GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL

1. GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL SHAILENDRA PUPPALA GP TRAINEE

2. ROLE OF GMC • The purpose of the General Medical Council (GMC) is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine. • The four main functions under the Medical Act: • 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.

3. The GMC is an independent body and represents a partnership between the public and the profession. • The values are embodied in the publication Good Medical Practice, which underpins all the GMC’s work.

4. LEGAL STATUS OF GMC • The General Medical Council (GMC) was established under the Medical Act of 1858. • Also a registered charity (registration number 1089278). • The Council, has 35 members: • 19 doctors elected by the doctors on the register • 14 members of the public appointed by the NHS Appointments Commission • 2 academics appointed by educational bodies - the universities and medical royal colleges

5. GOOD MEDICAL PRACTICE • Good clinical care • Providing a good standard of practice and care • Decisions about access to medical care • Treatment in emergencies • Maintaining good medical practice • Keeping up to date • Maintaining your performance • Teaching and training, appraising and assessing • Making assessments and providing references • Teaching and training

6. Relationships with patients • Obtaining consent • Respecting confidentiality • Maintaining trust • Good communication • Ending professional relationships with patients • Dealing with problems in professional practice • Conduct or performance of colleagues • Complaints and formal inquiries • Indemnity insurance

7. Working with colleagues • Treating colleagues fairly • Working in teams • Leading teams • Arranging cover • Taking up appointments • Sharing information with colleagues • Delegation and referral

8. Probity • Providing information about your services • Writing reports, giving evidence and signing documents • Research • Financial and commercial dealings • Conflicts of interest • Financial interests in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical organisations • Health • If your health may put patients at risk

9. REFORMING THE GMC • The reforms have three main elements: • Reducing the size of the Council . • The new procedures . • Reforming doctors’ registration procedures and introducing revalidation.

10. MEDICAL DEFENCE UNION

11. HISTORY OF MDU • 1885:Medical Defence Union established as the world's first defence organisation to defend the reputations of doctors.

12. A first for the MDU • 1stmedical defence organisation in the world. • 1stto introduce a 24-hour advisory help line. • 1stto introduce specialist risk management services. • 1stto introduce specialist in-house press-liaison to assist members. • 1stto introduce an in-house legal team. • 1stto introduce assistance with Good Samaritan Acts worldwide. • 1stmedical defence organisation to have a department dedicated to supporting members' interests with government and industry bodies. • 1stto add the security of an insurance policy to the traditional discretionary benefits of a mutual.

13. Professional Indemnity Policy • The policy indemnifies members for up to £10 million. • MDU Services Ltd and Converium Insurance (UK) Ltd are both regulated by the Financial Services Authority who set very strict standards for the amount of funds companies need in reserve to ensure they meet all liabilities.

14. Converium - the facts and figures • Converium is the new name for the organisation previously referred to as Zurich Re or Zurich Reinsurance • It was floated away from Zurich Financial Services in December 2001 as an independent company with the new name Converium • It was the part of Zurich which originally worked with the MDU to establish the joint venture MDU Services Ltd in 2000 • It is one of the worlds leading reinsurance companies with net written premiums in 2003 of $3.82 billion** • Has shareholder equity of over $2 billion and invested assets of over $7 billion.

15. MDU SERVICES • Advisory • Claims • Risk management • Professional indemnity policy • Training & education • Claims & complaints analyses

16. ADVISORY • Medico-legal and ethical advice about issues arising from patient care such as confidentiality and consent . • Assistance in dealing with complaints . • Inquests . • Adverse incident inquiries . • Disciplinary proceedings . • Proceedings of registration bodies like the GMC in respect of professional performance, conduct or health. • Criminal investigations into clinical care that you have provided.

17. CLAIMS • The value of claims against doctors continues to rise and dealing with an allegation that a patient has been damaged by negligence is very distressing. The MDU gives the members support and reassurance throughout this whole process. • The case will be handled by an experienced team including a doctor, a case handler and in some cases a solicitor.

18. Risk management • The risk management department is set up to help to identify, assess and seek to minimise risk in the practice. • The team is made up of experienced doctors and healthcare professionals who understand the realities of clinical practice.

19. Cover under the Professional Indemnity Policy • The policy provides cover of up to £10 million for any legal liability to pay compensation, including claimants' legal and defence costs, arising out of a clinical negligence claim. Cover is for clinical services provided within the UK and for Good Samaritan acts provided worldwide. • The Professional Indemnity Policy also provides overseas cover for training grades working in recognised supervised training positions in many countries of the world.

20. Training and education • Advisory and risk management publications • MDU journals and newsletters • Book discounts. • Practice seminars • Online risk assessment

21. Claims & complaints analyses • The MDU maintains a database of all claims and complaints that have been notified to us. This allows us to identify trends and provide valuable risk management advice.

22. Benefits of membership • Support from the UK's largest team of medico-legal advisers, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year . • Specialist claims and legal teams with expertise in civil and criminal proceedings . • The security of a Professional Indemnity Policy combined with the flexibility of discretionary support. • Professional indemnity cover for Good Samaritan acts worldwide, including USA and Canada . • 24-hour Press Office to help you deal with enquiries from the media . • Cover for training grades working in recognised, supervised training positions in many countries of the world* . • Comprehensive education service including free Advisory publications and practice-based training . • Dedicated Risk Management team .