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UK Act of Parliament
1983
United Kingdom
Medical Act 1983
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
39 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
3 of 39 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 35 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 12
- Employer 1
Plus 26 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Healthcare compliance quick check
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Employers also bound by 694 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 236 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 120 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 72 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 52 duties
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 2003 50 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — Preliminary
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part II — Medical Education and Registration: Persons Qualifying in the United Kingdom and Elsewhere in the EEC.
Registration by virtue of primary United Kingdom or primary European qualifications.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must register qualified UK and European medical practitioners Statutory regulator
Further powers of the General Council.
- Educational bodies must provide qualification details to the GMC Any Person
Power to appoint visitors of medical schools.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must share medical school inspection reports and allow for feedback Statutory regulator
Browse 18 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Qualifying examinations and primary United Kingdom qualifications.
General functions of the General Council in relation to medical education in the United Kingdom.
Power to add further qualifying examinations.
Powers of Privy Council where standards not maintained.
Experience required for full registration by virtue of primary United Kingdom qualifications.
Programmes for provisionally registered doctors
Professional traineeships carried out in ... relevant European States, etc.
Provisions supplementary to s. 10, etc.
Special provisions as to employment in health centres.
Power to appoint visitors of approved hospitals.
Alternative requirements as to experience in certain cases.
Full registration of EEA nationals etc without certain acquired rights certificates
Provisional registration.
Provisional registration for EEA nationals etc
Registration of qualifications.
Primary qualifications obtained in ... relevant European States.
Visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States
Temporary registration with regard to emergencies involving loss of human life or human illness etc.
Part III — Registration of Persons Qualifying Overseas
Further provision relating to the registration of specified state professionals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must set and manage exams or training for overseas doctors Statutory regulator
Browse 17 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Full registration of EEA nationals etc. by virtue of overseas primary qualifications etc.
Full registration of EEA nationals etc by virtue of overseas qualifications accepted by a relevant European State ...
Experience required for full registration by virtue of recognised overseas qualifications.
Provisional registration of EEA nationals etc. with certain overseas qualifications.
Full registration for eligible specialists and qualified general practitioners
Full registration of persons with an overseas qualification
Provisional registration of persons with an overseas qualification
Limited registration of persons by virtue of overseas qualifications.
Limited registration: supplementary provisions.
Limited registration: erasure.
Full registration of persons with limited registration.
Registration of qualifications.
Temporary full registration for visiting overseas specialists.
Temporary registration for visiting eminent specialists
Special purpose registration
The Review Board for Overseas Qualified Practitioners.
Functions of the Review Board.
Part IIIA — LICENCE TO PRACTISE AND REVALIDATION
Grant, refusal and withdrawal of licence
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Licensing authority must notify practitioners of licence decisions and rights Statutory regulator
Dealing with questions as to impairment of fitness to practise
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must notify a doctor and investigate fitness to practise concerns Statutory regulator
Restoration of licence
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must provide notice and reasons for refusing to restore a medical licence Statutory regulator
Information for specified state professionals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must provide comprehensive practice and standard information to professionals Statutory regulator
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Regulations as to licence to practise and revalidation
Evidence
Disclosure by a licensing authority of information relating to revalidation
Appeals
Guidance
Notices
Miscellaneous
Part 4A — POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Specialist Register
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must maintain the Specialist Register for medical practitioners Statutory regulator
Applications for inclusion in the General Practitioner Register or the Specialist Register
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must set rules for GP and Specialist Register applications Statutory regulator
Removal of names from the General Practitioner Register and the Specialist Register
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC Registrar must manageGP and Specialist Register entries Statutory regulator
Postgraduate medical education and training: general functions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must set and maintain standards for postgraduate medical training Statutory regulator
Award and withdrawal of a Certificate of Completion of Training
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must award or withdraw certificates of completion of training Statutory regulator
Power to require information
- Provide information to GMC Registrar when requested about postgraduate medical training Any Person
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The General Practitioner Register
Acquired rights of general practitioners
Postgraduate medical education and training: approvals
Minimum requirements for general practice training
Minimum requirements for specialist training
Visitors
Fees
Part IV — General Provisions Concerning Registration
The registers.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC Registrar must maintain and update the medical registers Statutory regulator
Publication of the registers
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC Registrar must publish and maintain the medical registers Statutory regulator
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The register: emergency powers doctors list
Power to make regulations with respect to the registers.
Voluntary removal from ... any of the registers.
Registration fees.
Supplementary provisions about registration.
Proof of registration
Registration and training appeals
Part 5A — Responsible Officers
Regulations under section 45A: further provisions
Unlimited fine- Breach regulations regarding 'Responsible Officers' Employer
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Requirement to nominate or appoint responsible officer
Responsibilities of responsible officer
Crown application
Regulations under section 45A: supplementary provisions
Interpretation of Part 5A
Part V — Fitness to Practise and Medical Ethics
Notification and disclosure by the General Council
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must notify employers and publish details of practitioner investigations Statutory regulator
Provisions supplementary to section 35D
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- MPTS must notify doctors and regulators of fitness to practise decisions Tribunal / Court
Fitness to practise of exempt persons: sufficient evidence
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must accept specific health and character evidence from European applicants Statutory regulator
Indemnity arrangements
- Maintain indemnity insurance cover while practising as a doctor Any Person
Approved practice settings
- Newly registered doctors must work in approved practice settings Any Person
Browse 23 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
General Council’s power to advise on conduct, performance or ethics
General Council’s power to require disclosure of information
Functions of the Investigation Committee
Provisions supplementary to section 35C
Functions of a Medical Practitioners Tribunal
Professional misconduct and criminal offences.
Professional performance.
Unfitness to practise through illness, etc.
Power to order immediate suspension etc.
Fraud or error in relation to registration
Appeals ...
Appeals by General Council
Appeal under section 40A: role of Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Restoration of names to the register.
Interim Orders
Interim orders made by committees other than the Interim Orders Committee
Effect of directions or orders on a licence to practise
Preliminary proceedings as to professional misconduct and unfitness to practise.
Proceedings before the Investigation Committee, Medical Practitioners Tribunals and Interim Orders Tribunals
Effect of disqualification in ... relevant European State on registration in the United Kingdom.
Effect of disqualification or conviction on registration
Provision of information in respect of fitness to practise matters
Disciplinary provisions affecting practitioners who render services while visiting the United Kingdom
Part VI — Privileges of Registered Practitioners
Appointments not to be held except by fully registered medical practitioners who hold licences to practise.
- Only hire fully registered and licensed medical practitioners Any Person
Penalty for pretending to be registered.
Unlimited fine- Falsely claiming to be a registered medical doctor Any Person
Penalty for pretending to hold a licence to practise
Unlimited fine- Falsely claim to hold a medical licence to practise Any Person
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part VII — Miscellaneous and General
Annual reports, statistical reports and strategic plans
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must publish annual reports, statistics, and strategic plans Statutory regulator
Annual reports of the MPTS
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- MPTS must publish annual reports on cases, functions, and learning points Statutory regulator
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The Directive: designation of competent authority etc.
Default powers of Privy Council.
Exercise of powers to make Orders in Council and other orders.
Exercise of powers of Privy Council.
Proof of certain instruments.
Saving for certain occupations.
Interpretation.
Consequential amendments, repeals, transitional provisions and savings.
Short title, commencement and extent.
Schedules
(1) Any fees or other sums payable by virtue of...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must keep proper accounts, arrange audits, and publish audited financial statements Statutory regulator
(1) Medical Practitioners Tribunals and Interim Orders Tribunals are to...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must make rules for tribunal constitution and operation Statutory regulator
Membership: general
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Privy Council must appoint General Council members ensuring geographic representation Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a person making an...
- Submit qualification documents when applying for medical registration Any Person
An exempt person (“A”) making an application for registration under...
- Provide proof of nationality or EU right when applying for GMC registration Any Person
Licence to Practise and Revalidation: Appeals
- Appeal a decision regarding your medical licence Any Person
Manner of, and time for, appealing
- Appeal a licensing decision within 28 days to the Registrar Any Person
Rules as to procedure and evidence
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must make rules for Registration Appeals Panel proceedings Statutory regulator
Proceedings before the Investigation Committee, Medical Practitioners Tribunals and Interim Orders Tribunals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must ensure fair and just disciplinary and fitness to practise proceedings Statutory regulator
(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the General...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GMC must make rules ensuring fair and just proceedings for doctors under investigation Statutory regulator
(1) For the purpose of proceedings in England or Wales...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Medical tribunals can compel witness attendance and documents Tribunal / Court
(1) A justice of the peace (including, in Scotland, a...
Fine up to £1,000- Intentionally obstruct a GMC assessment warrant Any Person
Browse 123 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
The General Medical Council and its Committees, and the Branch Councils
Registration: Supplementary Provisions
Transitional and Saving Provisions
Enactments Repealed
For the purpose of enabling the General Council to compile...
The General Council may provide facilities for testing the knowledge...
The validity of any proceedings of the General Council shall...
The quorum of the General Council shall be prescribed by...
All acts of the General Council shall be decided by...
(1) The General Council may by standing order make provision...
(1A) Standing orders of the General Council may make provision...
There shall be paid to the members of the General...
Subject to the power of the Panel under paragraph 25...
Subject to the restrictions on membership specified in paragraph 23...
Subject to the power of the Committee under paragraph 25...
(1) The MPTS are to be constituted as provided by...
Matters for the order of the Privy Council under section 1(2)
Registration of members’ private interests
Rules under paragraph 19C above shall secure that—
Rules under paragraph 19B, 19C or 19D above may make...
Rules under any of the paragraphs mentioned in paragraph 23B...
The overriding objective of the General Council in exercising the...
Rules under paragraph 19B, 19C, 19D, 19F or 19G above...
(1) Without prejudice to the preceding provisions of this Part...
(1) There shall continue to be a branch council for...
Each branch council shall appoint a registrar of the council...
The General Council shall furnish each branch council with such...
There shall be paid to the members of the branch...
It shall be within the capacity of the General Council...
(1) In exercising their functions, the General Council shall—
(1) For the purposes of ensuring that registered medical practitioners...
Primary European Qualifications
Visiting medical practitioners from relevant European states
This Schedule applies to an exempt person who is lawfully...
In this Schedule— (a) a “ visiting practitioner ” means...
(1) A visiting practitioner is entitled to be registered under...
A visiting practitioner is entitled to provide occasional medical services...
(1) A visiting practitioner who proposes to provide occasional medical...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the evidence referred to in...
(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where the Registrar receives the required...
(1) Unless an entitlement under paragraph 4 or 7(4) is...
(1) Paragraph (2) applies if— (a) the establishment of a...
(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, any...
(1) The following applications shall be made to the registrar...
A registrar shall not register any qualification, whether on first...
Where a person makes an application for registration under section...
On an application for the registration of a specified state...
Where a specified state professional makes an application for registration...
(1) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, on...
(1) Without prejudice to sub-paragraph (2) below, the particulars stated...
(1) No application shall be required in respect of registration...
Registration and Training Appeals
Interpretation
Appealable registration decisions
Appealable decisions relating to postgraduate medical education and training
Notice of appealable registration decisions
Appeals from appealable registration decisions
Appeals from a Registration Appeals Panel
Notices
Extension of time for appealing
Extension of time for appealing
References to the Investigation Committee
Powers of Registration Appeal Panels disposing of an appeal
Successful appeals
Unsuccessful appeals
Further appeal to court against determination within paragraph 7
(1) A direction for erasure, for suspension or for conditional...
(1) A direction for suspension or for conditional registration given...
(1) A direction for suspension or for conditional registration given...
(1) If, while a person’s registration is suspended under section...
Where a direction under section 35D of this Act or...
In this Schedule “party”, in relation to proceedings before the...
Where— (a) several sittings of the Investigation Committee, a Medical...
(1) Where in the course of any proceedings before a...
(1) The General Council may make rules—
Knowledge of English Assessments
(1) The General Council shall make rules with respect to...
(1) For the purposes of advising— (a) the Investigation Committee...
(1) For the purpose of conducting the management of cases...
(1) This paragraph applies to any notice required to be...
Where— (a) any notice required by section 35E(1) or 39(2)...
Directive 2005/36: functions of the General Council under section 49B(3)
Consequential Amendments of Enactments
In Article 2(2) of the Health and Personal Social Services...
In the Finance Act 1972— (a) in Schedule 4 in...
In section 11(2) of the Poisons Act 1972 for the...
In Article 2(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration (Northern...
In Article 23 of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976...
In Article 2(2) of the Poisons (Northern Ireland) Order 1976,...
In the National Health Service Act 1977—
In the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978—
In Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978, in the...
In the definition of “medical practitioner” in section 147(1) of...
In the definition of “medical practitioner” in section 111(1) of...
In section 132(1) of the Medicines Act 1968 for the...
In section 158(1) of the Mines Act (Northern Ireland) 1969,...
In section 54(1) of the Nurses and Midwives Act (Northern...
In section 20 of the Nursing Homes and Nursing Agencies...
In section 37(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971...
Where any period of time specified in an enactment repealed...
Any reference to infamous conduct in any professional respect in...
(1) In any enactment passed before 1st January 1979 the...
Any direction given or order made under sections 32 to...
Any reference in any instrument to the Disciplinary Committee or...
Nothing in the transfer of functions which was effected by...
In relation to any person who was provisionally registered under...
The decisions within section 29(2) of this Act shall include...
Section 41 of this Act applies to a person whose...
Until provision is made with respect to proceedings before the...
Section 53 of this Act shall apply to a copy...
Where, apart from this paragraph, anything done under or for...
(1) A person registered under section 23 of the 1956...
The re-enactment in paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1 to this...
Nothing in this Act shall affect the validity of the...
(1) Nothing in this Act shall affect the registration of...
(1) Where immediately before the commencement of this Act paragraph...
Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of section 57(3) of...
The repeal of section 4 of the 1978 Act by...
Nothing in the repeals made by this Act shall affect...
References in any enactment, instrument or other document passed or...
References (however worded) to the general register kept for the...
The reference in section 31(8) of this Act to a...
A person who immediately before the commencement of section 11...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- PSNI registration (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- GMC revalidation guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
General Medical Council
Statutory regulator for doctors in the UK. Maintains the medical register, sets standards for medical education and practice, and investigates fitness to …
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