The Medical Council has today launched a public consultation on draft rules for the establishment of subcommittees of the preliminary proceedings committee (PPC).
The role of the Medical Council, as the regulator of doctors in Ireland, is to protect the public by ensuring high standards of professional conduct, performance, and education among doctors. One of the ways it carries out this role is to investigate complaints raised about the health, performance and conduct of doctors in Ireland.
Section 81 of the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 will amend Section 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 to provide for the establishment of sub-committees of the PPC. This public consultation is requesting feedback from stakeholders on one element of the amendment – that the Chair of the PPC or a nominated member of the PPC will have the power to create subcommittees (or smaller groups) to review and provide opinion to the Medical Council on complaints received.
When a complaint is made to the Medical Council, it is handled initially by the PPC. The PPC’s function is to give initial consideration to complaints against doctors in order to identify the cases which raise serious concerns and where it is necessary to take further action.
Its role is to conduct a preliminary assessment of the complaint to determine whether there is sufficient cause to warrant further action being taken. If the PPC decides that a complaint warrants further action, it may refer the complaint to the fitness to practise committee.
This stakeholder consultation provides an opportunity for doctors, members of the public, individuals and organisations to submit comments and suggestions on the draft rules relating to the establishment of PPC subcommittees. Feedback via the online survey is welcomed until Friday 7 March 2025.
Dr Suzanne Crowe, President of the Medical Council, encouraged stakeholders to participate in the survey: “The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 introduces amendments to existing legislation governing the regulation of those practising in healthcare, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other health and social care professionals.
“The Medical Council carries out regular public consultations so that the opinion and input of our stakeholders is considered in the work we are undertaking. I would invite anyone who has an interest in the remit of the Medical Council to take part.”
Mr Ciarán Buggle, Executive Director, Complaints, Investigations and Fitness to Practise at the Medical Council, added: “Having the fluidity to organise around specific problems without sacrificing our core functions is key to efficient and effective complaints resolution. The creation of subcommittees at PPC allows us to conduct inquiries expeditiously and dispose of matters quickly leading to greater efficiency in the processing of complaints.
“We have worked closely with the Department of Health in recent years to seek legislative changes to make improvements to the complaints process, which will allow less serious complaints to be resolved at an earlier stage, and ensure our focus is on the most significant complaints.
“The legislation will also help to facilitate our move to a more flexible regulatory model. We look forward to this legislation being commenced.”
The public consultation survey is available here: https://medicalcouncil.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e9cTcgzTSYt78SG
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