Guide to GMC hearings at the MPTS

Your hearing before the MPTS (Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service) is one of the pivotal events in your GMC investigation. In order to take as much of the stress away from you as possible, we’ve put together this guide to help you. It contains all the key information you need to prepare and get through the day itself.

Where to go for the hearing

Because hearings take place before the MPTS, their location is not the same as the GMC correspondence address that you may already be familiar with. It’s an easy mistake to make, and many doctors turn up at the incorrect address: 3 Hardman Square, Manchester. If you arrive at this address by accident, you can get a taxi just outside the building, which isn’t very far from the MPTS.

The correct address for your hearing is:

How to get to the MPTS

Travelling by train

Manchester Oxford Road is the closest station to the MPTS. From the station, the building is just a couple of minutes on foot. When you leave the station, walk down and bear right. Cross the road and aim for the Palace Theatre. As you walk down this road (Oxford Street), look for St James’s building on the right. You’ve gone too far if you get to Pizza Express.

If you arrive at Manchester Piccadilly, it’s a 10-minute walk, so a taxi may be preferable. Waiting for an available taxi can take a little while, so make sure you factor it into your travel plans if necessary.

Travelling by car

Being in central Manchester, there are several car parks to choose from. The closest to the MPTS is NCP, 100 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, M1 5EJ. From there it’s just a short walk.

Extenuating circumstances

In some instances, if there are extenuating circumstances that would prevent you from travelling to Manchester, the GMC may arrange for the hearing to take place in London. If you believe that you have extenuating circumstances, let us know. Any requests for the hearing to be held in London need to be made well in advance of the hearing date.

Meeting with your barrister

We will have prepared your case alongside a barrister, who will know your case inside and out and provide expert representation.

The barrister will meet you inside the MPTS building at least half an hour before the start of the hearing, which will give you the chance to discuss anything beforehand. In addition, the MedicAssistanceScheme will be available to call if you need any questions answered or any other assistance throughout the day.

In the event that your hearing needs to last for longer than one day, your barrister will give you all the information you need to make subsequent arrangements.

When you arrive

The MPTS is on the 7th floor of the St James Building, which you can travel to in one of the lifts. On the 7th floor you’ll find the MPTS reception desk. Once you’ve given them your name, you’ll receive a visitor pass and be notified of the room in which your hearing will take place. You will also be informed whether or not your barrister has arrived yet.

Before your hearing, you’ll be taken to a conference room that will have been assigned for you and your barrister. This conference room will be a private space that you and your barrister will have use of throughout the day.

What to expect from the hearing

It can be helpful to have an idea what to expect when you get to the hearing itself. A big meeting room will be used, with a number of tables and chairs. Don’t worry about where to sit, as somewhere will have been allocated for you.

Also present at the hearing will be the GMC case presenter, the panel (who will decide the outcome), the GMC’s legal advisor, a secretary for the panel and any witnesses who will be called upon during the hearing.