UK healthcare regulators report continued rise in whistleblowing disclosures during 2025/26

UK health and social care professional regulators have published their annual whistleblowing disclosures report, revealing hundreds of concerns raised by workers across healthcare settings during 2025/26 and highlighting the regulatory action taken in response. The joint report, published by nine professional regulators, covers the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 and forms part of a statutory requirement introduced in 2017 to improve transparency and public confidence in whistleblowing processes.

The report brings together data from the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Dental Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, General Optical Council, General Osteopathic Council, General Chiropractic Council and Social Work England. The regulators said the publication aims to demonstrate how concerns are handled, what action is taken and how organisations can work together to address serious issues raised by whistleblowers.

Among the most notable increases reported was by the General Dental Council (GDC), which received 138 whistleblowing disclosures during 2025/26, up 74% from the previous year. The regulator attributed the rise partly to changes that made it easier for individuals raising concerns to identify themselves as whistleblowers and to an overall increase in concerns received. All 138 disclosures resulted in the opening of a fitness to practise case, with 99 progressing to regulatory action and 39 closed because insufficient information was available to proceed further.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) reported receiving 159 whistleblowing disclosures, compared with 152 in the previous reporting year. The regulator said it took 253 forms of regulatory action and made 93 onward referrals to organisations better placed to address specific concerns, including the Care Quality Commission and the General Medical Council. The most frequently reported themes included unprofessional behaviour, management concerns, dishonesty, patient care, criminal behaviour, harassment, and health and safety issues.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) received seven whistleblowing disclosures during the year. According to the regulator, the concerns were handled across its policy and standards, education, and fitness to practise functions. The HCPC said it had continued to strengthen its internal processes, including updating procedures, improving recording and reporting systems, and reviewing guidance available to those raising concerns.

The report notes that regulators operate under different statutory frameworks and responsibilities, meaning whistleblowing disclosures may lead to different outcomes depending on the organisation involved. Actions can include regulatory investigations, fitness to practise referrals, advice and guidance, referrals to other bodies, or decisions that no further action is required.

Regulators said whistleblowing remains an important mechanism for identifying risks to patient safety, professional standards and public confidence. The annual publication is intended to reassure workers that concerns raised in the public interest are taken seriously and assessed through appropriate regulatory channels.

The joint whistleblowing disclosures report was published on 17 September 2026 by the participating health and social care professional regulators.

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