The GMC is seeking views on two pieces of its guidance - raising and acting on concerns about patient safety and leadership and management. Both pieces of guidance play crucial roles in setting positive workplace culture standards that prioritise patient safety. They make clear the regulator's expectations on when and how concerns should be raised, as well as how those in management positions should respond.

The regulator is ensuring the guidance reflects developments across the UK's healthcare systems, and wider social changes, while remaining clear, relevant and helpful. It will be the first significant updates since they were published in 2012.

Professor Pushpinder Mangat, medical director and director of education and standards at the GMC, said: ‘Our guidance is there to provide support and confidence, as well as practical help, for people to speak up when necessary. But speaking up is no good in isolation. Leaders and managers have a duty to act when concerns are raised with them.

‘Whenever we update guidance, it is important we hear views from a range of respondents. Their voices and real-life experiences will be instrumental in ensuring our guidance is clear, relevant, and helpful, and reflects the needs of everyone it affects.'

The GMC's consultation, which runs until  22 January, is seeking input from doctors, PAs and AAs, patients, healthcare bodies and stakeholder organisations, as well as other individuals working in healthcare.

Following the consultation, the GMC expects to publish updated versions of the guidance during 2026.