RCGP responds to GMC data on fitness-to-practise complaints

The General Medical Council (GMC) has released its yearly report tracking fitness-to-practise concerns. One of the findings is the 25% increase in total complaints against doctors in one year from 2024 to 2025, although 90% of these are closed at triage.

Dr Munro Stewart, Vice President of the Royal College of GPs, said:

"Although the number of concerns raised with the GMC has increased compared with the previous year, these figures alone do not tell us why more referrals are being made. It’s important to note that most concerns are closed at an early stage and do not progress to a full investigation. This underlines the need for a proportionate approach that distinguishes between issues requiring regulatory intervention and those that are more appropriately resolved locally or do not warrant further action.

"Patients must always be able to raise concerns about their care, and complaints can be an important mechanism for promoting accountability, learning and service improvement. At the same time, it is vital that concerns are assessed fairly, consistently and in a way that is proportionate for everyone involved. Where concerns do not meet the threshold for investigation, decisions should be made as quickly as possible to minimise unnecessary anxiety for GPs and avoid adding further pressure to a workforce already facing significant demands."

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659

press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.