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The Authority publishes its review of the General Medical Council’s performance for 2021/22

14 Dec 2022

We have published our annual performance review of the General Medical Council (GMC). During 2021/22, we monitored the GMC’s performance against the Standards of Good Regulation (the Standards).

For this period, the GMC has met all 18 Standards. Our report explains how we made our decision.

This year the GMC reported on the first year’s progress towards the longer-term targets it has set to eliminate disadvantages experienced by doctors from ethnic minority backgrounds in educational attainment and fitness to practise referrals by employers. It also worked on two reviews arising from concerns about decisions in two cases: the Regulatory Fairness Review and its learning review of the case of Dr Arora. We acknowledge the concern amongst stakeholders about the fairness of decisions in these cases. We note the work the GMC is doing to learn from such cases. We will closely monitor the GMC’s progress in addressing the recommendations for it within these reviews and expect it to show further progress in ensuring its processes are fair.

The performance review is our check on how well the regulators have been protecting the public and promoting confidence in the health and care professions. We do this by assessing their performance against our Standards. The judgements we make against each Standard incorporate a range of evidence to form an overall picture of performance. Meeting a Standard means that we are satisfied that a regulator is performing well in that area.

In January 2022, we implemented a new performance review approach, starting with the 2021/22 round of reviews. In the new process, we undertake a ‘periodic review’ of each regulator every three years. This is our opportunity to look closely at all aspects of the regulator’s work. Between these reviews, we monitor their performance, focusing on areas of risk. This year, we undertook a monitoring review of the GMC.

ENDS

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Contact: media@professionalstandards.org.uk

Notes to the Editor

  1. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
  2. We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
  3. We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
  4. We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
  5. We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
  6. Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
  7. More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk