Thank you for getting in touch. Please note this is an automated email.
Your receipt of this means that we have safely received your email.

We are currently receiving a high volume of requests and there will be a
delay in getting back to you with a further acknowledgement. We will do so
as soon as we can. 

In the meantime, if you want any further information about the GMC, please
visit our website: [1]Home - GMC (gmc-uk.org)

Thank you

Information Access team

General Medical Council

Email: [2][GMC request email]

Working with doctors Working for patients

The General Medical Council helps to protect patients and improve medical
education and practice in the UK by setting standards for students and
doctors. We support them in achieving (and exceeding) those standards, and
take action when they are not met.

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Dear Simon Harrison,

Your information request – IR1-3948180017

Thank you for your email dated 2^nd June 2023.

How we will consider your request

We are going to consider your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA). The FOIA gives us 20 working days to respond, but we’ll come
back to you as soon as we can.

Yours Sincerely,

Alex Mason

Information Access Assistant

General Medical Council

3 Hardman Street

Manchester M3 3AW

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Dear Mr Harrison

Your information access request

Thank you for your email dated 2 June 2023. I’ve considered your request
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Under the FOIA I am unable to confirm whether or not we hold any
information in relation to your request, because it would breach data
protection legislation to do so.

We believe it’s reasonable for doctors and complainants to expect that
complaints will be treated as confidential. If a case progresses to a
hearing, or an investigation concludes with a warning or undertakings,
certain information may be made publicly available by the GMC, in line
with our [1]publication and disclosure policy for fitness to practise.
Otherwise the information is treated as the confidential personal data of
the doctor and other parties involved. I’ve given details of the exemption
under the FOIA which applies below.

The exemption

Section 40(5B)(a)(i) of the FOIA applies where the information, if held,
would be the personal data of a third party and where confirming whether
it’s held would breach any of the principles relating to the processing of
personal data listed at Article 5 of the GDPR.  I believe that to publicly
confirm or deny whether we hold the information would breach the first
principle, which requires that the processing of personal data is lawful,
fair and transparent. I do not believe that any of the legal bases for
processing listed at Article 6 of the GDPR are met and therefore giving
you the information would be unlawful.

Your right to appeal

I'm sorry I couldn’t provide the information you requested. If you would
like to appeal this decision please set out your reasons in writing to
[2][GMC request email]. Please note that we will only usually consider appeals
received within 40 working days of our response. You can also appeal to
the [3]Information Commissioner, the regulator of the FOIA and DPA at:

Customer Contact

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Yours sincerely

Remi Owolabi (she/her)

Information Access Officer

General Medical Council

3 Hardman Street

Manchester M3 3AW

Email: [4][email address]

Working with doctors Working for patients

The General Medical Council helps to protect patients and improve medical
education and practice in the UK by setting standards for students and
doctors. We support them in achieving (and exceeding) those standards, and
take action when they are not met.

show quoted sections