A) Such determinations—

(a) are binding on [F7 bodies or combinations of bodies] concerned with medical education as regards the matters to which they relate; and

(b) accordingly, those [F7 bodies or combinations of bodies] must act in accordance with them as regards the matters to which they relate.]

(4) In this Act—

• F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “the prescribed knowledge and skill” means knowledge and skill of the extent for the time being determined under subsection (2)(a) above and [F9 set out in determinations published] under subsection (3) above;

• “the prescribed standard of proficiency” means the standard of proficiency for the time being determined under subsection (2)(b) above and [F10 set out in determinations published] under subsection (3) above;

• F11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Act substituted (1.1.2009) by The Medical Profession (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/3131), Sch. 1 para. 7(1)(2)

F2 Words in s. 5(2)(a) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 4(a); S.I. 2008/2556, art. 2(1)(a)

F3 S. 5(2)(c) substituted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 1.8.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), art. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 21(a)

F4 S. 5(2A) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/593), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 4(2) (with reg. 12A, Sch. 1 Pt. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1394, regs. 4, 9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 S. 5(2B) omitted (3.12.2007) by virtue of The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 5(b)

F6 S. 5(3)(3A) substituted for s. 5(3) (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 1.8.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), art. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 21(c)

F7 Words in s. 5(3A) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 4(b); S.I. 2008/2556, art. 2(1)(a)

F8 Words in s. 5(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/593), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 4(3) (with reg. 12A, Sch. 1 Pt. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1394, regs. 4, 9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 Words in s. 5(4) substituted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 1.8.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), art. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 21(d)(i)

F10 Words in s. 5(4) omitted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 1.8.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by virtue of The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), art. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 21(d)(ii)

F11 Words in s. 5(4) omitted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 1.8.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by virtue of The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), art. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 21(d)(iii)