Timeline to regulatory reform

Regulatory reform is a very complex piece of work that will take time – the UK government first consulted on this work in 2017. 

Before reform can begin, the Department of Health and Social Care needs to consult on the proposed new legislation and lay it before Parliament. This consultation is currently open for feedback and will close on 23 June 2026. The new legislation covers all aspects of our work, including education and training, the register, registration and periodic assessment, fitness to practise and revisions and appeals.   

After the new legislation has been laid in parliament, we will run our own consultation(s), focusing on how we plan to implement the legislation. We’re planning for the reforms to be introduced in stages. This will allow us to introduce change at a manageable pace, limit disruption, and make sure we continue to support good, safe patient care across the UK throughout this transition. 

Summary of the steps along this process

2017

The UK government consulted on the regulation of medical associate professions. 

2019

July: The UK government, with the support of the devolved governments, confirmed that we will be the regulator for physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).

2021

March: The UK government consulted on a new legislative framework for all professional healthcare regulators. 

2023

February: The UK government consulted on new legislation to allow us to regulate PAs and AAs. 

December: The AA and PA Order 2024 legislation introducing regulation of PAs and AAs, was laid before the UK and Scottish Parliaments.  

2024

January: The AA and PA Order 2024 legislation was passed by the UK and Scottish Parliaments.

March to May: We consulted on the detailed rules, standards and guidance needed to bring PAs and AAs into regulation. 

June to November: We reviewed consultation responses and finalised our rules, standards, guidance and other processes. 

December: We published the outcome of our consultation and started regulating PAs and AAs.  

2025 

May: The UK government confirmed its commitment to reforming the regulatory framework for doctors.

2026

March to June: The UK government consults on draft legislation for reforms to how we regulate doctors.

June onwards: The Department for Health and Social Care consider the consultation responses they receive and use them to finalise the new legislation, called the GMC Order.

By the end of 2026: The GMC Order is laid before the UK and Scottish parliaments for their approval.

2027 onwards

We will consult on the detailed rules needed to implement the reforms set out in the GMC Order, before rolling out changes to our processes.