Dr Nathan Holt’s Cambridge Laser Clinic is committed to working closely with the UK’s foremost industry bodies and representative authorities. We take our commitment to safe, responsible and ethical clinical services extremely seriously. Every practitioner at our laser clinic is formally registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and authorised to perform a wide variety of aesthetic treatments.
The General Medical Council is the UK’s official register of medical practitioners. According to the GMC, the primary responsibility of the organisation is to “protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public” by overseeing the registry of members and terminating or suspending membership where necessary. The GMC is also responsible for establishing medical school standards for leading institutions in the United Kingdom.
“We help to protect patients and improve medical education and practice in the UK by setting standards for students and doctors. We support them in achieving and exceeding those standards, and take action when they are not met.” – The General Medical Council
In accordance with Part VI of the Medical Act 1983, General Medical Council membership provides access to a variety of privileges and permissions. As a result, it is a criminal offence to fraudulently claim GMC membership.
The GMC was appointed a registered charity in 2001 and operates on a purely non-profit basis. Supported by member fees, the organisation works closely with doctors, educators, employers, patients and general stakeholders to both support medical education and enhance patient safety. The GMC is considered to have had a wide-reaching impact on the quality and consistency of healthcare provision across the UK.
The Duties of the General Medical Council
The duties and responsibilities of the General Medical Council are outlined in the 1983 Medical Act, and extend to five key areas:
- The GMC Manages the UK Medical Register
There are currently in excess of 300,000 practitioners listed on the medical register in the United Kingdom. Before allowing a doctor to register, the GMC implements a series of strict identity, background, performance and general suitability checks. Previous employers are also contacted to assess the reputation and track record of the applicant. This ensures that every doctor added to the UK medical register is a reputable, responsible and experienced professional.
- The GMC Sets the Standards for Doctors
It is the responsibility of the GMC to create, publish and continually update the standards for doctors in the UK. Such standards define what the GMC considers important for the provision of high-quality service, including the respective applicant’s education, knowledge, professional background and so on. All standards published by the General Medical Council are produced under the advisement of experienced educators, employers, practitioners and patients alike.
- The GMC Oversees Medical Training and Education
Doctors are required to undergo a certain amount of training and education, prior to becoming licensed practitioners. Once again, the General Medical Council takes responsibility for establishing agreed standards for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical studies. The quality and performance of training environments across the UK also fall under the jurisdiction of the GMC.
- The GMC Helps Maintain the Highest Possible Standards
Successful entry to the UK medical register is not a one-off event. Each and every doctor added to the register is assessed and appraised on an annual basis, in order to ensure they are up to date with the latest standards and upholding their responsibilities. This continuous revalidation helps maintain the highest possible standards and reduce the risk of poor-quality service provision.
- The GMC Takes Action Against Irresponsible Practise
The GMC takes all allegations and concerns about doctors extremely seriously. Should a patient or colleague report any indication of potential malpractice, an immediate and thorough investigation will be launched. In the event that sufficient evidence of poor practicing standards is found, the doctor may be issued a warning, or face suspension or exclusion from the UK medical register.
Here at Dr Nathan Holt’s Cambridge Laser Clinic, we couldn’t be prouder of our close working relationship with the General Medical Council. Like the GMC, we remain committed to the continuous improvement of the services we provide and we take patient safety extremely seriously.
For more information or to discuss any aspect of our services in more detail, book your obligation-free consultation with one of our practitioners today.
The Privileges of GMC Membership
Contrary to popular belief, there is no legal requirement for a practitioner to register with the General Medical Council. However, the enactment of the Medical Act affords registered doctors a variety of new privileges and permissions. Most of which constitute prohibitions for those who do not register, as detailed in the act:
“Registration brings with it the privileges, as they are described, set out in Part 6 of the Act. In reality, they comprise prohibitions for all those not registered. Section 46 prohibits any person from recovering in a court of law any charge rendered for medical advice, attendance or surgery unless he is registered. Section 47 provides that only those registered can act as physicians, surgeons or medical officers in any NHS hospital, prison, in the armed forces or other public institutions. Section 48 invalidates certificates, such as sick notes or prescriptions, if signed by someone who is unregistered. Section 49 imposes penalties via criminal offences for pretending to be a registered medical practitioner.”
At Dr Nathan Holt’s Cambridge Laser Clinic, we see our associations, memberships and licensing as far than simple formalities. Every member of our clinical team works extremely hard to provide the utmost in quality patient care, backed by more than 25 years’ industry experience. What’s more, as an independent clinic owned and operated by our own team of nurses and practitioners, we’re proud to work directly with our patients – no middlemen involved.
For more information on any aspect of our laser treatment technology or to discuss your requirements in more detail, contact a member of the team at our Cambridge Laser Clinic today.