Retired doctors who continue the practice of medicine on an ad-hoc basis

I’ve retired, do I need to fulfil professional competence requirements?

Many doctors retire from their career post, but then continue to practice medicine on a part-time or occasional basis. Sometimes the roles these doctors fulfil do not involve day-to-day contact with patients.

There are no special requirements for doctors working less than full-time, or on an occasional basis. Once registered, a doctor has the right to practice medicine. From the public perspective, the responsibility to maintain professional competence must apply to all doctors, regardless of their working arrangements. Consequently, all doctors in the general, specialist and supervised division of the register have a duty to maintain professional competence. You should enrol in a professional competence scheme and engage in activities to maintain your competence. Your professional competence scheme will support you if you have retired but would like to remain on the register and maintain your professional competence.

I am retired, don’t intend to practice medicine anymore and plan to withdraw from the register. What does this mean for me?

If you withdraw your name from the register voluntarily, you can retain the title of “Dr” and you can administer emergency aid in the event of an accident. You can also contact your relevant postgraduate training body to discuss relevant collegial activities with which you may be able to engage as a retired doctor who has voluntarily withdrawn from the register.