Leading the way

We’ve published new guidance on what we expect from all doctors as leaders and as members of a team. There are also specific sections for those who have management roles.

Being a good doctor means more than being a good clinician. Every day in hospitals, surgeries and other settings throughout the UK doctors improve the quality of healthcare for patients by providing leadership. The new guidance reflects these wider responsibilities which lie at the heart of medical professionalism.    

The new guidance, Leadership and management for all doctors, covers issues such as:

• teaching and training
• raising and acting on concerns
• helping to develop and improve services
• planning, using and managing resources
• recognising and respecting the leadership and management roles of other team members, including non-medical colleagues
• communication within and between teams
• employment issues including grievance, performance and health procedures.  

We’ve also produced some case studies to illustrate what this means in practice.  

The guidance comes into effect on 12 March 2012.

Read the guidance  

We’ve sent a copy of Leadership and management for all doctors to all registered doctors. If you’d like additional copies, please email publications@gmc-uk.org or call 0161 923 6602.  

You can also read the guidance online or download a pdf of the guidance. We’ve also updated our guidance on Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety and Writing references.