New regulations for UK medics

The United Kingdom will be implementing new measures to govern the operation of medical personnel.



The government said it would be introducing a system of re-licensing of the UK\'s 150,000 doctors to test their basic competence as medical personnel.



General Practitioners and consultants will also face specific testing to see if they can continue in their specialities.



Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said the system would be drawn up and piloted over the next 18 months.



Re-licensing will apply to all doctors and will be based on a strengthened annual appraisal process in which patients are likely to have an input.



The re-certification will only be imposed on the most senior doctors.



Critics have reportedly been calling for a better system for years, following the murders of 200 people over a 23 year period by general practitioner Dr. Harold Shipman.