The General Medical Council has warned that rising pressure on GPs is beginning to compromise patient care, with workload intensity, limited capacity and fear of complaints contributing to a rise in defensive medical practice. Speaking at Pulse LIVE Cardiff, GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey said general practice remains the most strained area of the profession, with many GPs reporting they struggle to provide adequate care at least once a week.
Massey highlighted that concerns about complaints and regulatory action are influencing clinical decision‑making. Findings from the recent Pulse white paper show more GPs are practising defensively, and only 27% of GPs surveyed in 2025 felt confident the GMC would handle concerns fairly and consider the context in which care is delivered.
The GMC said most doctors will never face a fitness to practise investigation. In 2024, only one case per 1,400 licensed GPs reached a tribunal. The regulator pointed to provisional enquiries—short, early‑stage assessments—as a key reform that allows non‑serious concerns to be closed more quickly. These enquiries typically conclude within nine weeks, compared with around nine months for full investigations. GMC data shows 81.4% of GP‑related concerns in 2024 were closed at triage, up from 72.8% in 2020.
A new annual fitness to practise report will be published later this summer to provide clearer context around regulatory data and improve transparency. Massey said fairness must be visible and that greater clarity is needed to support confidence in the system.
He acknowledged that the gap between professional standards and what GPs feel able to deliver under current pressures can be demoralising. High demand, workforce shortages and limited consultation time continue to shape the daily reality of general practice. Massey said regulation must evolve to reflect this context, adding that the way regulation is experienced can influence how doctors work and the decisions they make.
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