We have published our annual performance review of the GDC. During 2021/22, we conducted a periodic review of the GDC’s performance against the Standards of Good Regulation (the Standards).
For this period, the GDC has met 16 out of the 18 Standards. Our report explains how we made our decision.
The GDC did not meet one of our four registration Standards, due to the time it is taking to process applications and appeals. Some factors which have contributed to that increase are outside the GDC’s direct control and the GDC has put in place measures to improve its performance. We will monitor the impact of these measures on the timeliness of its registration processes.
The GDC did not meet our Standard for timeliness in fitness to practise: it is taking too long to progress cases through the system, and the number of open older cases has increased. The GDC recognises that these delays have an impact on the people raising concerns and the professionals subject to investigation and is working to address its long-standing staffing issues. The GDC has introduced new Fitness to Practise KPIs in this review period and has also made some changes to its fitness to practise process. However, these measures have not yet had an impact on the time it is taking to process cases.
This is the fifth year in a row that the GDC has not met the Standard. We have taken action under our escalation policy and have written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to raise our concerns. We will monitor the GDC’s work to improve its performance in this area.
The performance review is our check on how well the regulators have been protecting the public and promoting confidence in the health and care professions. We do this by assessing their performance against our Standards. The judgements we make against each Standard incorporate a range of evidence to form an overall picture of performance. Meeting a Standard means that we are satisfied that a regulator is performing well in that area.
In January 2022, we implemented a new performance review approach, starting with the 2021/22 round of reviews. In the new process, we undertake a ‘periodic review’ of each regulator every three years. This is our opportunity to look closely at all aspects of the regulator’s work. Between these reviews, we monitor their performance, focusing on areas of risk. This year, we undertook a periodic review of the GDC and carried out a case review to evaluate the effectiveness of the quality assurance mechanisms in the early stages of its fitness to practise process. We were assured through our review of the GDC’s checks on the quality of its decision-making. Additionally, we spoke with a range of stakeholders who had engaged with the GDC during the review period in order to get their perspectives on its performance.
ENDS
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Contact: media@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
- We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
- Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk