General medical council

General Medical Council

The General Medical Council (GMC) is a public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom. Its chief responsibility is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine.

Pronunciation

General Medical Council: /ˈdʒɛnərəl ˈmɛdɪkəl ˈkaʊnsəl/

Etymology

The term "General Medical Council" is derived from its function and jurisdiction. "General" refers to its broad scope, "Medical" pertains to the profession it governs, and "Council" signifies its role as a governing body.

Functions

The GMC is responsible for several key functions:

Maintaining the List of Registered Medical Practitioners (LRMP), a list of doctors who are registered to practice medicine in the UK.
Deciding which doctors are qualified to work in the UK, and overseeing UK medical education and training.
Setting the standards that doctors need to follow, and making sure that they continue to meet these standards throughout their careers.
Taking action to prevent a doctor from putting the safety of patients, or the public's confidence in doctors, at risk.

Related Terms

Medical Practitioner: A person who is qualified in medicine and treats people who are ill.
Medical Education: The education related to the practice of being a medical practitioner.
Medical Standards: The professional standards that doctors are expected to comply with.
Patient Safety: The prevention of mistakes and adverse effects to patients associated with health care.

General medical council

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