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The Department of Health (DoH) consulted in July 2011, inter alia, on the inconsistent way that the independent private practice of medical practitioners is registered i.e. those that have any NHS post do not need to register with the CQC. The DoH has now issued its Response to the Consultation. It has concluded that the exemption from registration will now apply where a medical practitioner (or group of medical practitioners) is:

a. Employed by a provider registered for the treatment of disease, disorder or injury (which covers NHS and non-NHS providers); and

b. Either that service provider is the designated body for the purpose of professional appraisal and revalidation or

c. The practitioner is on the performers’ list of a designated body for the purpose of professional appraisal and revalidation.

This means that the distinction between an NHS and private provider is removed. The additional element is the introduction of professional appraisal as a governance safeguard which will cover both the medical practitioner’s work for the registered provider who employs them and also their private practice.

Draft regulations have been issued which provide for these changes to come into force from 1 October 2013.

As now, the exemption from the requirement to register will not apply if the medical practitioner (or group of medical practitioners) undertakes a listed activity – basically those higher risk activities such as termination of pregnancies, obstetric services in connection with childbirth etc. The listed services are also going to be amended and will take effect from 1October 2013. Full details can be found on