General Medical Council response to the Health Select Committee's report 'Annual accountability hearings: responses and further issues'.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the General Medical Council said:

‘We welcome the Committee’s report and their continued strong support for our work on revalidation. We share the Committee’s commitment to delivering revalidation; patients expect it and we remain on track to introduce it later this year.

‘We also welcome the Committee’s focus on professional responsibility as the key to ensuring the highest standards of patient care. Since we appeared before the Committee we have sent guidance to all doctors on the medical register which makes clear that they have a duty to act if they believe patients are at risk, or when patients’ care or dignity is being compromised. It explains when doctors need to raise concerns and provides advice on the help and support available, as well as how to tackle any barriers that they may face.

‘We have also specifically stated that doctors must not enter into contracts or agreements that prevent or restrict them from raising concerns about patient safety- an issue the Committee raised in this report.’