New Route For 'existing Specialists' To Gain Entry Onto The Specialist Register Opens, UK

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 17 Mar 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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A new route onto the Specialist Register has opened today. The GMC is urging all those doctors in the NHS or Armed Forces who were appointed to a consultant post before 1 January 1997 and who are not yet on the Specialist Register, to take advantage of this opportunity.

Since 1 January 1997, it has been a legal requirement that a doctor must be on the Specialist Register in order to take up a substantive, fixed term or honorary consultant post in the NHS.

It is thought that as many as 1000 to 1500 doctors, appointed to consultant posts prior to 1 January 1997, are not on the Specialist Register

Neil Roberts, Director of Registration and Resources at the GMC said: "We hope that all eligible doctors will use this opportunity to apply to have their names entered onto the Specialist Register. There is no fee for doing so for those doctors who are already registered.

"Entry onto the Specialist Register will allow these doctors to participate in recertification when it is introduced. Furthermore, as Specialist Registration is necessary for appointment as a consultant in the NHS (other than as a locum), entry allows these doctors to apply for appointment to new posts should they wish".

The new route will complement other existing routes to the Specialist Register, for example the award by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) of a Certificate of Completion of Training.

Lesley Hawksworth, Director of Certification at PMETB said: "We welcome the reintroduction of this route for doctors to gain specialist registration, and will work closely with the GMC to ensure that the scheme is publicised and all eligible doctors are informed about the changes."

The GMC recently consulted on the scheme entitled 'Eligibility for inclusion on the Specialist Register: restoration of the Existing Specialist Route' and covered areas such as scheme eligibility criteria and evidence of the applicant being up to date and fit to practise.

Source
General Medical Council