Medical Act 1983

Section 49B

[F1SCHEDULE 4AU.K.Directive 2005/36: functions of the General Council under section 49B(3)

Provision of DirectiveFunction of General Council
[F2Article 4f Considering applications for partial access to the medical profession under regulations 10 and 11 of the General Systems Regulations.]
Article 7(2)(b)Issuing certificates containing attestations in relation to persons established, in the United Kingdom, as medical practitioners.
Article 8(1) [F3In the event of justified doubts, receiving] information from, or providing information to, other competent authorities in relation to—
(a)the legality of a person's establishment as a medical practitioner;
[F4(aa) the legality of a person's establishment as a specialist or as a general practitioner;]
(b)the good conduct of such a person;
(c)the absence of any disciplinary or criminal sanctions of a professional nature against such a person.
[F5Receiving information from, or providing information to, other competent authorities in relation to a person’s training courses to the extent necessary to assess substantial differences likely to be harmful to public health and safety.]
Article 8(2)Receiving information from, or providing information to, other competent authorities in connection with the investigation of complaints made against persons providing medical services.
Article 23(1)Issuing certificates of effective and lawful practice in the United Kingdom to medical practitioners.
Article 23(6)[F6Issuing certificates stating that medical qualifications awarded in the United Kingdom which do not correspond to the titles set out in respect of the United Kingdom at point 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.3 or 5.1.4 of Annex V to the Directive (as the case may be), certify, as the case may be, successful completion of—
(a)basic medical training that is in accordance with Article 24 of the Directive;
(b)specialist training that is in accordance with Article 25 of the Directive;
(c)training in general practice that is in accordance with Article 28 of the Directive;
(d)training under Article 22(a) of the Directive which is to be treated as training in accordance with Article 25 or 28 of the Directive.]
Article 50(1) and paragraph 1(b) of Annex VIIProviding information to other competent authorities concerning the training in the United Kingdom of a medical practitioner to whom Chapter 1 of Part 3 of the General Systems Regulations applies.
Article 50(1) and paragraph 1(d) of Annex VIIIssuing, in respect of practice as a medical practitioner, the certificates of current professional status referred to in sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 1 of Annex VII to the Directive within the time limits set by that sub-paragraph.
Article 50(1) and paragraph 1(e) of Annex VIIIssuing, in respect of practice as a medical practitioner, the certificates of good health referred to in sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph 1 of Annex VII to the Directive within the time limits set by that sub-paragraph.
Article 50(1) and paragraph 2 of Annex VIIIssuing certificates stating that [F7a person's primary United Kingdom qualifications or their CCT] are qualifications covered by the Directive.
Article 50(2)In cases of justified doubts—
(a)requiring confirmation of the authenticity of non-UK medical qualifications;
[F8(aa) providing confirmation to competent authorities of other relevant European States of the authenticity of a person's CCT;]
(b)requiring confirmation that holders of non-UK medical qualifications satisfy the minimum training conditions set out in article 24 of the Directive;
[F9(ba) providing confirmation that holders of a CCT satisfy the minimum training conditions set out in Article 25 or 28 of the Directive (as the case may be) or are to be treated as satisfying those conditions under Article 22(a) of the Directive;]
(c)providing confirmation to competent authorities of other relevant European States of the authenticity of any person's primary United Kingdom qualification;
(d)providing confirmation that holders of primary United Kingdom qualifications satisfy the minimum training conditions set out in article 24 of the Directive.
Article 50(3)In cases of justified doubts—
(a)verifying information provided in connection with non-UK medical qualifications awarded following training in a relevant European State other than the State in which the qualification was awarded;
(b)providing information in connection with a person's primary United Kingdom qualification awarded following training in another relevant European State [F10or a CCT awarded following such training].
[F11Article 50(3a) In the event of justified doubts, seeking confirmation from, or providing confirmation to, other competent authorities of the fact that the applicant is not suspended or prohibited from the pursuit of the medical profession as a result of serious professional misconduct or conviction of criminal offences relating to the pursuit of any of the applicant’s professional activities.
Article 50(3b) Ensuring that the exchange of information under article 50 of the Directive with other competent authorities takes place through the IMI.
Article 53 Ensuring that any language controls imposed on a medical practitioner are compliant with article 53 of the Directive.
Article 55a When considering an application for registration as a fully registered practitioner, ensuring that in respect of professional traineeships—
(a)traineeships undertaken in a relevant European State are recognised in accordance with published guidelines;
(b)traineeships undertaken in a third country are taken into account.]
Article 56(1)Ensuring the confidentiality of information exchanged with other competent authorities.
Article 56(2)Receiving information from, or providing information to, other competent authorities regarding disciplinary action, criminal sanctions or other serious circumstances likely to have consequences for practice as a medical practitioner.
Where such information is received by the General Council—
(a)examining the veracity of the circumstances;
(b)deciding the nature and scope of any investigations that need to be carried out;
(c)informing other competent authorities of the General Council's conclusions.]
[F12Ensuring that the processing of personal data for the purposes of the exchange of information in accordance with article 56(2) of the Directive is carried out in accordance with Directive 95/46/EC and Directive 2002/58/EC and through the IMI.]
[F13Article 56(2a) Ensuring that the exchange of information carried out in accordance with article 56(2) of the Directive takes place through the IMI.
Article 56a(1) and (2) Informing all other competent authorities, by way of an alert through the IMI, about a medical practitioner whose professional activities have been restricted or prohibited, even temporarily, within three days from the date of adoption of the decision; ensuring the information provided is limited to the information referred to in article 56a(2) of the Directive.
Article 56a(3) Informing all other competent authorities, by way of an alert through the IMI, about the identity of professionals who have applied for registration and who have been subsequently found to have used falsified evidence of professional qualifications, within three days from the date of the finding.
Article 56a(4) Ensuring that the processing of personal data for the purposes of the exchange of information under article 56a(1) and (3) of the Directive is carried out in accordance with Directive 95/46/EC and Directive 2002/58/EC.
Article 56a(5) Informing all other competent authorities through the IMI without delay when—
(a)a prohibition or a restriction referred to in article 56a(1) of the Directive has expired;
(b)there is a change to the prohibition or restriction period notified under article 56a(2) of the Directive.
Article 56a(6) Notifying the medical practitioner, in respect of whom an alert is sent under article 56a(1) or (3) of the Directive, in writing at the same time as the alert is sent, that the practitioner—
(a)is the subject of an alert sent under article 56a(1) or (3) of the Directive;
(b)has the right to appeal the decision or to apply for rectification of the decision;
(c)has the right to access remedies in respect of any damage caused by false alerts sent to other competent authorities.
Informing competent authorities, where applicable, that an alert is subject to appeal proceedings by the practitioner.
Article 56a(7) Ensuring that an alert made under article 56a(1) of the Directive is deleted from the IMI within three days of—
(a)the date of adoption of the revoking decision; or
(b)the expiry of the prohibition or restriction referred to in that article.
Article 57a(1) Ensuring that all requirements, procedures and formalities relating to the recognition of qualifications of a medical practitioner may be easily completed by the applicant remotely and by electronic means.]

Textual Amendments

F4Words in Sch. 4A inserted (11.2.2010 for specified purposes, 1.4.2010 in so far as not already in force) by The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/234), art. 1(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 18(2); S.I. 2010/478, art. 2(b)

F6Words in Sch. 4A substituted (11.2.2010 for specified purposes, 1.4.2010 in so far as not already in force) by The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/234), art. 1(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 18(3); S.I. 2010/478, art. 2(b)

F7Words in Sch. 4A substituted (11.2.2010 for specified purposes, 1.4.2010 in so far as not already in force) by The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/234), art. 1(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 18(4); S.I. 2010/478, art. 2(b)

F8Words in Sch. 4A inserted (11.2.2010 for specified purposes, 1.4.2010 in so far as not already in force) by The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/234), art. 1(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 18(5)(a); S.I. 2010/478, art. 2(b)

F9Words in Sch. 4A inserted (11.2.2010 for specified purposes, 1.4.2010 in so far as not already in force) by The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/234), art. 1(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 18(5)(b); S.I. 2010/478, art. 2(b)

F10Words in Sch. 4A added (11.2.2010 for specified purposes, 1.4.2010 in so far as not already in force) by The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/234), art. 1(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 18(6); S.I. 2010/478, art. 2(b)