Interim Orders Tribunal

Section 41A of the Medical Act 1983 (as amended) provides the power to impose an interim order of suspension or conditions on a practitioner’s registration where such an order is necessary for the protection of members of the public or is otherwise in the public interest, or is in the interests of the practitioner.

The interim order, for an initial period of up to 18 months, may be imposed by an Interim Orders’ Tribunal (IOT) or a Medical Practitioners Tribunal (MPT) of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS). At the end of the initial period, the interim order may be extended by the High Court, on application by the GMC. Any extension of an interim order is for a maximum of 12 months, although there is no limit on the number of extensions that may be sought.

The legislation requires that once an interim order has been imposed, it is reviewed at regular intervals (every 6 months or 3 months depending on the order), both before and after any extension authorised by the High Court.