Doctors, physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) must speak up if they spot patient safety concerns, and healthcare leaders must act when issues are raised with them, the General Medical Council (GMC) says as it launches a review of key guidance.
The GMC is seeking views on two pieces of its guidance, Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety and Leadership and management. Both pieces of guidance play crucial roles in setting positive workplace culture standards that prioritise patient safety. They make clear the regulator’s expectations on when and how concerns should be raised, as well as how those in management positions should respond.
The regulator is ensuring the guidance reflects developments across the UK’s healthcare systems, and wider social changes, while remaining clear, relevant and helpful. It will be the first significant updates since they were published in 2012.
Earlier this year, results from the GMC’s annual national training survey revealed that more than one in five trainee doctors were hesitant about escalating concerns about patient care, and GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey warned, in a speech in September, that maternity services were at risk from harmful cultures that put ‘cover-up over candour’ and ‘obfuscation over honesty’.
Professor Pushpinder Mangat, Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards at the GMC, said: "Our guidance is there to provide support and confidence, as well as practical help, for people to speak up when necessary. But speaking up is no good in isolation. Leaders and managers have a duty to act when concerns are raised with them.
"Whenever we update guidance, it is important we hear views from a range of respondents. Their voices and real-life experiences will be instrumental in ensuring our guidance is clear, relevant, and helpful, and reflects the needs of everyone it affects."
The GMC’s consultation opens today (Thursday 30 October) and runs until Thursday 22 January. It is seeking input from doctors, PAs and AAs, patients, healthcare bodies and stakeholder organisations, as well as other individuals working in healthcare.
The two pieces of guidance are being reviewed together due to their close connections and because they share key issues the regulator wants to explore around positive workplace cultures, leadership, and raising concerns without fear of negative consequences.
The consultation closes at midnight on Thursday, 22 January 2026. To take part, click here. Following the consultation, the GMC expects to publish updated versions of the guidance during 2026.
Those who are unable to complete the consultation online, can request a copy of the consultation document and email their response to professionalstandards@gmc-uk.org. Printed responses can be sent to LMRC consultation, Standards and ethics team, General Medical Council, 3 Hardman Street, Manchester, M3 3AW.
