The new role of responsible officer is being developed to ensure that systems within designated organisations support doctors in delivering quality care that is constantly improving. Responsible officers will be senior doctors with local responsibility for overseeing the evaluation of fitness to practise, and monitoring the conduct and performance of doctors. The designation of organisations that are required to nominate or appoint a responsible officer ensures that the vast majority of doctors, and particularly those whose work affects the safety of patients, will relate to a responsible officer.
Some sections of the DH website have been removed and are being updated to reflect the change in Government. New information is being added as it becomes available and any information published before 11 May 2010 can be accessed through The National Archives website. While information is being updated, statutory regulations and guidance remains in force.
The Responsible Officer Regulations have been approved by Parliament. Responsible officers have to be nominated or appointed from 1 January 2011. The Regulations can be found on the UK Legislation website at:
A guidance document has been published alongside the Responsible Officer Regulations.
An Impact Assessment has been carried out for this legislation, and this includes an Equality Impact Assessment.
A public consultation on the role of responsible officers and their duties was held in summer 2008. Our response to this consultation was published on 5 May 2009.
A second public consultation on the draft regulations and guidance for the role of the responsible officers was held from 25 August 2009 to 25 October 2009. We have published our response to this consultation on 26 July 2010.
