A consultation on draft amendment regulations and response to the policy consultation ‘responsible officers in the new health architecture’ has been published today.
This document serves 2 purposes: it provides the department’s response to the April consultation, but it also consults on the draft regulations that will amend the Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010.
The April consultation considered the role of the responsible officer in 3 particular areas: the new structures in health, the new structures in public health and checking the language competence of doctors. This consultation summarises the responses received and, taking these into consideration, sets out the changes we intend to implement in each area, including:
- amendments to reflect the changes to the NHS architecture
- changes in the structures for public health
- a clarification of responsible officers functions in respect of language checking
- details of additions to the list of designated bodies
- changes for postgraduate trainees
A draft set of the amendment regulations are provided at annex A. We have provided a copy of the 2010 regulations that shows the effect of the amendments at annex B.
The closing date for responses is 4 January 2013.
The documents included as part of this publication are:
- consultation and consultation responses
- annex A – draft set of amendment regulations
- annex B – 2010 regulations
- annex C – consultation questionnaire
- impact assessment
- equality assessment
Respond to the consultation online and for enquiries or responding by email send to: responsibleofficer@dh.gsi.gov.uk
The Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010 came into force on 1 January 2011. The regulations create the role of responsible officer and set out the requirements of the role and its functions, but also sets out which bodies must appoint a responsible officer.
Responsible officers must ensure that their organisations provide regular appraisals for their doctors and introduce appropriate clinical governance procedures. Every 5 years, responsible officers will make a recommendation to the General Medical Council as to whether or not the doctor should have their licence to practise revalidated.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 sets out a new ‘health architecture’ which affects the Responsible Officer Regulations. The new architecture requires amendments to be made to the Regulations.
In April of this year, the department consulted on proposed changes in policy. That consultation closed in July.