GMC updates pandemic flu guidance

The GMC has updated its guidance for doctors working in a pandemic.

Good Medical Practice, responsibilities of doctors in a national pandemic, is available on the GMC’s website www.gmc-uk.org and outlines the standards of practice expected of doctors if their work is affected by a pandemic.

The guidance acknowledges that a pandemic can break out regionally and so while some doctors may be working normally, others may be struggling to cope with the additional workload. The guidance allows those most affected to work flexibly to provide assistance where it is most needed.

While key responsibilities such as acting with honesty and making patient safety a priority remain unchanged, the guidance recognises the constraints on time and resources likely in a pandemic. Adjustments include:

• an allowance for doctors to work outside their normal field of practice so long as they are able to do so safely, for example an orthopaedic surgeon may be asked to support A&E admissions or administer vaccines.
• no formal duty to report concerns about resources, equipment or insufficient patient services, other than in exceptional circumstances – because managers will already be aware of the pressures involved working in a pandemic. 
• additional guidance on making decisions about which patients receive treatment where resources are scarce. Patient care prioritisation will be based on clinical need and on the patient’s likely capacity to benefit. For example, young people should not be given automatic priority over adults.
• doctors running research programmes are asked to consider whether to interrupt them during a pandemic.

Jane O’Brien, GMC Head of Standards and Ethics, said:

“If services and resources come under real strain because of a pandemic, it is right that doctors should have some flexibility to ensure their efforts are directed towards treating patients and maintaining patient safety.

“Whilst the GMC expects doctors to provide a good standard of care, even in difficult circumstances, we do recognise that in a pandemic, some will have to make difficult decisions due to additional pressures.  Should a complaint be made against a doctor working under the strain of a pandemic, the GMC will take into account the circumstances under which they were working. However, it is important to note that all doctors should be ready to explain how and why they altered their practice if called upon to do so.

“Exactly how doctors are deployed during a pandemic will be decided on a local level by primary care trusts but we hope that our amended guidance enables doctors to respond responsibly and reasonably to the circumstances they face.”

Anyone with questions about working as a doctor during a pandemic should visit the new GMC website's pandemic page or call the GMC on 0161 923 6602.