Major GMC overhaul to tackle racism and sexual abuse and speed up disciplinary action

Credit: GMC

By Claudia Tanner

The government has announced a sweeping modernisation of the General Medical Council, marking the most significant reform of medical regulation since 1983.

The overhaul, launched via a public consultation on Tuesday, aims to strip away bureaucracy to allow for faster disciplinary action against doctors — specifically targeting those who engage in "intolerably racist and antisemitic language."

The changes lean heavily on Lord John Mann’s recent review, who was commissioned in November to conduct a rapid review of antisemitism and racism within the NHS.

By streamlining these procedures, the government seeks to fix a fitness to practise process long criticised for leaving doctors in a state of professional and personal limbo for years.

The GMC will retain its existing right to appeal decisions made by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) to the courts, ensuring there remains a robust check on fitness to practise outcomes.

Furthermore, the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) — the body overseeing all healthcare regulators — will be granted new powers to challenge interim decisions and demand information sharing to ensure robust oversight of fitness to practise cases.