The General Medical Council (GMC) is an independent regulatory body that oversees medical education and practice in the UK. To provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to your patients. It is critical that you understand and follow the GMC Guidelines.
Emphasising the importance of the same, one of our speakers, Dr Ezgi Ozcan, gave a detailed insight about GMC guidelines at our recently launched Mylocum Healthcare Summit, ‘Trust Me, I work in the NHS’.
With the swift transition to digital platforms and the growing virtual consultations. Dr Ozcan said, ‘It’s important to stick to the same rules on social media as one would at work.’ Hence the need to follow GMC guidelines online and in person.
In this blog, we’ll explore the GMC guidelines, why they matter, and the most common breaches to avoid.
What Are GMC Guidelines?
These guidelines incorporate the GMC ethical guidance. A set of standards that healthcare professionals must follow to ensure they provide safe and effective care to their patients. The guidelines cover a range of areas, including
Good medical practice: This covers areas such as maintaining trust with patients, communicating effectively, and working collaboratively with colleagues.
Consent: This covers how to obtain and record patient consent for treatment or research.
Confidentiality: This covers how to maintain patient confidentiality and manage patient information.
Prescribing and managing medicines: This covers how to prescribe and manage medicines safely and effectively.
End-of-life care: This covers how to provide care and support for patients and their families.
Why Do GMC Guidelines Matter?
The GMC guidelines are essential because they ensure that doctors provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to their patients. By following the guidelines, doctors can help to improve patient outcomes and avoid errors or mistakes that could harm patients. The guidelines help to maintain public trust in the medical profession and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.
Wish to learn more about the Summit talk? Head to the link to immerse yourself in the sea of unparalleled insights – the link
How To Follow GMC Guidelines
To follow the GMC ethical guidance, healthcare professionals should:
Familiarise themselves with the guidelines: Doctors should read and understand the GMC guidelines to ensure they follow them correctly.
Keep up with changes: The General Medical Council regularly updates its guidelines to reflect changes in medical practice and research. It is important to keep up to date with these changes and adapt accordingly.
Reflect on their practice: Doctors should know how they can improve their care to better meet GMC guidelines.
Seek support if needed: If you are struggling to follow the General Medical Council guidelines or have concerns about your practice, you should seek support from colleagues or professional bodies.
The Most Common Breaches
Professionals must be aware of the common breaches of GMC guidelines and take steps to avoid them. By maintaining professional boundaries with patients, communicating effectively, protecting patient confidentiality and obtaining informed consent. Also by maintaining accurate medical records, medical professionals can provide safe and effective care while adhering to GMC guidelines.
Inappropriate relationships with patients: Doctors are expected to maintain professional boundaries with their patients, and any inappropriate behaviour, such as engaging in sexual or romantic relationships, can be considered a breach of General Medical Council guidelines.
Poor communication: Professionals are expected to communicate effectively with their patients. For example, providing information in a way that is understandable and allowing patients to ask questions. Poor communication such as failing to provide necessary information or not listening to a patient’s concerns.
Confidentiality breaches: Doctors are expected to maintain patient confidentiality, and any unauthorized disclosure of patient information can be a breach of General Medical Council guidelines.
Failing to obtain informed consent: Doctors must obtain informed consent from patients before providing treatment or care. Not providing adequate information for patients to make an informed decision can be considered a breach of GMC guidelines.
Poor record-keeping: Healthcare Professionals must maintain accurate and complete medical records. Poor record-keeping, such as failing to document relevant information or making incorrect entries, can also be considered a breach of General Medical Council guidelines.
The GMC guidelines are a crucial for healthcare providers must follow to ensure they provide safety, and compassionate care to their patients. By following the guidelines, doctors can help to improve patient outcomes, and many more. If you work in healthcare, make sure you are familiar with the GMC guidelines and that you follow them to the best of your ability.
FAQs
1. Why is the GMC important?
The GMC’s primary responsibility is to protect patient safety and maintain public trust in the medical profession. Hence, it has a crucial role in the healthcare industry.
2. GMC guidelines on good medical practice.
The General Medical Council guidelines on Good Medical Practice provide standards for doctors in the UK, outlining the behaviours and practices expected of them to provide safe and effective care to patients. These guidelines cover patient care, communication, ethical and professional behaviour, and maintaining professional boundaries.
3. GMC guidelines for remote prescribing
The General Medical Council guidelines for remote prescribing require doctors to ensure they have sufficient information to prescribe safely, obtain patient consent, and maintain accurate medical records. Doctors must also take steps to prevent prescribing errors and ensure that patients receive appropriate follow-up care.
