Mann recommendations agreed in consultation on GMC overhaul

The UK Government has launched a landmark consultation on reforms to the regulation of medical professionals, marking the most substantial update to the General Medical Council’s (GMC) legislative framework since 1983. The proposals aim to modernise the system, strengthen patient safety, and give regulators greater flexibility to respond to risks more quickly.

The reforms incorporate key recommendations from Lord Mann’s review into racism and antisemitism in the NHS. These include retaining the GMC’s right to appeal decisions of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), granting the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) new powers to challenge interim MPTS decisions, and requiring regulators to share information with the PSA when requested. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the changes are essential to ensuring that “everyone, regardless of race, religion, or belief, should feel safe seeking care,” and that the current system is “too slow and too cumbersome” to address serious misconduct.

The PSA welcomed the consultation, describing it as a long‑needed step toward modernising healthcare regulation. Chief Executive Alan Clamp said: “We are pleased to see the launch of this consultation which is a significant step towards modernising the regulatory framework for the General Medical Council… We support the direction of travel with these reforms which, by giving the regulators greater autonomy, can allow them to undertake their regulatory duties more effectively and efficiently.” He also highlighted the importance of the PSA’s proposed new information‑request powers, noting:

“As the oversight body, we welcome the new power proposed for us to be able to require the GMC to provide information to us… [This] will be important in making sure we can access all of the information we need to assess the regulator against our standards.”

The GMC also endorsed the proposals, calling them overdue and essential for a modern regulatory environment. Chief Executive Charlie Massey said:

“Patients rightly expect assurance that doctors, PAs and AAs are safe to practise and can be held to account if serious concerns are raised. These proposed reforms will allow us to respond more quickly and flexibly when patient safety is at risk.” He added that the changes would support a more compassionate and accessible system for patients: “They will also allow us to further improve our efficiency and effectiveness, while at the same time enabling us to help patients navigate the complaints and concerns process more easily.”

Beyond the Mann recommendations, the consultation proposes wider reforms to fitness‑to‑practise processes, including removing the five‑year limit on considering historic allegations of sexual abuse and granting regulators greater autonomy over education and training standards. The government argues these changes will reduce bureaucracy, strengthen public protection, and better support the NHS workforce.

The consultation will run for three months, with further recommendations from Lord Mann’s review expected later in the year.

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