GMC Imposes Conditions on Obstetrics and Gynaecology Training in Manchester

The General Medical Council (GMC) has taken decisive regulatory action against North Manchester General Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology training programme, part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The move comes after nearly three years of persistent concerns surrounding the hospital’s failure to uphold key standards in medical education and patient safety.

The GMC announced it has formally placed conditions on the training programme to address what it described as serious deficiencies in learning culture, educational governance, and handover of patient care—issues seen as vital to ensuring both the safety of patients and the wellbeing of doctors in training.

Enhanced Monitoring Since 2022

North Manchester General has been under enhanced monitoring since November 2022, a process reserved for addressing deep-rooted problems in training environments. Despite extensive engagement with the Trust, the GMC says insufficient progress has been made—prompting an escalation in oversight.

Conditions and Consequences

The newly imposed conditions are aimed at compelling the Trust to deliver sustainable improvements. Should these conditions go unmet, the GMC warned it may take the step of withdrawing approval for the training programme—potentially resulting in the removal of trainees from the site.

Persistent Problems

Key issues outlined by the GMC include a failure to embed a learning culture in which clinical mistakes are reviewed and used to drive improvements. Additionally, concerns persist around the strength of the hospital’s educational governance and the consistency of handover procedures—both seen as fundamental to a safe training environment.

Next Steps

NHS England – North West will collaborate with the Trust to support and oversee efforts to meet the GMC’s requirements. Meanwhile, the GMC confirmed it would continue to closely engage with trainee doctors to monitor the impact of these interventions and ensure their experiences improve over time.

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