SIC 86.21 16,585 enterprises in the UK
General medical practice activities
What this covers (8 activity descriptions)
- District community physician
- Doctors receptionist
- Doctor (unspecified)
- Family doctor service
- General medical consultant (private practice)
- General medical practitioner
- Medical group practice
- School medical officer
What you must comply with
Unique to general medical practice activities
GMC registration and licence to practise
All practising doctors must hold GMC registration with licence to practise. Revalidation every 5 years. Criminal offence to practise without registration.
Controlled drugs licence
Home Office licence required to possess, supply, and administer controlled drugs (Schedules 2-5). GP practices must maintain controlled drugs register. Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer must be appointed.
GP practice premises CQC registration
Each GP practice location must be registered with CQC. Regulated activities typically include: treatment of disease, disorder or injury; diagnostic and screening procedures; maternity and midwifery services; family planning services.
GMC revalidation
Revalidation every 5 years. GPs must demonstrate continued fitness to practise via annual appraisal, patient feedback, colleague feedback, and CPD evidence. Responsible officer provides recommendation to GMC.
Applies to all medical and dental practice activities
CQC registration for regulated activities
Mandatory for all providers of regulated activities in England. Equivalent regulators: HIW (Wales), HIS (Scotland), RQIA (Northern Ireland).
DBS checks for healthcare staff
Enhanced DBS with barred list check required for all staff in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults. Recheck recommended every 3 years. Access NI equivalent in Northern Ireland; Disclosure Scotland (PVG scheme) in Scotland.
Professional indemnity insurance
All registered providers must have appropriate indemnity arrangements. Individual practitioners may hold cover via professional body membership or separate policy.
Clinical waste disposal duty of care
Clinical waste is controlled waste. Must use licensed waste carriers and maintain consignment notes for hazardous waste. Separate regimes: SEPA (Scotland), NRW (Wales), DAERA (Northern Ireland).
Health data protection (special category data)
Health data is special category data under UK GDPR Article 9. Requires explicit consent or other lawful basis. Data Protection Impact Assessment required for high-risk processing.
Safeguarding duties (children and adults)
Duty to safeguard and promote welfare of children (s11 Children Act 2004). Duty to report safeguarding concerns for adults at risk (Care Act 2014). Must have designated safeguarding lead and policies.
Infection prevention and control
CQC Regulation 12 requires safe care including IPC measures. Must have IPC policy, designated IPC lead, hand hygiene protocols, and environmental cleanliness standards.
Employers' liability insurance
Required for all employers. Sole practitioners with no employees exempt.
Guidance for this activity
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Registration requirements with GMC, NMC, GDC, GPhC, and HCPC for healthcare employers and professionals.
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CQC Regulation 15 premises and equipment requirements, radiation protection under IRR 2017, healthcare ventilation, medical gas systems, decontamination of reusable devices, accessibility obligations, and fire safety for healthcare premises.
Read guideHealthcare regulation across the UK nations
Comparison reference for healthcare regulation in England (CQC), Scotland (HIS and Care Inspectorate), Wales (HIW and CIW), and Northern Ireland (RQIA). Covers registration, inspection frameworks, workforce registration, and key differences between the four nations.
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Clinical governance framework for healthcare providers covering patient safety culture, clinical audit, incident investigation, duty of candour, complaints handling, and continuous quality improvement. Links governance activities to the CQC Well-led domain and explains why effective governance protects both patients and your organisation.
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Annual checklist of recurring compliance obligations for CQC-registered healthcare providers covering registration, workforce, clinical governance, premises, data protection, and policy reviews.
Read guideRegister with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Complete step-by-step guide to CQC registration for healthcare providers in England, including what activities require registration, application fees, fit and proper person requirements, and the full registration process timeline.
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Legal requirements for handling, storing and administering medicines including controlled drugs in healthcare settings.
Read guideSafeguarding and mental capacity in healthcare
Legal duties for safeguarding vulnerable adults and making decisions for people who lack mental capacity.
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How to meet infection prevention and control (IPC) requirements under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice (Hygiene Code). Covers standard precautions, environmental cleaning, outbreak management, antimicrobial stewardship, and CQC inspection expectations.
Read guideHealthcare and social care regulation (CQC)
CQC registration requirements for health and social care providers in England, including detailed guidance on regulated activities, costs, and devolved nation alternatives.
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Read guideSocial care registration and regulators
Guide to registering as a social care provider across all four UK nations. Covers CQC registration in England, Care Inspectorate in Scotland, CIW in Wales, and RQIA in Northern Ireland — including fees, registered manager requirements, and inspection frameworks.
Read guideData protection for healthcare providers
How healthcare providers must handle patient data under UK GDPR, including special category health data requirements, Caldicott Principles, the common law duty of confidentiality, and record retention requirements.
Read guideMHRA licensing for medicines and medical devices
MHRA licensing requirements for manufacturing, distributing, and importing medicines and medical devices in the UK.
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Read guideMedical device compliance checklist
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