GMC warns of patient‑safety risks in response to healthcare regulation consultation

The General Medical Council has welcomed Government plans to overhaul its 40‑year‑old legislative framework but warned that parts of the draft 2026 GMC Order could undermine patient safety if not amended.

In its formal response to the Department of Health and Social Care consultation, the regulator said the proposed reforms would replace the outdated Medical Act 1983 with a more flexible system designed to speed up regulatory processes, reduce bureaucracy and improve transparency. It said the new framework would support quicker, less adversarial fitness‑to‑practise procedures, streamline registration routes and modernise the approval and quality assurance of medical education.

But the GMC raised strong objections to the inclusion of a fixed “coming into force” date on the face of the legislation. Imposing a hard deadline, it said, creates “an unnecessary risk to public protection and patient safety”, as it could force the regulator to activate major changes before it and external partners are ready. The GMC is calling instead for a flexible, staged implementation process.

The regulator also warned that the draft publication powers are too limited in some areas and overly rigid in others. While it supports a general power to publish regulatory information, it said the proposed requirement to publish warnings and sanctions indefinitely is disproportionate and may conflict with UK data‑protection rules. It also argued that the legislation does not give it sufficient authority to publish information about former registrants when necessary for public protection.

Overall, the GMC said it is “largely pleased” with the direction of reform but urged ministers to amend key sections to ensure the new framework is workable, proportionate and safe for patients.

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