MoT checks on Doctors

New MoT style checks to ensure doctors are fit to practice have been proposed.

The checks, known as revalidation would cover general and specialist skills and comes as part of a few proposals made following a recent government review. Another of the new proposals is to set up an independent tribunal to oversee serious complaints made against doctors.

The review found that the General Medical Council (GMC) was dangerously weighted in favour of doctors in complaints cases, as evident in the case of serial killer GP Harold Shipman.

Specifically the review proposes that the GMC should be stripped of its powers to oversee complaints against doctors. The burden of proof required in complaint cases would be lessened from beyond all reasonable doubt to issues of probability.

The proposals are out for consultation until the end of November.