RCS England welcomes consultation on updating guidance for doctors
27 Apr 2022
The Royal College of Surgeons of England has welcomed a consultation from the General Medical Council on plans to update the professional values, knowledge and behaviours expected of doctors working in the UK through its Good Practice Guide.
Commenting on the consultation, Professor Neil Mortensen, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “Good Medical Practice provides the fundamental ethical principles that all doctors in the UK should follow in order to provide patients with the best care possible. A lot has changed in medicine in recent years and the pandemic has exacerbated pressures on frontline medical staff.
“It is therefore important to have an opportunity to reflect on the professional values, knowledge and behaviour expected of our doctors and surgeons. At the Royal College of Surgeons of England, we have worked hard to address some of the issues that have been highlighted around improving the culture in surgery. We were appalled by the recent testimonies of sexual harassment and abuse that some surgeons shared on social media. We are therefore pleased to see that there is specific guidance around preventing bullying and sexual harassment in the GMC’s draft document. It is all of our responsibilities to ensure the medical profession is welcoming and inclusive, regardless of an individual’s background, race or gender. This means all of us treating each other with respect and challenging any unacceptable behaviour.
“We will use the updated Good Medical Practice guide, and the lessons learned by the profession in recent years, as the basis for our core standards document, Good Surgical Practice, when we review it.”
Notes to editors
1. The GMC’s consultation on the draft updated Good medical practice runs until Wednesday 20 July. People can find out more, including how to get involved, via this link.
2. The Royal College of Surgeons of England is a professional membership organisation and registered charity, which exists to advance surgical standards and improve patient care.
3. For more information, please contact the Press Office:
- Telephone: 020 7869 6047/6052
- Email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk
- Out of hours media enquiries: 07966 486832