GMC reduces investigations of minor cases that pose no risk to public safety

The General Medical Council (GMC) has issued new guidance for staff triaging complaints, which should significantly cut the number of cases going ahead where doctors are accused of low level violence or dishonesty outside their professional practice.1

The aim is to reduce the number of cases going through full investigations that end in a finding that the doctor’s fitness to practise is not impaired, with no action taken or a warning given, and to focus resources on cases that pose a genuine risk to public protection.

The previous guidance presumed that all allegations of violence or dishonesty would be referred to a tribunal unless there were exceptional reasons not to refer. From September 2018 to June 2020, 33 tribunal hearings involving allegations of violence or dishonesty concluded with a finding of no impairment and either no action or …