Since 1 January 1997, it has been a legal requirement that a doctor must be on the Specialist Register in order to take up a substantive, fixed term or honorary consultant post in the NHS. When the Specialist Register was created, individuals who were NHS consultants in a substantive, honorary or fixed term consultant post prior to 1 January 1997 were entitled to entry under a 'grandfathering' clause. This entry route existed until 2005. After that date it became apparent that a small number of consultants had not applied for entry to the Specialist Register.

In 2009 the GMC reintroduced a direct application route for these consultants and is advising all doctors in the NHS or UK Armed Forces who were appointed to a substantive, honorary or fixed term consultant post prior to 1 January 1997, and who are not yet on the Specialist Register, to take advantage of this scheme.

If the above scenario applies to you then please follow the link below for more details and information on how to apply.

GMC Registration News