Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

The start of a national conversation – ‘What makes a good doctor?’

Press Release

23 Feb 2011

Patients, doctors and other health professionals are being asked ’what makes a good doctor?’ as part of a major review by the General Medical Council.

The GMC has today launched a review of its central guidance for doctors, Good Medical Practice, which sets out the principles and values that all doctors in the UK must follow. The aim is to ensure the guidance is up-to-date, reflects patients’ wishes and is relevant to the UK’s 239,000 registered doctors.

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

“Good Medical Practice has a vital role to play in keeping patients safe and improving professional standards. The current edition has been used by countries all over the world which look to the UK as a leader in ethical principles for doctors. But we do need to make sure our guidance is up to date and reflects changes in the way healthcare is delivered. That is why we are anxious to hear the views of patients, doctors and others working in healthcare about how doctors should be practising today.”

In the first stage of the review, the GMC is looking for initial suggestions on areas where the guidance might be improved so it is relevant to all doctors and reflects what patients want from their doctor.

An online questionnaire on the GMC’s website asks participants to give their thoughts on issues such as whether the current guidance gives enough weight to patients’ needs and rights. It also asks how the guidance could be made more relevant for doctors in training and for doctors in non-clinical roles.

This is the start of a wide-ranging conversation about what is good medical practice today.  The GMC will be listening to the views of patients, the public and doctors through a range of online activities and face-to-face events throughout the UK.

There will then be a major public consultation on the new draft of the guidance from October 2011 to January 2012.

Anyone wishing to take part in shaping the new Good Medical Practice should go to www.gmc-uk.org/gmp2012. Those who want to keep up to date with the review can also sign up via email to receive details of how they can become involved via gmp2012@gmc-uk.org.

Good Medical Practice is the GMC’s core guidance – doctors are expected to use it as the basis of their day-to-day practice and it will also be used to structure their appraisals, which will be a central part of the new system of revalidation. Good Medical Practice is also used when considering a doctor’s conduct, performance or health through the GMC’s fitness to practise procedures.

Notes to editors

For further information please contact the Media Relations Office on 020 7189 5454, out of hours 020 7189 5444, fax 020 7189 5401, email press@gmc-uk.org, website http://www.gmc-uk.org/
The current guidance on Good Medical Practice came into effect in November 2006. The GMC regularly reviews its guidance to reflect changes in medical practice, as well as any social, ethical or legislative changes. The guidance covers issues including good clinical care; maintaining good medical practice; teaching and training, appraising and assessing; relationships with patients; working with colleagues; probity and health.
The General Medical Council licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK. Our purpose is summed up in the phrase: Regulating doctors, Ensuring Good Medical Practice.

The law gives us four main functions:

  • keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
  • fostering good medical practice
  • promoting high standards of medical education
  • dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt