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Reform of medical regulation

The government White Paper, Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century, published in February 2007, set out a series of proposals for reform of medical regulation. The reforms proposed in this White Paper, welcomed by the GMC as providing the basis for a lasting settlement in relation to professional regulation, are currently being taken forward through a series of legislative and non-legislative initiatives.

We believe the major changes which were proposed in our response to the Department of Health consultation - which preceded the publication of the White Paper - can usher in an improved system of regulation that is imaginative, flexible and robust; a 21st century solution.

We also warmly welcome the philosophy which Patricia Hewitt, the former Secretary of State for Health, sets out in her introduction to the White Paper.

This acknowledges: ‘It is all too easy to focus on the incompetent or malicious practice of individuals and seek to build a system from that starting point, instead of recognising that excellent health professionals far outnumber the few who let patients down substantially.’

She draws from that a conclusion: ‘That professionalism is an unquantifiable asset to our society, which rules, regulations and systems must support, not inhibit.’ This shift - to a supportive rather than punitive regulatory approach - is most welcome.

The GMC’s package of proposals

Our package of proposals, submitted to the Secretary of State, was based on the principles underpinning the report, Good doctors, safer patients, from Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England.

The GMC’s proposals are designed to deliver a modern framework of independent and accountable medical regulation that will put patient safety at its heart and command the confidence and support of those who receive and provide healthcare across the UK.

The GMC is pleased that the White Paper endorses many of the proposals for reform of medical regulation that we put forward. In particular:

Building on our existing statutory role by providing co-ordination of all stages of medical education
Being independent of government and of dominance by any single group
Changing the composition of the Council to ensure a balanced membership of those who receive and provide healthcare across the UK
Introducing the civil standard of proof
Working closely with other regulatory bodies to begin re-licensing and re-certification for doctors as soon as is practicable
Working closely with local healthcare management on the early identification of problems and appropriate remedies
Being suited to the local context in all four countries.

Implementing the reform proposals

The White Paper, Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century, proposed a wide range of reforms, many of which reflected the GMC’s own proposals set out above.

A number of the reforms are included within the Health and Social Care Bill, such as

The establishment of a new independent adjudication body
The introduction of the civil standard of proof
Confirmation that in future the GMC’s Council is to be made up of equal proportions of lay and medical members.

Further reforms will be implemented through secondary legislation later this year such as

Detailed changes to the GMC’s governance
The changing structure for medical education
Enabling the GMC to issue licences to practise.

For those areas of reform where legislation is not required, the GMC will be working to ensure progress is made.

Regular updates on changes to the GMC and reform of medical regulation will be made available on these web pages. Alternatively, interested parties can subscribe to a reform update email newsletter by emailing reform@gmc-uk.org.

Reform of medical regulation

The GMC’s package of proposals

Implementing the reform proposals

Useful links

Operationalising GMP

Appraisal and assessment