Our role and the Medical Act 1983

We work with doctors, patients, and other stakeholders to support good, safe patient care across the UK. As part of this role, we:

• set the standards of patient care and professional behaviours doctors need to meet.
• make sure doctors get the education and training they need to deliver good, safe patient care.
• check who is eligible to work as a doctor in the UK and check they continue to meet the professional standards we set throughout their careers.
• give guidance and advice to help doctors understand what’s expected of them.
• investigate where there are concerns that patient safety, or the public’s confidence in doctors, may be at risk, and take action if needed.

Medical Act 1983

Our mandate is set out from the Medical Act 1983.

The Act covers: 

• our statutory purpose
• governance of the GMC (including how our members are appointed)
• our responsibilities in relation to the medical education, registration and revalidation of doctors; and for giving guidance to doctors on matters of professional conduct, performance and ethics.