{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/medical-act-1983/section-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/medical-act-1983/section-1.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1983/54",
  "legislation_title": "Medical Act 1983",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/medical-act-1983",
  "path": "section/1",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": "The General Medical Council.",
  "text": "(1) There shall continue to be a body corporate known as the General Medical Council (in this Act referred to as “the General Council”) having the functions assigned to them by this Act.\n(1A) The over-arching objective of the General Council in exercising their functions is the protection of the public.\n(1B) The pursuit by the General Council of their over-arching objective involves the pursuit of the following objectives—\n(a) to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and well-being of the public,\n(b) to promote and maintain public confidence in the medical profession, and\n(c) to promote and maintain proper professional standards and conduct for members of that profession.\n(2) The General Council shall be constituted as provided for by order of the Privy Council, subject to Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act.\n(3) The General Council shall have the following committees—\n(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(c) one or more Registration Panels,\n(d) one or more Registration Appeals Panels,\n(e) the Investigation Committee,\n(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(g) the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (“the MPTS”),\n(h) one or more Medical Practitioners Tribunals,\n(i) one or more Interim Orders Tribunals,\nconstituted in accordance with Part III of Schedule 1 to this Act and having the functions assigned to them by or under this Act.\n(3A) The committees of the General Council specified in ...subsection (3) above are referred to in this Act as “the statutory committees”.\n(4) Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the General Council, its branch councils and committees, its proceedings, its officers and its accounts.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 1(1A)(1B) substituted for s. 1(1A) (3.8.2015) by The General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise and Over-arching Objective) and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (References to Court) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/794), arts. 1(3), 21(1) (with art. 1(4)); S.I. 2015/1579, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 1(2) substituted (1.1.2009) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 1; S.I. 2008/2556, art. 2(2)(a)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 1(3)(3A) substituted for s. 1(3) (1.11.2004 as notified in the London Gazette dated 8.10.2004) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/3135), arts. 1(2)(3), 5(2) (with Sch. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 1(3)(a) omitted (1.1.2009) by virtue of The Medical Profession (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/3131), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 1(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 1(3)(b)(f) omitted (31.12.2015) by virtue of The General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise and Over-arching Objective) and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (References to Court) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/794), arts. 1(3), 3(1)(a); S.I. 2015/1952, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 1(3)(c) substituted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 19.10.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), art. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 3(1)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 1(3)(g) inserted (31.12.2015) by The General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise and Over-arching Objective) and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (References to Court) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/794), arts. 1(3), 2(1); S.I. 2015/1952, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 1(3)(h)(i) inserted (31.12.2015) by The General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise and Over-arching Objective) and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (References to Court) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/794), arts. 1(3), 3(1)(b); S.I. 2015/1952, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 1(3A) omitted (31.12.2015) by virtue of The General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise and Over-arching Objective) and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (References to Court) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/794), arts. 1(3), 2(2); S.I. 2015/1952, art. 2(a)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2008/14",
      "affecting_title": "Health and Social Care Act 2008"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2008/14",
      "affecting_title": "Health and Social Care Act 2008"
    },
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2008/14",
      "affecting_title": "Health and Social Care Act 2008"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/54/section/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:04:57.676542+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}