Tackling bullying in medical training

The General Medical Council (GMC) has today published a report which highlights circumstances where doctors in training believe bullying and undermining is more likely to occur.  The report focused on the specialties of obstetrics and gynaecology and surgery.

Commenting on the GMC’s report into tackling undermining and bullying in medical education, Miss Clare Marx, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, said:

“Strong surgical leadership skills are needed to cultivate a culture of openness amongst surgical teams and the doctors they train. Where concerns exist doctors must be able to express them without feeling undermined or intimidated.

“Bullying is not endemic across the profession. Standards set by the College expected of all surgeons are clearly outlined in our guide, Good Surgical Practice. This states that surgeons should be accessible and approachable to colleagues, and encourage open discussion and constructive feedback within their teams. Our invited review service for hospital trusts can help to identify issues and concerns around dysfunctional working and make recommendations to ensure patient care is not compromised.”

Notes to editors

The Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling surgeons to achieve and maintain the highest standards of surgical practice and patient care. Registered charity number: 212808.

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