GMC welcomes healthcare regulation consultation

The General Medical Council (GMC) has welcomed the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) announcement today of its consultation on legislation to reform professional healthcare regulation in the UK.

The three-month consultation is on legislation that will modernise the GMC’s regulation of doctors, as well as physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).

It is something the GMC has long called for, as its work is currently governed by legislation that it says is outdated, too complex and overly prescriptive. It says reforms will better serve the needs of patients, as well as registrants.

The GMC’s Chief Executive and Registrar, Charlie Massey, says:

‘Patients rightly expect assurance that doctors, PAs and AAs are safe to practise and can be held to account if serious concerns are raised. These proposed reforms will allow us to respond more quickly and flexibly when patient safety is at risk.

‘They will also allow us to further improve our efficiency and effectiveness, while at the same time enabling us to help patients navigate the complaints and concerns process more easily.

‘This is an important and long-awaited step towards a more responsive and compassionate approach to healthcare regulation.’

The GMC will now examine the DHSC’s draft legislation in more detail before submitting its official response to the consultation.