happen again." Junior doctors contract Controversy arose in July 2016 when the General Medical Council announced it would be appointing Charlie Massey as its new CEO. Massey had been an adviser to health secretary Jeremy Hunt on the controversial Junior doctors contract, which had led to several days of industrial action by doctors over concerns about feasibility and patient safety. Many doctors felt this reflected a clear conflict of interest and signed a petition to the medical council for transparency in its appointment process. The medical council issued a response claiming that they were still an independent body. Massey had also signally failed to distinguish himself in front of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. Officers The Council is composed of six medical professionals and six lay members. All members are appointed by the Privy Council. The current Chair is Dame Carrie MacEwen who has served since May 2022. The current chief executive and registrar is Charlie Massey. Christine Murrell was the first woman elected to the GMC in 1933, however she died before she could take her seat. In 1950, Hilda Lloyd became the first female member of the Council. Other regulators of healthcare professionals The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA), is an independent body accountable to the UK Parliament, with the remit to promote the health and well-being of patients and the public in the regulation of health professionals. But the PSA does not have legal power to investigate complaints about regulators. It advises the four UK government health departments on issues relating to the regulation of health professionals; scrutinising and overseeing the work of the nine regulatory bodies:- Health and Care Professions Council (regulates other health professions in the UK) Nursing and Midwifery Council (regulates nurses and midwives) General Optical Council General Dental Council General Chiropractic Council General Osteopathic Council General Pharmaceutical Council Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland General Medical Council In response to the Government's recent proposals the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence has made a call for ideas in their December 2011 paper 'Cost effectiveness and efficiency in health professional regulation' for 'right-touch regulation' described as being References Further reading MacAlister, D. Introductory Address on the General Medical Council (lecture, 2 October 1906) External links 1858 establishments in the United Kingdom Medical and health regulators Medical regulation in the United Kingdom Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden Organizations established