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Patient expectations for doctors set out by GMC

The General Medical Council (GMC) has published a guide for patients on what to expect from their doctor. The guide is based on core guidance for doctors and includes the duty of a doctor, the importance of dignity and respect, and the standard of conduct patients should expect.

It is part of a larger move to put patients as the heart of health and social care, following the damning Francis report into failings at Mid Staffordshire.

The guidance shows that doctors must go beyond delivering quality clinical treatment and should ensure their patients receive compassionate care. Doctors will be required to show how they are meeting this guidance in their revalidation.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said: “Much of the new guide is common sense, but we know that patients get the most benefit when they are able to work in partnership with their doctors. We hope it will prove useful and help foster stronger relationships between doctors and patients – based on a clear understanding of their respective responsibilities.”

Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said: “The vast majority of doctors have an excellent relationship with their patients. However, the Francis report highlighted that there is much more we need to do to put patients at the heart of healthcare.

“Doctors have a big role to play in this and I hope that this guidance will help patients create a better partnership with their doctor, where they feel involved in decisions about their care.”

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, added: “The Patients Association is happy that the GMC’s publishing a guide aimed at patients. We firmly believe that the patient needs to be at the centre of a doctor’s practice, and this guide is a useful tool to assist clinicians in achieving that goal. It also provides useful information to patients about what behaviour, support and assistance they should reasonably expect from their doctor.”

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