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Dame Caroline Swift reappointed Chair of the MPTS

Dame Caroline Swift has been reappointed as Chair of the MPTS for a further two years.

Dame Caroline has been Chair of the MPTS since January 2017 and her reappointment will see her continue in the role until 31 December 2022.

Her reappointment was approved by the GMC Council at its meeting on 27 May 2020.

Dame Clare Marx, Chair of the General Medical Council, said: “We welcome Dame Caroline’s reappointment as MPTS Chair. The service, and indeed the GMC, has greatly benefitted from her leadership in recent years, including the response to the considerable challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"As we strive to refine our fitness to practise procedures, Dame Caroline’s role in leading the tribunal service remains central in ensuring we continue to protect patients while being fair to doctors."

Dame Caroline said: “It’s been almost four years since I joined the MPTS and I’m delighted to have been reappointed as Chair for the next two years.

“I’m pleased and proud of the changes we have made during my time here and am looking forward to continuing to add to these in the future.

“Over the past six months, we have been harnessing technology to deliver hundreds of virtual tribunal hearings. I would like us to build on our experience and explore how we can best develop our use of technology in the future.

“I am also keen that we should continue to enhance the support and guidance we currently give to all parties to our hearings.

“These areas of development will expand on the excellent work MPTS staff have been doing and will contribute to our delivery of an efficient and effective hearing service.

“I also look forward to contributing to the ongoing discussions about the future of medical regulation.”

Prior to joining the MPTS in 2017 Dame Caroline had an impressive legal career.

She was called to the Bar in 1977, practising as a barrister on the Northern Circuit. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1993, specialising in complex medico-legal cases.

Between 2001 and 2005 she was Leading Counsel to the Shipman Inquiry. In 2005, she was appointed a Judge of the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division and on her appointment was invested as a Dame of the British Empire.