Regulation in a changing healthcare landscape: the role of the General Medical Council

Abstract

The healthcare sector is on the cusp of a major change in the availability of data on how institutions, teams and individuals are performing, driven by technology and by changes in how the healthcare professions are viewed by wider society. With the introduction of revalidation, the relationship of the General Medical Council (GMC) with doctors is already changing. The challenge for the GMC in the coming years will be to help ensure patient safety and improve standards, working closely with the profession, employers, educators and patient groups.