Health Select Committee publishes reports into key healthcare regulators

On Tuesday 26 July 2011, the House of Commons Health Select Committee, of which Valerie is a member, published its report into the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

The Committee found that the GMC is recognised as a high performing medical regulator, but called for greater transparency in the process for doctors seeking to remove themselves from the medical register, stronger performance management for panellists involved in adjudication of complaints, and a clear right of appeal for the GMC to enable it to challenge decisions it feels are too lenient.

The Committee also found that the NMC is making steady progress towards being an effective regulator.  However, it cautions that more needs to be done before it can be considered fully effective.  For example, there should be an action plan to deliver improved outcomes for the care of older people. 

The Committee called on the Government to tackle the problems caused by doctors and nurses qualifying elsewhere in Europe and working in the UK without having their language or medical skills tested.  The Committee also called for an overhaul of the UK and European law that underpins the regulators’ work.

The full reports can be read by clicking here.