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(3) A declaration under sub-paragraph (2)(a) may be supplied by any means.

6.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the evidence referred to in paragraph 5(2)(d) is evidence of the European-recognised qualifications which entitle the visiting practitioner to provide, in the practitioner’s home State, the medical services that the practitioner proposes to provide in the United Kingdom on a temporary and occasional basis.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph and subject to sub-paragraph (4), the evidence of qualifications must, if the visiting practitioner proposes to provide any services as a general practitioner or a specialist medical practitioner in the United Kingdom on a temporary and occasional basis, include evidence of the European-recognised qualifications which entitle the practitioner to provide, in the practitioner’s home State, those services as a general practitioner or a specialist medical practitioner.

(3) This sub-paragraph applies to a visiting practitioner whose case falls within regulation 3(9)(a), (c) or (e) of the General Systems Regulations (with the result that the practitioner is not entitled to provide occasional medical services unless their provision by the practitioner is in accordance with regulations 14 to 16 of those Regulations).

(4) If sub-paragraph (3) applies to a visiting practitioner, the evidence referred to in paragraph 5(2)(d) of the practitioner’s medical qualifications is evidence of the qualifications which entitle the practitioner to practise as a medical practitioner in his home State.

(5) In this paragraph, “European-recognised qualifications” means qualifications which relevant European States are required by the Directive to recognise.

Entitlement to provide occasional medical services after first year: renewals

7.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where the Registrar receives the required renewal documents from a visiting practitioner who is entitled under this Schedule to provide occasional medical services.

(2) The visiting practitioner is entitled to continue to provide occasional medical services, but paragraph 8 contains provision about the duration of entitlement continued under this sub-paragraph.

(3) Sub-paragraph (4) applies where the Registrar receives the required renewal documents from a visiting practitioner—

(a) who is not entitled under this Schedule to provide occasional medical services;

(b) who has been previously entitled under this Schedule to provide occasional medical services; and

(c) whose registration in the list of visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States is not suspended.

(4) The visiting practitioner is once again entitled to provide occasional medical services but, in a case where the practitioner’s name is not in the list of visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States as a result of erasure otherwise than under paragraph 3(4), only if the Registrar decides, after having regard (in particular) to the fact of that erasure and the reasons for it, that the entitlement should be renewed.

Paragraph 8 contains provision about the duration of entitlement under this sub-paragraph.

(5) In relation to a visiting practitioner “the required renewal documents” are—

(a) a renewal declaration; and

(b) each evidence of change document (if any).

(6) In this paragraph “renewal declaration”, in relation to a visiting practitioner, means a written declaration that—

(a) states the practitioner’s wish to provide occasional medical services in a further year; and

(b) contains details of the insurance cover, or other means of personal or collective protection, that the practitioner has with regard to professional liability.

(7) Where a document—

(a) is, in relation to a visiting practitioner, one of the required documents for the purposes of paragraph 5,

(b) is not a declaration under paragraph 5(2)(a), and

(c) substantiates a matter as respects which there has been a material change since the practitioner last (whether under paragraph 5 or this paragraph) supplied the then-current version of the document to the Registrar,

the version of the document current when under this paragraph the practitioner supplies a renewal declaration to the Registrar is an “evidence of change document” for the purposes of sub-paragraph (5)(b).

(8) A renewal declaration supplied under this paragraph may be supplied by any means.

Duration of entitlement to provide occasional medical services

8.—(1) Unless an entitlement under paragraph 4 or 7(4) is continued (or further continued) by paragraph 7(2), the entitlement ceases at the end of the year that begins with the end of the day on which the Registrar received the documents whose receipt gave rise to the entitlement.

(2) Where an entitlement under paragraph 4 or 7(4) is continued (or further continued) by paragraph 7(2), the entitlement is extended so as to cease at the end of the year that begins with the end of the relevant day.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)—

(a) if the day on which the Registrar receives the documents whose receipt gives rise to the continuation (or further continuation) is an anniversary of the start day, “the relevant day” means the day on which the Registrar receives those documents;

(b) otherwise, “the relevant day” means the anniversary of the start day that is the first such anniversary to occur after the Registrar receives the documents whose receipt gives rise to the continuation (or further continuation).

(4) In sub-paragraph (3) “the start day”, in relation to an entitlement under paragraph 4 or 7(4), means the day on which the Registrar receives the documents whose receipt gives rise to the entitlement.

(5) An entitlement under this Schedule to provide occasional medical services ceases if—

(a) the visiting practitioner concerned becomes established in medical practice in the United Kingdom; or

(b) a relevant decision is made against the visiting practitioner concerned.

(6) In sub-paragraph (5) “relevant decision”, in relation to a visiting practitioner, means a decision made by a competent or judicial authority in the practitioner’s home State that has the effect that the practitioner—

(a) ceases in that State to be registered or otherwise officially recognised as a medical practitioner; or

(b) is prohibited (whether on a permanent or temporary basis) from practising as a medical practitioner in that State.

(7) If in the case of a visiting practitioner—

(a) the practitioner’s registration in the list of visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States is suspended or the practitioner’s name is erased from that list, and

(b) immediately before the time when the suspension or (as the case may be) erasure takes effect, the practitioner is entitled under this Schedule to provide occasional medical services,

that entitlement ceases at that time.

Conditions

9.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies if—

(a) the establishment of a visiting practitioner in the practitioner’s home State is subject to a condition relating to the practitioner’s medical practice;

(b) the practitioner’s name is registered in the register; and

(c) for any of the purposes of this Act it falls to be decided whether the practitioner’s fitness to practise is or may be impaired on the ground of misconduct.

(2) The matters that may be counted as misconduct include (in particular) any act or omission by the visiting practitioner during the course of the provision by the practitioner of occasional medical services that is, or would be if the condition applied in relation to medical practice outside the practitioner’s home State, a breach of the condition.

(3) In paragraphs (1) and (2) “condition” includes limitation..

Amendment of Schedule 3

33.—(1) Schedule 3(35) (registration: supplementary provisions) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1(1), for “3, 15 or 15A” substitute “3, 14A, 15, 15A or 19A”.

(3) In paragraph 2(2)(a), after “section 3(1)(b)” insert “, 14A or 19A”.

(4) In paragraph 3—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)—

(i) for “3, 15 or 15A” substitute “3, 14A, 15, 15A or 19A”,

(ii) for “the primary United Kingdom” substitute “any primary United Kingdom”, and

(iii) for “those sections” substitute “section 3, 14A, 15 or 15A of this Act”; and

(b) after sub-paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) An exempt person (“A”) who—

(a) makes an application for registration under section 3(1)(b) of this Act,

(b) holds a qualification listed in Annex V, point 5.1.1 of the Directive (evidence of formal qualifications in basic medical training), and

(c) satisfies the requirements of article 24 of the Directive (basic medical training),

shall produce or send to the Registrar a certificate as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1B).

(1B) The certificate—

(a) must be a certificate issued by a competent authority in A’s attesting State (as defined by section 44BA(6)); and

(b) must certify that the document conferring or evidencing A’s qualification produced or sent by A under sub-paragraph (1) is evidence of formal qualifications listed in relation to that State in Annex V, point 5.1.1 of the Directive..

(5) After paragraph 4 insert—

Proof of nationality

4A.  An exempt person (“A”) making an application for registration under section 3(1)(b), 14A, 15A or 19A of this Act shall produce or send to the appropriate registrar—

(a) if A is a national of a relevant European State, proof of A’s nationality;

(b) if A is not a national of a relevant European State, proof of the Community right by virtue of which A is an exempt person.

Acknowledgement of applications

4B.  Where a person makes an application for registration under section 3, 14A, 15, 15A or 19A of this Act, the appropriate registrar, within the period of one month beginning with the date of receipt of the application, must—

(a) acknowledge receipt of the application; and

(b) inform the applicant of any missing document required for the purposes of the application..

(6) In paragraph 5—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1), for “3, 15 or 15A” substitute “3, 14A, 15, 15A or 19A”; and

(b) for sub-paragraph (1A) substitute—

(1A) In this paragraph “the requisite period”—

(a) in the case of an application under section 14A or 19A of this Act, means the period of four months beginning with—

(i) the date when the Registrar receives the application, or

(ii) if any document required for the purposes of the application is missing when the Registrar receives the application, the date on which the Registrar first has all the documents required for those purposes; and

(b) in the case of any other application, means the period of three months beginning with the date on which the appropriate registrar receives all the documents enabling him to be satisfied of the applicant’s entitlement to be registered in accordance with the application..

(7) For paragraph 7, and the preceding heading, substitute—

Visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States

7.—(1) No application shall be required in respect of registration in the list of visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States.

(2) The Registrar may issue certificates of registration to persons who are registered in the list of visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States..

Amendment of Schedule 3A

34.  In Schedule 3A(36) (registration appeals)—

(a) in paragraph 1, in the definition of “person making the decision”, in paragraph (b)—

(i) omit “18,”, and

(ii) after “of this Act,” insert “or under Schedule 2A to this Act,”;

(b) in paragraph 2(1)—

(i) after paragraph (a) insert—

(aa) a decision on an application made under Schedule 3 to this Act not to register the applicant under section 14A of this Act as a fully registered medical practitioner (full registration of EEA nationals etc without certain acquired rights certificates);

(ab) a decision under Part 3 of the General Systems Regulations to require an exempt person within paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 14A(1) to complete an adaptation period, or pass an aptitude test, in connection with becoming entitled by virtue of that Part of those Regulations to pursue the profession of medical practitioner in the United Kingdom;,

(ii) omit paragraph (e),

(iii) after paragraph (f) insert—

(fa) a decision on an application made under Schedule 3 to this Act not to register the applicant under section 19A of this Act as a fully registered medical practitioner (full registration of EEA nationals etc by virtue of overseas qualifications accepted by a relevant European State other than the United Kingdom);

(fb) a decision under Part 3 of the General Systems Regulations to require an exempt person within paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 19A to complete an adaptation period, or pass an aptitude test, in connection with becoming entitled by virtue of that Part of those Regulations to pursue the profession of medical practitioner in the United Kingdom;,

(iv) in paragraph (n), in sub-paragraph (i) omit “or (7)”, and

(v) after paragraph (p) insert—

(q) a decision that a person shall not, or shall no longer, be registered under Schedule 2A to this Act in the list of visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States.; and

(c) in paragraph 3(2), for “3, 15, 15A, 19 or 21” substitute “3, 14A, 15, 15A, 19, 19A or 21”.

Amendment of Schedule 4

35.  In Schedule 4(37) (proceedings before the Investigation Committee, Interim Orders Panels and Fitness to Practise Panels), in paragraph 8, in sub-paragraph (1), for “41(10), 41A(5) or 45(7)” substitute “41(10) or 41A(5)”.

Insertion of Schedule 4A

36.  After Schedule 4 insert—

Section 49B

SCHEDULE 4A DIRECTIVE 2005/36: FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL UNDER SECTION 49B(3)

Provision of Directive Function of General Council
Article 7(2)(b) Issuing certificates containing attestations in relation to persons established, in the United Kingdom, as medical practitioners.
Article 8(1) Receiving information from, or providing information to, other competent authorities in relation to—
(a) the legality of a person’s establishment as a medical practitioner;
(b) the good conduct of such a person;
(c) the absence of any disciplinary or criminal sanctions of a professional nature against such a person.
Article 8(2) Receiving information from, or providing information to, other competent authorities in connection with the investigation of complaints made against persons providing medical services.
Article 23(1) Issuing certificates of effective and lawful practice in the United Kingdom to medical practitioners.
Article 23(6) Issuing certificates stating that medical qualifications awarded in the United Kingdom, which do not correspond to the titles set out in respect of the United Kingdom at point 5.1.1 of Annex V to the Directive, certify successful completion of basic medical training that is in accordance with article 24 of the Directive.
Article 50(1) and paragraph 1(b) of Annex VII Providing information to other competent authorities concerning the training in the United Kingdom of a medical practitioner to whom Chapter 1 of Part 3 of the General Systems Regulations applies.
Article 50(1) and paragraph 1(d) of Annex VII Issuing, in respect of practice as a medical practitioner, the certificates of current professional status referred to in sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 1 of Annex VII to the Directive within the time limits set by that sub-paragraph.
Article 50(1) and paragraph 1(e) of Annex VII Issuing, in respect of practice as a medical practitioner, the certificates of good health referred to in sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph 1 of Annex VII to the Directive within the time limits set by that sub-paragraph.
Article 50(1) and paragraph 2 of Annex VII Issuing certificates stating that primary United Kingdom qualifications are qualifications covered by the Directive.
Article 50(2) In cases of justified doubts—
(a) requiring confirmation of the authenticity of non-UK medical qualifications;
(b) requiring confirmation that holders of non-UK medical qualifications satisfy the minimum training conditions set out in article 24 of the Directive;
(c) providing confirmation to competent authorities of other relevant European States of the authenticity of any person’s primary United Kingdom qualification;
(d) providing confirmation that holders of primary United Kingdom qualifications satisfy the minimum training conditions set out in article 24 of the Directive.
Article 50(3) In cases of justified doubts—
(a) verifying information provided in connection with non-UK medical qualifications awarded following training in a relevant European State other than the State in which the qualification was awarded;
(b) providing information in connection with a person’s primary United Kingdom qualification awarded following training in another relevant European State.
Article 56(1) Ensuring the confidentiality of information exchanged with other competent authorities.
Article 56(2) Receiving information from, or providing information to, other competent authorities regarding disciplinary action, criminal sanctions or other serious circumstances likely to have consequences for practice as a medical practitioner.
Where such information is received by the General Council—
(a) examining the veracity of the circumstances;
(b) deciding the nature and scope of any investigations that need to be carried out;
(c) informing other competent authorities of the General Council’s conclusions.
(35)

Schedule 3 was amended by S.I. 1996/1591, 2000/3041, 2002/3135 and 2006/1914. Back [35]

(36)

Schedule 3A was inserted by S.I. 2002/3135 and amended by S.I. 2006/1914. Back [36]

(37)

There are no relevant amendments to Schedule 4. Back [37]