Good medical practice and more detailed guidance 2024

Knowledge, skills and development

Medical practice is a lifelong journey. Keeping pace with rapidly changing social, legal and technological developments means learning new skills while maintaining others.

Sharing knowledge – gained through research and innovation, as well as experience – is fundamental to being a doctor, physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA).

Good doctors, PAs and AAs are competent, keep their knowledge and skills up to date and provide a good standard of practice and care. They strive to develop and improve their professional performance. They reflect regularly on their standards of practice and use feedback and evidence to develop personal and professional insight.

This domain of Good medical practice covers the following topics:

• Being competent
• Providing good clinical care
• Maintaining, developing and improving your performance
• Managing resources effectively and sustainably

Patients, partnership and collaboration

The approach and attitude of a medical professional can have a lasting impact on a patient. Treating patients with kindness, compassion and respect can profoundly shape their experience of care.

Good doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates, recognise that patients are individuals with diverse needs, and don’t make assumptions about the options or outcomes a patient will prefer. They listen to patients and work in partnership with them. They do their best to make sure all patients receive good care and treatment that will support them to live as well as possible, whatever their illness or disability.

This domain of Good medical practice covers the following topics:

• Treating patients fairly and respecting their rights
• Treating patients with kindness, courtesy and respect
• Supporting patients to make decisions about treatment and care
• Sharing information with patients
• Communicating with those close to a patient
• Caring for the whole patient
• Safeguarding children and adults who are at risk of harm
• Helping in emergencies
• Making sure patients who pose a risk of harm to others can access appropriate care
• Being open if things go wrong

Colleagues, culture and safety

Culture is determined by the shared values and behaviours of a group of people. Everyone has the right to work and train in an environment which is fair, free from discrimination, and where they’re respected and valued as an individual.

Good doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates communicate clearly and work effectively with colleagues in the interests of patients. They develop their self-awareness, manage their impact on others, and do what they can to help create civil and compassionate cultures where all staff can ask questions, talk about errors and raise concerns safely.

This domain of Good medical practice covers the following topics:

• Treating colleagues with kindness, courtesy and respect
• Contributing to a positive working and training environment
• Demonstrating leadership behaviours
• Contributing to continuity of care
• Delegating safely and appropriately
• Recording your work clearly, accurately, and legibly
• Keeping patients safe
• Responding to safety risks
• Managing risks posed by your health

Trust and professionalism

Patients must be able to trust medical professionals with their lives and health, and medical professionals must be able to trust each other and other healthcare professionals.

Good doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates uphold high personal and professional standards of conduct. They are honest and trustworthy, act with integrity, maintain professional boundaries and do not let their personal interests affect their professional judgements or actions.

This domain of Good medical practice covers the following topics:

• Acting with honesty and integrity
• Maintaining professional boundaries
• Communicating as a medical professional
• Managing conflicts of interest
• Cooperating with legal and regulatory requirements