Regulated Professions Act 2020

Information for Complainants

Complaints received On or After 6 May 2025

The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 ("2020 Act") was enacted in October 2020. It brings several amendments to the existing legislation that regulates professionals in the healthcare sector, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other health and social care practitioners 

The 2020 Act introduces changes to the investigation process of complaints by the Medical Council but only at the preliminary, or initial, stage of the process. From 6 May 2025, all new complaints will be investigated under the new legislation.

The below steps outline information on how to make a complaint and the possible outcomes under the new legislation.

Step 1: Submitting Your Complaint

• You can submit your complaint to the Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Council either by email (complaints@mcirl.ie) or by completing our complaint form here. 
• The complaint must relate to a registered doctor and can be about issues such as professional misconduct, poor medical care, or other serious concerns. See Grounds for Complaints page for more information. 
• The complaint must be made in good faith—that means it must be genuine and not intended to harm the doctor without reason.

Step 2: Initial Review by the CEO

• The CEO of the Medical Council will look at your complaint first.
• If the CEO believes your complaint is not genuine, or is ‘frivolous or vexatious’, it may be rejected. You will be informed of the reason for this decision. A link to the Medical Council’s Guidance for the Triage & Investigation of Complaints is available here.
• If the complaint involves a serious criminal conviction, it will be sent straight to the Medical Council for immediate consideration.
• In most cases, the CEO will assign an Authorised Officer (AO) to investigate your complaint.

Step 3: What Happens Next

• You will receive:
  
  • A letter acknowledging your complaint and an information booklet.
  • A copy of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee’s (PPC) procedures. 
• The doctor you complained about will also receive:
  
  • A copy of your complaint.
  • The PPC procedures.
  • A letter of notification that an investigation is commencing.

A link to the Medical Council’s Procedures for the CEO and PPC in relation to complaints is available here.

Step 4: Investigation of the Complaint

• An Authorised Officer will carry out a full investigation. This may include:
  
  • Asking you for more details or documents.
  • Asking you to confirm parts of your complaint by signing a legal statement.
  • Interviewing you or other people.
  • Requesting records (including medical records).
  • Consulting experts, if needed.
• The doctor will be given an opportunity to respond and provide their own information.

Important: If you do not respond to reasonable requests for more information, your complaint might not be taken further.

Step 5: Review by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee

• After the investigation, the CEO will pass all the information gathered during the investigation to the Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC).
• The role of the PPC is to investigate the complaint, and the PPC will decide if there is enough cause to take further action.
• The PPC may:
  
  • Ask for more information for further investigation(s)
  • Suggest informal resolution or mediation.
  • Decide no further action is warranted.
  • Refer the doctor to the Fitness to Practise Committee.
  • Request an undertaking from the doctor.

What Is an Undertaking?

In some cases, after reviewing a complaint, the PPC may decide not to refer the complaint for a full fitness to practise inquiry. Instead, the doctor involved may be asked to agree to take certain actions—these are known as undertakings.

A link to the Medical Council’s Guidance for Undertakings & Consents is available here.

What Might a Doctor Be Asked to Do?

The PPC may ask the doctor to:

• Promise not to repeat the behaviour that led to the complaint.
• Agree to join a professional competence scheme and follow specific steps to improve their skills or performance.
• Consent to medical treatment if necessary.
• Agree to accept a formal warning (called a censure) from the Medical Council.

What Happens If a Doctor Agrees?

If the doctor accepts and signs the undertaking or gives their consent, the complaint process is considered complete. The case does not move forward to a full Fitness to Practise inquiry. A report is then sent to the Medical Council summarising the complaint and what the doctor agreed to do.

What If a Doctor Doesn’t Agree?

If the doctor refuses or does not respond to the request, the PPC can continue the process as though no offer of an undertaking was made. This means the complaint may still be referred for further action, including a full inquiry if needed.

If the PPC believes there's a prima facie case (enough evidence to justify further action), and no informal resolution is reached, the complaint will go to the Fitness to Practise Committee (FPC) for a formal hearing/inquiry.

Safeguarding the Public

• At any point, if the CEO or PPC believe that the doctor poses an immediate risk to the public, the case may be referred to the Medical Council to consider suspending the doctor’s registration temporarily.

Supports available

To support doctors, medical students, and individuals who are engaging with the Medical Council, we offer CAREhub - an independent, confidential, wellbeing support service provided by Lyra Health International. This service provides a safe space to speak with a qualified professional offering emotional and well-being support. 

Information for Doctors

Complaints received On or After 6 May 2025

The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 ("2020 Act") was enacted in October 2020. It brings several amendments to the existing legislation that regulates professionals in the healthcare sector, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other health and social care practitioners. 

The 2020 Act introduces changes to the investigation process of complaints by the Medical Council but only at the preliminary, or initial, stage of the process. From 6 May 2025, all new complaints will be investigated under the new legislation.

The below steps outline information on how to make a complaint and the possible outcomes under the new legislation.

Step 1: Complaint Submission

• A complaint may be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Medical Council. Complaints must concern a registered doctor and relate to serious matters such as professional misconduct, poor medical care, or similar concerns. They must be made in good faith.

Step 2: Initial Review by the CEO

The CEO conducts an initial assessment. Complaints deemed frivolous, vexatious, or not made in good faith may be dismissed at this stage. A link to the Medical Council’s Guidance for the Triage & Investigation of Complaints is available here.

Serious criminal convictions are referred directly to the Medical Council.

In most cases, an Authorised Officer (AO) will be appointed to investigate the complaint.

Step 3: Notification and Documentation

If a complaint proceeds:

• You (the doctor) will receive:
  
  • A copy of the complaint.
  • A letter notifying you that an investigation is commencing.
  • A copy of the Preliminary Proceeding Committee’s (PPC) procedures.
• The complainant will receive:
  
  • An acknowledgment letter.
  • An information booklet.
  • A copy of the PPC procedures.

A link to the Medical Council’s Procedures for the CEO and PPC in relation to complaints is available here.

Step 4: Investigation by the Authorised Officer

The AO conducts a thorough investigation, which may include:

• Requesting further documents or information from you.
• Asking you to respond to specific allegations.
• Interviewing you and/or relevant third parties.
• Reviewing relevant records (including clinical records).
• Consulting expert opinions, where appropriate.

Step 5: PPC Review and Potential Outcomes

Once the investigation is complete, the file is passed to the Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC). The role of the PPC is to investigate the complaint, and the PPC will decide if there is enough cause to take further action.

The PPC may:

• Request further investigation or information.
• Recommend informal resolution or mediation.
• Take no further action.
• Refer you to the Fitness to Practise Committee/Inquiry.
• Offer you an opportunity to enter into an undertaking.

Undertakings

• If the PPC does not refer the complaint to a Fitness to Practise inquiry, it may instead invite you to enter into an undertaking.

Examples of undertakings include:

• A commitment not to repeat the behaviour complained of.
• Participation in a professional competence scheme or remedial training.
• Agreement to undergo medical treatment.
• Acceptance of a formal warning (censure) from the Medical Council.

If you agree to an undertaking, the complaint process concludes at that point, and no inquiry is held. The Medical Council will receive a summary report of the complaint and the actions agreed.

If you do not agree to the proposed undertaking, the complaint proceeds as if no request was made. This could lead to a referral to a Fitness to Practise inquiry.

A link to the Medical Council’s Guidance for Undertakings & Consents is available here.

Risk to the Public

At any time during the process, if the CEO or PPC determines that you may pose an immediate risk to the public, the case can be referred to the Medical Council to consider suspending your registration on an interim basis.

Supports available

To support doctors, medical students, and individuals who are engaging with the Medical Council, we offer CAREhub - an independent, confidential, wellbeing support service provided by Lyra Health International. This service provides a safe space to speak with a qualified professional offering emotional and well-being support.