The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Order of Council 2010

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is made as a consequence of the abolition of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (established by S.I.2003/1250) and the transfer of its functions in relation to such education and training to the General Medical Council. It is made under new powers in the Medical Act 1983 (c.54) which have been inserted into that Act by S.I.2010/234.

M1 This Order sets out the categories of registered medical practitioners, other than those who have been awarded a certificate of completion of training, who are eligible for entry in the General Practitioner Register and the Specialist Register kept by the General Medical Council. The eligibility criteria are largely based on the content of Directive 2005/36/EC concerning the recognition of professional qualifications.

Article 3(1) prescribes that the categories of registered medical practitioners who are eligible for inclusion in the General Practitioner Register are those set out in articles 4 and 5 and those practitioners who are on the list of visiting medical practitioners from the European Union and who are practising in this country as a general practitioner (article 3(1)(c)) on a temporary and occasional basis. Article 3(2) provides that persons falling within article 3(1)(c) may be removed from that register if they cease to meet the relevant conditions. Article 4 relates to exempt persons (i.e. those persons who seek entry to the medical profession in the United Kingdom by virtue of an enforceable European Community right) who are eligible general practitioners and article 5 relates to exempt persons who are eligible general systems general practitioners (i.e. those having the requisite qualifications and experience obtained in the European Economic Area or Switzerland to practise as a general practitioner in the United Kingdom).

Article 6 prescribes which registered medical practitioners who have acquired rights to practice as general practitioners in the United Kingdom, are eligible for entry in the General Practitioner Register.

Article 7(1) prescribes that the categories of registered medical practitioners who are eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register are those set out in articles 8 and 9 and those practitioners who are on the list of visiting medical practitioners from the European Union and who are practising in this country as specialists on a temporary and occasional basis (article 7(1)(c)). Article 7(2) provides that persons falling within article 7(1)(c) may be removed from that register if they cease to be such a person. Article 8 relates to exempt persons who are eligible specialists and article 9 relates to exempt persons who are eligible general systems specialists (i.e. those having the requisite qualifications and experience obtained in the European Economic Area or Switzerland to practise as a specialist in the United Kingdom).

Article 10 prescribes the qualifications granted outside the United Kingdom which must be recognised when determining whether or not a registered medical practitioner is eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register. Article 11 and the Schedule prescribe the medical specialties which the UK recognises and the minimum training periods for those specialties where applicable.