GMC to tighten doctors' rules

There are weaknesses in the current plans for regulating doctors to ensure they are fit to practise, MPs have said.

Identifying potentially dangerous doctors is seen in some quarters as "almost an insignificant part" of the appraisal process, according to a report from Westminster's Health Committee.

At present, doctors can go for their entire career without facing any formal assessment of their competency.

The General Medical Council (GMC) hopes to change this by introducing "revalidation" - fitness to stay on the medical register - by the end of 2012.