Explanatory note

The rules approved by this Order give effect to the provisions brought into force by the Medical (Professional Performance) Act 1995 (Commencement No. 3) Order 1997 relating to the powers of the General Medical Council (GMC), through its appropriate Committees, to investigate cases where there is evidence that a practitioner’s general standard of professional performance has been seriously deficient. The rules set out the procedures to be followed relating to the assessment of practitioners' performance, in particular the procedures of the two new committees established under the Act, the Assessment Referral Committee and the Committee on Professional Performance. The procedures are to be implemented on 1st July 1997.