Commentary on Sections Abolition of Medical Practices Committee and National Health Service Tribunal Section 14: Abolition of Medical Practices Committee
78.Section 14 abolishes the Medical Practices Committee (“MPC”). (Section 15 transfers the function of declaring GP vacancies to Health Authorities). This section should be considered alongside section 1, which provides for Health Authority allocations to be determined with reference to both their general allocations and Part 2 general expenditure in their area. This is intended to provide a new resource based method of control over the distribution of GPs and is intended to ensure that Health Authorities with a shortage of GPs will now be given sufficient allocations to attract more GPs. The result of this is intended to be a more equitable distribution of GPs.
79.The MPC is constituted under sections 7 and 34 of the 1977 Act. Its main function is to control the distribution of the general practitioner workforce in England and Wales. Essentially it controls the numbers of general medical practitioners wishing to provide GMS in Health Authority areas. This function will be taken on by Health Authorities , so Section 14 provides for the abolition of the MPC. Sections 7 and 34 of the 1977 Act are therefore repealed in Schedule 6 to the Act.
80.Subsection (2) provides for the transfer to the Secretary of State of all property, rights and liabilities relating to the MPC including certification regarding the sale of medical practices. This includes certification relating to the sale of goodwill.