These Regulations further amend the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 (“the principal Regulations”), which regulate the terms on which doctors provide general medical services under the National Health Service Act 1977 (“the 1977 Act”).

Regulation 2 requires a Health Authority to remove the name of any doctor convicted of murder or convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to at least six months' imprisonment from its medical list.

The Regulations also impose a requirement on a doctor applying to a Health Authority for nomination or approval for a practice vacancy to make a declaration as to whether he has been convicted of any criminal offence, been bound over or cautioned, or is the subject at present of criminal proceedings, and whether he is or has been the subject of any disciplinary proceedings by his professional body or regulatory body, whether in the UK or elsewhere (regulation 5). Regulation 3 provides that the Health Authority shall not approve a doctor if they consider him unsuitable having considered the declaration. Regulation 4 provides that the details of this declaration must be included in the information provided by the Health Authority when making a reference to the Medical Practices Committee.