Corporate Strategy and Perceptions Tracking Survey 2025
Why did we commission this research?
We regularly commission research to assess perceptions of the GMC across our main audience groups.
Following completion of the 2024 survey we commissioned an interim survey with some of our audiences:
- patients and the public
- doctors
- physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).
The purpose of the survey was to monitor:
- how these audiences perceive our role
- how effective they think we are performing
- how they view the impact of our work
- where we can improve.
Our corporate strategy and perceptions tracking survey also provides us with tracking data, which is used to help assess progress with our corporate strategy for 2021–25.
The 2025 interim tracking survey provided the first opportunity for us to gather information about the perceptions of PAs and AAs in relation to the GMC.
What did the research involve?
We commissioned an independent research consultancy, Shift Insight, to carry out this research. The research involved conducting an online survey with patients and the public, doctors, physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).
For the 2025 survey, PAs and AAs from both the voluntary registers and the GMC register of PAs and AAs were invited to participate.
What were the key findings?
- Confidence levels among patients and the public remain steady, and this audience has positive impressions of the GMC.
- Patients and the public have a moderate recognition of the role of PAs and AAs, and they would like more information on what regulating these roles means for patient safety.
- Confidence among doctors in the way the GMC regulates doctors is improving.
- Locally Employed (LE) doctors have the most positive perceptions of the GMC, while doctors in training continue to have the least positive perceptions.
- Doctors’ confidence in the way the GMC regulates PAs and AAs – asked for the first time this year – is low.
- Concerns also persist about the lack of support from the GMC for doctors and around fitness to practise processes.
- Most PAs and AAs, who were surveyed for the first time as an audience, have positive impressions of the GMC. A small minority have some concerns, including feeling the GMC hasn’t responded to mistreatment of PAs and AAs, or to online misinformation or negative comments about their roles.
What happens next?
The research has been shared across the organisation as part of our commitment to listen to the views of others and improve the way we work.
The findings continue to highlight the significant role that our fitness to practise processes play in shaping perceptions of our work as a regulator. Our communications and engagement teams are supporting work to build the trust and confidence of doctors and medical students in how we manage fitness to practise concerns.
This complements ongoing work by our fitness to practise teams to make sure our investigations are fair, proportionate and considerate of the impact they can have on those being investigated.
We have commissioned our next corporate strategy and perceptions tracking survey to take place in 2026. This will involve:
- patients and the public
- doctors
- PAs
- AAs
- medical students
- PA students
- responsible officers
- education leaders
- national stakeholder organisations.
