New disciplinary tribunals set up for doctors

DOCTORS facing disciplinary hearings are to be referred to a new tribunal service for fitness to practise hearings.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has the power to remove or suspend a doctor registered to work in the UK.

It is part of the General Medical Council (GMC) but will operate independently from GMC complaint handling, investigation and case presentation.

GMC chief executive Niall Dickson said: “The launch of the MPTS is the biggest change to doctors’ fitness to practise hearings for more than 150 years.

“It represents a key part of our reforms and delivers a clear separation between investigations and the decisions made about a doctor’s fitness to practise.

“Although panels already make their decisions independently, it is important that their autonomy is clear and that the oversight of their work is quite separate from our investigatory activity.

“We hope that the MPTS will strengthen professional and public confidence that our hearings are impartial, fair and transparent - the fact that the service is led by a judicial figure who has a direct line to Parliament should provide that assurance.”