Ms Deirdre Walsh:

The 2005 Act includes a section on fitness to practise which is applicable to all medical professionals. Within that is a complaints process. If a complaint is made, it goes through preliminary proceedings. If it is a prima faciecase, it then goes to full fitness-to-practise, the result of which can be that a practitioner would be struck off, or a criminal conviction. Provision is also made for enforcement and inspection powers. It is a wide-ranging process but it does not happen until such time as a person is registered.