General Medical Council

Last December, I attended an Autism Awareness session run by our Learning and Organisation Development (LOD) team as part of their Neuroinclusion Festival. The festival was designed to foster an inclusive workplace where neurodiversity is central to our organisation’s everyday culture. That session really inspired me. It motivated me to work with the LOD team to raise awareness of my own neurodivergence—dyslexia. So this #NeurodiverstyCelebrationWeek, I’m really happy to have this platform to share my experiences, not just with my colleagues but with you as well. My name is Abi Bamber, and I was diagnosed with dyslexia a little later in life—at university. A lecturer, curious about the way I processed information, asked if I had ever been tested. That question led me to my diagnosis, which in many ways was a turning point. It made me rethink the things I had believed about myself and helped me unlearn some of the hurtful comments that had stuck with me over the years. It’s been almost 11 years since that diagnosis, but it’s only in the past two years that I’ve felt confident enough to talk about it openly. That change started when my eldest son began showing signs of potential dyslexia. I wanted to make sure that, if he did have it, he would get the support he needed. As I spoke to more people about my own experience, their positive reactions and reassurance helped me build confidence. I realised that dyslexia is a part of me, but it doesn’t define who I am. That said, I still sometimes find myself avoiding tasks that involve a lot of reading, especially out loud. Recently, I volunteered as a mystery reader for my youngest son’s class, and honestly, it was terrifying. Even writing this post has been a challenge. A lot of my avoidance comes from old protective mechanisms, ways I learned to shield myself from people laughing at me. But I’m pushing myself to step outside my comfort zone. Before joining the GMC as an Assessment Associate Administrator, I worked in a more practical role with minimal writing. Moving into an admin-heavy job was a real adjustment, but I’ve discovered that I’m perfectly capable of writing clear emails, contributing to procedures, and even enjoying it. My team’s patience and support have been invaluable as I’ve grown into my role. I’ve also started wearing my blue tint glasses more often, as they help me read documents more easily. I take my time, ask more questions to ensure I understand things correctly, and if I’m ever unsure how to word an email, I draft it first and ask my manager to review it before sending. Perhaps the biggest lesson I’ve learned though is this: I don’t need to be afraid of my difference because everyone is different #InclusionMatters #Neurodiversity

Continuity of care is important for all patients, but especially those who may struggle to navigate their healthcare journey or advocate for themselves. As outlined in Good medical practice, continuity is particularly important when care is shared between teams, between different members of the same team, or when patients are transferred between care providers. Dr Pritti Aggarwal is a GP partner at the Living Well Partnership, and Director for Primary Care Placements at the University of Southampton. In her blog, she talks about how changing the Living Well Partnership’s way of working to microteams has improved the practice’s continuity of care. Read the blog - https://lnkd.in/ekmKw-uz You can also sign up to the NHS Confederation's webinar for more information on improving continuity of care (19 March 2025, 12:00 - 13:00pm) - https://lnkd.in/ecZPKg5N

Calling all doctors in training and trainers 📢 Your national training survey is now live. Every response we receive really does make a difference. Your answers enable us to check the quality of training across the UK and help to drive the vital improvements you deserve. Take part today - https://lnkd.in/gnnt6VSA

Are microteams the key to primary care continuity? Establishing continuity of care is a major challenge in modern general practice delivery. As demands on GP surgeries grow, maintaining continuity is becoming increasingly difficult. In our latest NHS Voices blog, Dr Ioannis Saxionis suggests that shifting to innovative approaches like the microteam model could be the solution. Read it now 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dZPEfQnK Ioannis will be one of the speakers at our webinar later this month where we will be exploring how the Living Well Partnership in Southampton has transformed its approach to delivering continuity of care through microteams. 📅 Wednesday 19 March 2025 🕰️ 12:00-13:00 🖱️ Book now: https://buff.ly/3QoULcP

‘Congratulations to all of us’ Watch as present and future female doctors weave together their own stories with those of the trailblazers who came before them, uniting the generations of women whose work made gender parity a reality in 2025. They also share how they hope to continue the progress that brought us here today by shaping future change and becoming role models for future generations following in their footsteps. While this is a remarkable achievement, challenges remain. Understanding the experiences of female doctors today, alongside the evolving makeup of the medical workforce, as a whole, is essential to building a more equitable future. So, as we celebrate this milestone, let’s also keep the conversation going #internationalwomensday #inclusionmatters

For the first time ever, gender parity has been reached on the medical register in the UK. Indeed, there are now more female doctors than male doctors with a licence to practise. This is an incredible milestone to share ahead of #InternationalWomensDay this Saturday.    Our Chair, Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen appeared on this morning's Woman's Hour to discuss the news - here she is alongside presenter Anita Rani and fellow guest, Dr Leanne Armitage. Catch-up with the show on BBC Sounds https://lnkd.in/e3g2N8Xe While this is a moment to celebrate, it’s also a time to reflect. Women in medicine still face significant challenges—from training to career progression and workplace culture. More must be done to ensure truly inclusive and supportive environments. That’s why today, alongside British Medical Association and Medical Women's Federation, we’re highlighting how healthcare leaders and workforce planners can act on these changing demographics. By doing so, we stand the best chance of retaining the talented doctors serving our diverse population, and of encouraging more women to choose careers in medicine.   You can read more about this story and explore further data on our website https://lnkd.in/ejshMYi9 #IWD #IWD25 #GenderParity #InclusionMatters

Ramadan Mubarak to all our followers. To mark one of Islam’s holiest months, I’ve been given the keys to the company account to reflect on the experience of working while fasting and share what this sacred time means to me. I’m Aisha from the communications team here at the GMC and, once again, I’m embracing Ramadan this year with a heart full of gratitude and reflection. The month of Ramadan has always brought me peace and joy and given me a chance to consider the kind of person I want to be. There are challenges that come with the month though, including the difficulty of balancing fasting whilst working full time. For doctors and healthcare professionals, who spend hours caring for patients while fasting, the challenge is even greater. For me, the sense of unity I feel with fellow Muslims, and the overwhelming support from my colleagues, makes it easier to navigate. I’ve learned to find moments of peace even during long hours at my desk. Sometimes, the days can drag on, and the pangs of hunger and thirst become hard to ignore. But it’s during those moments of struggle that I am reminded of the deeper purpose of Ramadan: patience, perseverance, and personal growth. I also try to remember that fasting goes beyond the physical act; Ramadan is a time to get closer to God, cultivate good deeds and increase one’s devotion through prayer and charity. Participating in these deeds and seeing them for myself lessens the physical impact of fasting and instead, reinforces the knowledge that Ramadan brings the best out in us, if only for a short while. This is why I always find myself wishing for Ramadan to come round again when Eid-al-Fitr - the festival that celebrates the end of the fasting period – arrives. Ramadan is about nourishing the soul, fostering kindness, and strengthening relationships. Though it can be challenging at times, the sense of fulfilment, peace, and spiritual growth that comes with it is truly priceless. To everyone balancing work and fasting—especially those in healthcare—your dedication and resilience doesn’t go unnoticed. To all our followers observing Ramadan, I wish you all a blessed month. For those that aren't, I hope this post offers a window into this sacred time. #Ramadan #RamadanMubarak

Today, Tista Chakravarty-Gannon, Elizabeth Jenkins, and Anna Rowland from the General Medical Council will present the regulator's new measures to tackle sexual misconduct during our third seminar on this topic. In 2024, the GMC’s updated Good Medical Practice guidance came into effect, focusing on professional boundaries and addressing sexual misconduct among colleagues. New resources have been developed to support victims and survivors, including: • Updated online ethical hub materials • Enhanced patient webpages with downloadable resources • A factsheet for employers and responsible officers For more details, visit: https://lnkd.in/ejiWfzUR

We are looking forward to hearing from Tista Chakravarty-Gannon, General Medical Council on Saturday 1 March at the National ‘Developing Your Portfolio’ Conference, Exhibition and Awards. Supporting you to develop and lead a fulfilling career. Sign up to watch live online or attend in person here: https://lnkd.in/dWgbCU8A

This #LGBTHistoryMonth, colleagues have been learning about the remarkable contributions of LGBTQ+ people throughout history, thanks to an inspiring series of events and activities led by our staff LGBTQ+ network. The celebrations wrapped up on Wednesday with a special edition of our LGBTQ+ book club, where Welsh author Rachel Dawson joined the group to discuss her debut novel, Neon Roses—a queer coming-of-age love story that has been shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year, the Polari First Book Prize, and the Betty Trask Prize. Earlier in the month, network member and Investigation Assistant Evelyn Surman delivered a fascinating talk on the evolution of queer identities, exploring how the medical world has shaped our understanding of categories like ‘gay’ and ‘transgender.’ Other highlights included an LGBT+ History Month-themed quiz and an open mic session, where members and allies were invited to share personal stories, poetry, spoken word pieces, short stories, and even comedy routines. In addition to these fantastic events, the network celebrated this year’s theme—Activism and Social Change—by spotlighting an ‘Activist a Day’ on their Teams channel, helping colleagues discover pioneering LGBTQ+ figures from across history. A huge thank you to all the speakers who took the time to share their insights, and, of course, to our incredible LGBTQ+ network for organising such an engaging and educational month of activities! 🌈 #LGBTQ+ #LGBT #InclusionMatters