Who will be at the hearing?

Who’s involved and what they do?

People involved in hearings are referred to by their formal titles. We explain who these people are and what they do below.

The MPTS tribunal

Each tribunal will consist of three people. At least one person with GMC registration and a licence to practise and at least one lay person (without GMC registration). One member of the tribunal will act as the chair and is usually legally qualified. The chair will make sure the hearing is conducted fairly. They also have a duty to protect the interests of everyone involved in the case, including witnesses.

Legally qualified chair (LQC)

Most hearings have a legally qualified chair, who sits as part of the tribunal and advises on points of law. They are responsible for the running of the hearing.

Legal assessor

Some hearings will have a legal assessor instead of a legally qualified chair. They provide legal advice to the tribunal, but take no part in decision making.

Doctor, physician associate or anaesthesia associate

The person who allegations have been made against. They may also be referred to as the registrant during the course of the hearing. 

General Medical Council (GMC) representative 

The barrister or solicitor presenting the case against the doctor, physician associate or anaesthesia associate, on behalf of the GMC. They may also be referred to as ‘Counsel for the GMC’. The GMC representative may ask you questions about your evidence.

Registrant's representative

The person presenting the case or speaking on behalf of the doctor, physician associate or anaesthesia associate. They may also be referred to as ‘Counsel for the doctor’, 'Counsel for the physician associate', etc. They’ll put the registrant's position to the tribunal and may ask you questions about your evidence.

Tribunal clerk

An MPTS staff member responsible for the administration of the hearing. Tribunal clerks help tribunals to draft their decisions, but take no part in the decision-making process.

Tribunals assistant

An MPTS staff member who helps the clerk with administration of the hearing. This is likely to be the person who greets you when you arrive, if giving evidence in person, or who admits you into the hearing, if giving evidence virtually. Not every case will have a dedicated tribunals assistant.

Public or the press

Most hearings are public. In our hearing centre, there are public galleries in each hearing room where members of the public or press can sit to observe or report on what is being said. In virtual hearings, members of the public can observe virtually, subject to their completion of security checks. There may be times when it is necessary for a case to go into a private session for a period. If this happens, the press and public will be asked to leave.