The Health and Social Care Act 2008 introduced a new section into the Medical Act 1983 that set up the requirements for the creation of Responsible Officers. A Department of Health consultation on draft regulations and guidance on the role of the Responsible Officer took place in 2009. Responses were carefully considered by all 4 countries, and on 26 July 2010 the Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations 2010 were laid at Westminster. They came into force on 1 January 2011. The Responsible Officer guidance, consultation response and impact assessment can all be found here.
A previous consultation document, issued from 23 July - 24 October 2008 set out the rationale, role and responsibilities of responsible officers in relation to medical revalidation. It is the intention that a responsible officer will be a senior doctor within a healthcare organisation with specific and personal responsibilities, for all structures and processes that will assist with the provision of evidence for the revalidation of doctors, including that relating to the conduct and performance of doctors working in or for that organisation. It is the Government's intention that every doctor who wishes to practise medicine in the UK should relate to a responsible officer.
In NHSScotland the Executive Medical Directors of health boards, special health boards and the CSA will be the responsible officers for this purpose. Responsible officers will have a key role in developing more effective liaison between boards and the General Medical Council (GMC) as the regulatory body for all doctors; and they will oversee the arrangements within boards for all medical revalidation, including all methods of evaluating fitness to practise.
Responsible officers will confirm to the GMC that a doctor has provided the necessary evidence to enable him/her to be revalidated. The relevant Royal College, Faculty or specialist society will support the provision of evidence that a specialist or GP has complied with the relevant specialist standards so that they can be revalidated. The GMC will make the final decision on revalidation of any doctor.