General Medical Council (GMC)

29/05/2025

We’ve updated the guidance we use to assess a doctor’s fitness to practise, to support a fairer, more flexible and compassionate approach — and to make our decision-making more transparent.

The updates include a new framework to guide decisions at every stage of the process when considering concerns. Anthony Omo, General Counsel and Director of Fitness to Practise at the GMC, said:

‘Protecting the public is at the heart of what we do. This new and updated guidance will make it easier for our case examiners and decision makers to apply our principles fairly and consistently, while at the same time maintaining patient safety.

And by being transparent about our approach we are making it easier for doctors, complainants and the public to understand how we assess concerns and reach decisions about a doctor’s fitness to practise.’

The updated range of guidance can be found on our website - https://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/information-for-doctors-under-investigation/how-we-make-decisions.

Scroll through the images below to explore the new framework, which is based on three key questions.

15/05/2025

A gem from the archives for anyone interested in Sir Archie McIndoe! 🎧✨

Thanks to the team at the University of Otago Alumni & Friends, you can now listen to a fascinating radio tribute recorded after McIndoe’s death in 1960. It features Rainsford Mowlem — fellow plastic surgeon, Otago alum, and pre-war colleague in London — reflecting on McIndoe’s remarkable life and work.

Mowlem also made his mark during WWII, pioneering early bone grafting techniques and contributing to the first penicillin trials while based in St Albans.

Listen to the recording below!

And if you haven’t yet seen our blog on McIndoe and the Guinea Pig Club, it’s well worth a read: https://gmcuk.wordpress.com/2025/05/02/doctors-of-world-war-two-archie-mcindoe-and-his-guinea-pigs/

Next week sees the eightieth anniversary of VE Day. Victory in Europe was declared on 8 May 1945, although the war didn’t officially end until the Japanese surrender later in the year. Many doctors…

02/05/2025

We're pleased to share the The Royal College of Surgeons of England's launch of the 2025 UK-wide surgical workforce census. This important initiative will gather valuable data on the demographics, working practices, and wellbeing of surgeons across the UK.

As an organisation committed to supporting healthcare professionals and maintaining high standards in education, training, and practice, we're glad to help highlight this important work.

The 2025 UK surgical workforce census is now open.

It’s quick, confidential and crucial. Your voice helps us push for real change where it matters most, from tackling workforce shortages to improving wellbeing and training.

Take the census now: https://ow.ly/G4y650VKnBk

02/05/2025

It’s been over four months since we became a multiprofessional regulator!

Take a look at some of the highlights from our work so far regulating physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) – and how we’re helping to make sure they meet the standards needed to deliver good, safe patient care. 👇

You can also read more about our progress in our latest update to four country healthcare leaders - https://www.gmc-uk.org/news/news-archive/implementing-pa-and-aa-regulation-progress-so-far

24/04/2025

Supervising, delegating and working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals is an essential part of delivering good patient care. That’s why we’ve published a new ethical hub page for doctors who supervise physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).

PAs and AAs are healthcare professionals who work under the overall supervision of a named senior doctor. They provide patient care as part of multidisciplinary teams in primary care, secondary care and in the community.

Our supervision ethical hub page sets out the relevant professional standards when supervising PAs and AAs. It brings together key principles from Good medical practice and relevant guidance into a single resource to help doctors provide effective supervision.

Read our ethical hub for more information – https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/ethical-hub/supervision-of-physician-associates-and-anaesthesia-associates

23/04/2025

Melanin Medics recently hosted an interactive event designed for medical students who are eager to explore career opportunities in innovation, MedTech and health policy. Here's a snapshot of how the day went! 🙌

Melanin Medics supports black medical students and doctors in the UK to advance in their careers, whilst enabling them to connect with peers and grow professionally.

The day held some very important discussions and the main topic of conversation offered insights from industry professionals in tackling real-world healthcare challenges. Overall, it was a fantastic event and we loved being part of it! Thank you for having us 😃

14/04/2025

In the latest edition of our research roundup, we highlight our recent publications, including a study exploring doctors’ experiences of using AI. We also share a blog from Dr Alan Abraham, one of our clinical fellows who discusses his experiences of how AI technologies might impact the future of patient care.

Our research helps us to better evaluate the impact of our work and understand the experiences of those we regulate and patients. Sign up to our research roundup to receive future editions and keep up to date on our research news - https://gmc-news.org/p/2SYE-K3G/research-roundup

You can also read Alan’s blog - https://gmcuk.wordpress.com/2025/02/12/navigating-the-frontier-of-ai-technology-in-medicine-whats-next/

04/04/2025

Yesterday, we hosted our UK Advisory Forum, at the Voco St. David's hotel in Wales - a key platform where we bring together healthcare leaders, experts, and stakeholders to discuss key issues in healthcare.

Our Chief Executive, Charlie Massey, and Chair, Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen, led discussions on the relationship between patient safety, organisational cultures, and equality, diversity and inclusion as part of our ongoing need to tackle discrimination and inequality in medicine.

Key takeaways:

- The discussions reinforced the importance of fostering a culture that enables healthcare professionals to deliver safe patient care, while also contributing to a sustainable workforce.

- Equality, diversity, and inclusion remain at the heart of our work as a regulator and employer. Through continuous learning and working with others, we are seeing progress against the targets we've set to tackle persistent issues related to inequality, and achieve positive changes for the diverse groups we work with and for - but there is still more to do.

Read about our key targets from our latest equality, diversity and inclusion report: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7252962248476749825/

You can also explore more about the work of our colleagues in Wales by reading our recent national report:https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/wales-report-2023-108475294.pdf

Fe gynhalion ni Fforwm Cynghori’r DU yng Ngwesty Voco St David's yng Nghymru ddoe - dyma lwyfan sy’n denu arweinwyr gofal iechyd, arbenigwyr, a rhanddeiliaid i drafod prif faterion ym maes iechyd a gofal.

Fe arweiniodd ein Prif Weithredwr Charlie Massey, a’n Cadeirydd, yr Athro Fonesig Carrie MacEwen, drafodaethau ar y berthynas rhwng diogelwch cleifion, diwylliant sefydliadol, a chydraddoldeb, amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant fel rhan o'r angen parhaus i fynd i'r afael â gwahaniaethu ac annhegwch ym maes meddygaeth.

Y prif negeseuon:

- Fe wnaeth y trafodaethau atgyfnerthu pwysigrwydd meithrin diwylliant sy’n galluogi gweithwyr proffesiynol gofal iechyd i ddarparu gofal diogel i’w cleifion, a chyfrannu at weithlu cynaliadwy.

- Mae cydraddoldeb, amrywiaeth, a chynhwysiant yn dal i fod yn rhan ganolog o’n gwaith fel rheoleiddiwr a chyflogwr. Mae dysgu’n barhaus a chydweithio wedi ein galluogi i wneud cynnydd wrth geisio cyflawni’r targedau rydym ni wedi eu gosod er mwyn mynd i’r afael â materion sy’n ymwneud ag annhegwch, a sicrhau newidiadau cadarnhaol ar gyfer y grwpiau amrywiol rydym ni’n gweithio â nhw ac yn eu gwasanaethu. Wedi dweud hyn, mae rhagor o waith i’w wneud eto.

Darllenwch am y targedau allweddol a osodwyd yn ein hadroddiad diweddaraf ar gydraddoldeb, amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7252962248476749825

Gallwch chi hefyd ddysgu rhagor am waith ein colegau yng Nghymru drwy ddarllen ein hadroddiad cenedlaethol diweddar: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/wales-report-2023-108475294.pd

03/04/2025

We heard from Prof Bill Irish, postgraduate medical dean for the East of England, on why the national training survey is so important - and how it really can make a difference.

Check out the full blog for more insights! 👉 https://gmcuk.wordpress.com/2025/03/18/how-the-national-training-survey-makes-a-real-difference-to-medical-education-now-and-in-the-future/

Be sure to complete the survey before the deadline ⏰https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/how-we-quality-assure-education-and-training/evidence-data-and-intelligence/national-training-surveys

18/03/2025

Calling all doctors in training and trainers 📢Your national training survey is now live.

Every response we receive really does make a difference. Your answers enable us to check the quality of training across the UK and help to drive the vital improvements you deserve.

Take part today - https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/how-we-quality-assure-education-and-training/evidence-data-and-intelligence/national-training-surveys

04/03/2025

Ramadan Mubarak to all our followers. To mark one of Islam’s holiest months, I’ve been given the keys to the company account to reflect on the experience of working while fasting and share what this sacred time means to me.

I’m Aisha from the communications team here at the GMC and, once again, I’m embracing Ramadan this year with a heart full of gratitude and reflection.

The month of Ramadan has always brought me peace and joy and given me a chance to consider the kind of person I want to be. There are challenges that come with the month though, including the difficulty of balancing fasting whilst working full time. For doctors and healthcare professionals, who spend hours caring for patients while fasting, the challenge is even greater.

For me, the sense of unity I feel with fellow Muslims, and the overwhelming support from my colleagues, makes it easier to navigate. I’ve learned to find moments of peace even during long hours at my desk. Sometimes, the days can drag on, and the pangs of hunger and thirst become hard to ignore. But it’s during those moments of struggle that I am reminded of the deeper purpose of Ramadan: patience, perseverance, and personal growth.

I also try to remember that fasting goes beyond the physical act; Ramadan is a time to get closer to God, cultivate good deeds and increase one’s devotion through prayer and charity.

Participating in these deeds and seeing them for myself lessens the physical impact of fasting and instead, reinforces the knowledge that Ramadan brings the best out in us, if only for a short while. This is why I always find myself wishing for Ramadan to come round again when Eid-al-Fitr - the festival that celebrates the end of the fasting period – arrives.

Ramadan is about nourishing the soul, fostering kindness, and strengthening relationships. Though it can be challenging at times, the sense of fulfilment, peace, and spiritual growth that comes with it is truly priceless.

To everyone balancing work and fasting—especially those in healthcare—your dedication and resilience doesn’t go unnoticed.

To all our followers observing Ramadan, I wish you all a blessed month. For those that aren't, I hope this post offers a window into this sacred time.

12/02/2025

Since regulation began in December, over 3,000 physician associates and anaesthesia associates have started their journey towards registration.

As of today, more than 250 have officially joined our register - welcome! 🙌

We’re pleased to have reached this point, and we've received lots of positive feedback from early registrants about the process. Our team is committed to helping many more achieve registration in the weeks and months to come.

Check out our latest blog featuring our Applications Manager, Rebecca Morris, where she explains what the registration process involves and why regulation matters -

Physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) are now able to apply for GMC registration. As the GMC’s Applications Manager for PAs and AAs, Rebecca Morris is a key member of the team…