The General Medical Council has unveiled a package of reforms which, together with its revalidation scheme, it hopes will appease its critics and signal a new phase of public openness and confidence in the council.

A top priority is to speed up the process of hearing complaints and clear the backlog of cases that are currently waiting to be brought before the Professional Conduct Committee. There are also plans to review the structure of the chamber and the policy of appointing of non-elected members.

The GMC has been heavily criticised in recent weeks, being described as “dysfunctional, arrogant, and inefficient” by …