Statement: GMC Welcomes Emphasis On Education And Training In Lord Darzi's Final Report Of The NHS Next Stage Review

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 02 Jul 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Following a request from the Secretary of State for Health, Lord Darzi has conducted a wide-ranging review of the NHS, the final report of this review is launched.

The General Medical Council is the independent regulator of the medical profession in the UK, with responsibility for regulating doctors' practice including overseeing undergraduate medical education and co-ordinating all stages of medical education and training.

Commenting on the launch of the report the President of the GMC, Professor Sir Graeme Catto said:

"Lord Darzi has conducted an important and wide-ranging review of the NHS in England at a time when we are rightly celebrating its 60th anniversary. We particularly welcome the strong emphasis on the importance of education and training in helping to deliver quality healthcare for the benefit of patients. We look forward to playing a key role in taking forward the quality agenda."

The General Medical Council licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK. Our purpose is summed up in the phrase:

Regulating doctors
Ensuring good medical practice.

The law gives us four main functions:

keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
fostering good medical practice
promoting high standards of medical education
dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt

General Medical Council