Poor induction and lack of honest feedback is blamed for higher rate of GMC referrals among BAME doctors

The fact that disproportionate numbers of black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) doctors are referred to the General Medical Council for fitness to practise concerns may be because of poor induction, support, and feedback, a report has found.

Between 2012 and 2017, 1.1% of BAME doctors were referred to the GMC compared with 0.5% of white doctors. Doctors who qualified outside the UK have a two and a half times higher rate of being referred to the regulator compared with UK graduates (1.2% compared with 0.5%).

The Fair to Refer report,1 is based on interviews and focus groups with 262 people including GPs, locums, specialty and associate specialist doctors, and consultants from different ethnic backgrounds, some from overseas and some from the UK. …