GMC publishes fitness to practise data for doctors

The General Medical Council (GMC) has today published data tracking fitness to practise concerns, and their outcomes, for doctors during 2025.

The GMC publishes these statistics every year, but this year’s report has been redesigned to give patients, doctors and others more information about how concerns are assessed, progressed and concluded.

During the year, 13,465 concerns were assessed as part of the regulator’s triage process, the initial stage which determines if a concern meets the threshold for action. That was a 25% increase on 2024, when 10,769 concerns were triaged. In 2025 there were 410,566 registered doctors.

In 2025, most cases (12,146 of the 13,465), were closed as they did not meet the legal threshold for a full investigation. This is based on criteria including whether the concern relates to a doctor’s fitness to practise, its seriousness and potential risk to patients or public confidence, and whether the GMC is the correct organisation to address the issue.

Cases that meet the threshold for regulatory action move to a formal investigation, after which GMC case examiners decide what action, if any, is required.

In 2025, case examiners considered 679 cases. Of those, 184 were referred to an independent tribunal, 110 doctors were given warnings, 60 agreed ‘undertakings’ – restrictions on their practice – and 16 were given advice by the regulator. The remaining 309 cases were closed with no further action, often because issues had already been addressed and there was no ongoing risk.

Tribunals, which make independent decisions and are run by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, hear evidence from the GMC, the doctor and any witnesses before deciding if a doctor’s practice is impaired.

In 2025 there were 160 tribunals. Of those, 124 resulted in a finding of impairment against the doctor. As a result, 48 were struck off, the sanction used for the most serious cases where a doctor’s behaviour, performance or health means they cannot safely remain on the medical register.

Sixty-eight doctors who had a finding of impairment were suspended and seven had conditions placed on their licence to practise. In one case no further action was taken. Thirty-four doctors were found not to be impaired, although 11 were still given a warning.

More than 90% of the cases brought to a tribunal during the year involved either misconduct, such as dishonesty or sexual misconduct, criminal convictions, or both.

GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey says:

‘Patients place a high degree of trust in those involved in their care, and the vast majority of doctors are dedicated to providing good and safe care. It is only in a small proportion of cases, where serious concerns arise, that action is required. In 2025, this accounted for just 3% of all registered doctors.   

‘But we know that every concern we receive involves real people – patients, families, doctors and colleagues – and that raising or responding to a concern can be difficult. We are committed to handling every case with compassion, clarity and fairness.

‘In recent years we have also strengthened our outreach work, expanding the number of GMC liaison advisors who work across every region of the UK’s four countries. They work closely with Responsible Officers, discussing local processes and expectations, as well as our fitness to practise thresholds.’

This year’s report sets out the decision points used throughout the fitness to practise process, from initial triage through to investigation and tribunal. It also provides information about the support that is available to patients, witnesses and professionals involved in an investigation.

The changes intend to support a more informed conversation about patient care and the role of professional regulation.

Mr Massey explains:

‘Dealing with concerns about fitness to practise is complex, and data alone cannot tell the full story. By communicating clearly about how concerns are handled, we can help make sure people feel able to speak up and engage with our processes, so the system can operate effectively in the interests of patient care and public confidence.’

Read the Concerns about fitness to practise: Annual statistical report 2025.