Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 January 2002. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 21 January 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers the General Medical Council has to discipline hospital practitioners who are found to have been guilty of (a) serious professional misconduct and (b) other less serious misconduct charges.

Answer: Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers the General Medical Council has to discipline hospital practitioners who are found to have been guilty of (a) serious professional misconduct and (b) other less serious misconduct charges. [28317] Mr. Hutton: When the General Medical Council's Professional Conduct Committee has found a doctor guilty of serious professional misconduct, it can issue a reprimand to the doctor, impose conditions on a doctor's practice for up to three years, suspend the doctor's registration for up to 12 months, which may be renewed, or erase the doctor's name from the register. At present the Professional Conduct Committee has no other powers. The GMC has made proposals for dealing with less serious charges and the Government will be considering how these might be implemented.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 28317; 378 c689W;378 c685W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Disciplinary proceedings Doctors General Medical Council Hospitals Health professions Misconduct Powers
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk