The new Good Medical Practice came into action on 30th January 2024 - here is everything that you need to know about it.
Interview season is coming up and it’s important to watch for hot topics that your MMI or panel interviewers might ask you about.
Hot off the press is the 2024 update to the GMC’s Good Medical Practice pdf.
This document is vital for doctors to understand, so awareness of this update, the changes made, and the reasons behind this will be useful for your medical school interviews!
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Changes to Good Medical Practice Summary - What Do I Need To Know
Restructured domains and enhanced content - New Good Medical Practice focuses on continuous learning, patient-centred care, and workplace safety.
Content changes - there is now more focus on effective communication, informed consent, and respect for patients in achieving patient-centred care.
Workplace harassment - New Good Medical Practice addresses workplace harassment and discrimination for the first time.
Intentions - New Good Medical Practice aims to address new challenges in the medical field, such as digital technology and complex medical care.
30th January 2024 - doctors must familiarise themselves with the New Good Medical Practice which came into effect on 30th January 2024.
Good Medical Practice: What is it?
Good Medical Practice is a framework encompassing the principles and standards that should guide doctors through their careers. It sets ethical and professional boundaries, ensuring patient safety and trust in the medical community.
More simply - it defines what a good doctor acts like. The principles set out by Good Medical Practice must be applied by a doctor using professional judgment.
Compliance is fundamental for licensing and revalidation. The previous version was published in 2013, with minor updates since the original 1995 edition.
After a decade, an update was deemed necessary to keep pace with several changes:
Advances in technology - digital health tools, social media, remote consulting etc. require new guidance around appropriate use, confidentiality, integrity
Increasing complexity of care - growing prevalence of chronic conditions, multimorbidity, and need to coordinate care across teams
Workforce challenges - staffing shortages, increased demands, and retention issues highlight the importance of positive cultures and leadership
Societal changes - greater patient awareness, emphasis on holistic care, diversity, and preventing discrimination
The 2024 update aims to equip doctors to navigate these changes while upholding professional standards and acting in patients' best interests.
It involves reorganisation and updates across the four domains of the guidance.
Why Is the GMC’s Good Medical Practice Important?
As described, this document provides standards against which doctors can be held, for the GMC to regulate doctors’ behavior and professionalism.
Should it be reported that a doctor’s behaviour significantly deviates from these standards, action will be taken by the GMC to investigate and enforce consequences.
This is vital for safeguarding patients and maintaining the integrity of the medical profession. It assures the public that healthcare professionals all meet a high level of ethical standards.
👉🏻 Read more: Current NHS Hot Topics for 2024
The New Good Medical Practice: What Changes Have Been Made?
A proportion of the changes made to Good Medical Practice include restructuring the document, such that it is easier to navigate for doctors and other healthcare professionals.
2024 Good Medical Practice: The 4 Domains (New)
One of the updates in the New Good Medical Practice is the change to the domains of the document.
In the current 2013 Good Medical Practice, the 4 domains include:
Knowledge, Skills, and Performance - staying up-to-date with medical advancements and clinical guidelines.
Safety and Quality - prioritisation of patient well-being and risk management.
Communication, Partnership, and Teamwork - effective communication and relationship building between patients, families, and colleagues.
Maintaining Trust - trust is vital for a successful doctor-patient relationship, and for this to be maintained doctors must act with integrity, honesty, and professionalism.
In the 2024 New Good Medical Practice, these domains will be updated:
Knowledge, Skills, and Development - this domain has been updated to have a greater emphasis on the development of clinical skills and knowledge throughout a doctor’s career, through regular reviews and audits.
Patients, Partnership, and Communication - domain 2 has been updated to focus more on the importance of communication for patient-centered care, patient consent, and respectful communication with patients.
Colleagues, Culture, and Safety - domain 3 has been updated to emphasise the importance of a safe workplace culture for both staff and patients in the NHS.
Trust and professionalism - this domain is unchanged, with the addition of information regarding using social media as a doctor.
Updated Content in The New Good Medical Practice
As mentioned above, the organisation of Good Medical Practice’s content has been rearranged across the updated domains.
This content within these domains has also been improved to reflect the modern NHS work environment, with commonplace workforce shortages, increased patient waiting times, and service backlogs.
The GMC states that the five key updates to Good Medical Practice work towards;
Creating respectful, fair, and compassionate workplaces for colleagues and patients
Promoting patient-centred care
Tackling discrimination
Championing fair and inclusive leadership
Supporting continuity of care and safe delegation
A significant update is the new inclusion of guidance for doctors who have been subject to or witnessed sexual harassment, bullying, or discrimination within the workplace.
Other general changes:
Structure and format - The 2024 version is shorter, more concise, and organized into 4 domains rather than duties. There is more focus on high-level principles rather than detailed guidance. Explanatory guidance is provided separately.
Terminology - The 2024 version uses the term "medical professionals" rather than "doctors" to reflect the GMC's plans to regulate other groups like physician associates and medical apprenticeships in the future.
Competence - There is more emphasis on working within your competence and keeping skills and knowledge up to date in the 2024 version.
Communication - This gets its own domain in 2024 reflecting the importance of communication skills. There is more guidance on supporting patients to make decisions, sharing information, and meeting language/communication needs.
Partnership - The 2024 version has more focus on respecting patient rights, treating patients as individuals, and empowering self-care. Guidance on conscientious objection is included.
Safety/raising concerns - The 2024 version separates safety into its own domain and provides more guidance on responding to risks, speaking up, and managing health risks.
Leadership - The 2024 version provides guidance on demonstrating leadership behaviours and contributing to a compassionate culture.
Boundaries - Clear guidance on maintaining professional boundaries and expressing personal beliefs is included in 2024.
Candour - The duty of candour is explicitly included in the 2024 version.
👉🏻 Read more: Answering MMI Medical Ethics Questions
GMC Clarifications Made (More Detailed Guidance)
Here is a summary of some of the updated guidance and clarifications released by the GMC when the GMP guidelines came into effect in January 2024:
Delegation and Referral: The guidance now emphasises the need for clear instructions and understanding when tasks are delegated. For example, a senior doctor should ensure that a junior doctor or nurse fully understands a patient's care plan before assigning responsibility.
Ending Professional Relationships: The new guidelines suggest trying to resolve issues before ending a doctor-patient relationship. However, in cases of patient violence or safety concerns, immediate termination might be necessary. This includes situations where a patient's behaviour makes others feel unsafe.
Conflicts of Interest: Updated to clearly define what constitutes a conflict of interest, including non-financial aspects like personal relationships or professional gains. It provides a clear approach to handling gifts from patients, ensuring decisions remain unbiased.
Intimate Examinations and Chaperones: Emphasises the importance of patient comfort and consent during intimate exams, even in online consultations. For instance, patients should always know they can stop the examination at any point.
Maintaining Personal and Professional Boundaries: This updated guidance combines previous advice on professional boundaries and sexual behaviour, stressing the importance of maintaining appropriate relationships with both colleagues and patients.
Witness Statements and Legal Proceedings: Doctors providing legal witness or expert evidence are guided on upholding the principles of Good Medical Practice, ensuring their input is accurate, unbiased, and respectful of the legal process.
Social Media Use: The GMC highlights the need for professionalism on social media, balancing personal expression with public trust. Doctors should consider how their online comments can influence public perception and patient trust.
Updated Good Medical Practice: How will this affect doctors?
Doctors are required to become familiarised with the New Good Medical Practice, as it comes into force in January 2024. This means that from 2024 onwards, doctors will be held against this new standard.
Given that the core principles of this new guidance remain the same, the updated Good Medical Practice should not massively affect practising doctors.
It will, however, hopefully, provide doctors with greater protection against workplace sexual misconduct, bullying, and discrimination.
👉🏻 Read more: Ultimate MMI Medicine Interview Preparation Guide
Good Medical Practice 2024: Why have these changes been made?
The current Good Medical Practice was produced by the GMC in 2013. Over a decade after the original guidance was published, the New Good Medical Practice will be published.
The updated Good Medical Practice provides a more comprehensive framework of guidance for doctors. It reflects the changes which have taken place within the medical profession and society within the last decade.
In summary, New Good Medical Practice was commissioned, produced, and published:
To reflect changes within the medical profession and in society
To address new challenges facing the medical profession, such as the increasing complexity of medical care and the growing importance of digital technology.
To ensure that doctors continue to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and practice.
👉🏻 Read more: 280+ Medical School Practice MMI Interview Questions
Good Medical Practice vs 6 Core Values of the NHS
What is the difference between the GMC’s Good Medical Practice and the 6 Core Values of the NHS? This is a question that is especially high-yield and will make you stand out in your MMI or panel interview.
Firstly, Good Medical Practice is a framework of guidance used to regulate doctors, whilst the NHS Core Values are a statement of the principles of the NHS for healthcare professionals to uphold. Unlike Good Medical Practice, the NHS Core Values cannot be used for the regulation of doctors by the GMC.
The NHS core values are more general and focus on the importance of working together, respecting and compassion, striving to improve, and accountability. The GMC's Good Medical Practice is more specific and focuses on the importance of competence, patient safety, and communication.
However, there are also similarities. The 6 Core Values and Good Medical Practice emphasise the priority of patient-centred care, through effective communication between staff, patients, and families.
The NHS's emphasis on compassion, respect, and dignity also aligns with the GMC's focus on trust and professionalism, as both underscore the importance of treating patients with respect and preserving their dignity.
👉🏻 Read more: 6 Core Values of the NHS
The New Good Medical Practice: How to Answer Medical Interview Questions
To excel in answering medical interview questions on the New Good Medical Practice, it is important to have a good understanding of the key updates to the document.
Remember that the interviewers are looking for your understanding of Good Medical Practice - this comes from you reading, processing, and being able to explain the main principles in your own words. The interviewers will only expect you and want you, to have memorised part of the document.
When answering interview questions, use specific examples to illustrate your points. This will help the interviewer to see that you have a good understanding of the New Good Medical Practice and how it applies to the real world.
It may also impress your interviewers to link the values of the GMC’s Good Medical Practice to the NHS 6 Core Values. We have discussed this above.
👉🏻 Read more: Common MMI Medicine Interview Questions
Good Medical Practice Medical Interview Questions and Model Answers
Explain the key changes in the New Good Medical Practice introduced in 2024h
Model Answer:
The 2024 update to the General Medical Council's Good Medical Practice brings several important changes to reflect the changes within the medical profession over the last decade.
One of the most significant changes is the restructuring of the four domains.
The first domain, previously focused on "Knowledge, Skills, and Performance," is now "Knowledge, Skills, and Development," with a greater emphasis on continuous learning and development throughout a doctor's career. This change recognises the need for doctors to stay current with clinical advancements.
The second domain, "Safety and Quality," has been updated to "Patients, Partnership, and Communication." This alteration underscores the importance of effective communication in delivering patient-centred care, obtaining informed consent, and maintaining respectful interactions with patients.
The third domain is now "Colleagues, Culture, and Safety." It emphasises creating a safe workplace culture for both healthcare staff and patients within the NHS. This change acknowledges the significance of a supportive and secure environment for optimal patient care and staff well-being.
The fourth domain, "Maintaining Trust," remains unchanged but includes new guidance on the use of social media by doctors, reflecting the increasing role of digital technology in healthcare.
Now explain why good medical practice changes are important for the medical profession.
Model Answer:
These changes are necessary to align Good Medical Practice more closely with the demands and challenges of modern healthcare.
They promote a respectful, fair, and compassionate workplace, patient-centred care, and the tackling of discrimination.
Moreover, the inclusion of guidance for doctors who have experienced or witnessed workplace harassment, bullying, or discrimination provides crucial support in addressing these issues within the medical profession.
This is particularly important given the recent statistics published regarding workplace harassment in Medicine.
👉🏻 Want to read more about important medical topics? Try Whistleblowing in the NHS.
Reflect on a time when you were part of a team. What did you do to ensure effective teamwork, and how do you believe this will translate into your future role as a doctor?
Model Answer:
In my recent role as a project coordinator for a community health initiative looking at living organ donations, I was keenly aware of the importance of teamwork in achieving our objectives.
To ensure effective collaboration, I facilitated regular meetings that provided a platform for open communication, actively encouraged diverse opinions, and helped resolve conflicts. This experience honed my ability to lead while also fostering an inclusive environment.
Translating this to my future role as a doctor, I see clear parallels with the New Good Medical Practice's emphasis on 'Colleagues, Culture, and Safety.' Just as I promoted a culture of respect and teamwork in my project, I understand the importance of cultivating a safe and supportive working environment in healthcare settings.
This means not only contributing to a positive culture but also being vigilant about addressing any instances of harassment or bullying, as the New Good Medical Practice 2024 advises.
Furthermore, I recognise that continuous personal development, as outlined in the 'Knowledge, Skills, and Development' domain, is vital for effective teamwork.
My commitment to lifelong learning and staying abreast of the latest medical advancements will ensure that I can contribute valuable insights and skills to my team, ultimately improving patient outcomes and enhancing the collective competence of the healthcare team.
As a future medical professional, I am committed to applying these principles to foster a culture that mirrors the GMC's updated guidelines — one that is safe, inclusive, and dedicated to excellence in patient care.
Good Medical Practice interview questions to practice:
Explain the purpose of the 2024 update to the General Medical Council's Good Medical Practice.
What are the key changes in the domains of the New Good Medical Practice?
How does the New Good Medical Practice promote improved workplace cultures?
Discuss the significance of the "Patients, Partnership, and Communication" domain of the New Good Medical Practice.
How do you envision the role of reflective practice in enhancing patient care in light of recent healthcare framework updates?
Can you elaborate on the evolving expectations for professional conduct in modern healthcare settings?
In what ways can healthcare professionals foster a more collaborative and respectful environment in their daily practice?
Discuss the impact of effective communication strategies on patient outcomes and the doctor-patient relationship.
Describe how a culture of safety within healthcare teams can contribute to overall patient well-being.
Reflect on the potential consequences of inappropriate behaviour in healthcare settings and the mechanisms to safeguard professional integrity.
Why is it crucial for medical professionals to stay abreast of changes in policies that govern patient confidentiality and consent?
Discuss the significance of maintaining boundaries in patient relationships in an evolving medical landscape.
How does good medical practice guide you in managing conflicts of interest in the healthcare setting?
Describe the role of good medical practice in the effective use of technology in patient care.
What do you think are the challenges to maintaining good medical practice in a high-pressure environment, and how would you address them?
How would you incorporate the principles of good medical practice in leading a team or project within a healthcare setting?
👉🏻 Read more: 7 Tips to Ace Your MMI Medical School Interview
The 2024 Update to Good Medical Practice FAQs
When will the New Good Medical Practice guidance come into place?
The New Good Medical Practice will come into effect in January 2024, and doctors should prepare to align their practice with the updated standards by this date.
What are the main objectives of the 2024 update to Good Medical Practice?
The primary objectives of the 2024 update include modernising and enhancing the guidance to ensure its alignment with contemporary medical practice and address the evolving challenges faced by healthcare professionals.
Can you explain the significance of maintaining trust in the medical profession?
Maintaining trust is of paramount importance as it fosters a strong doctor-patient relationship, ensuring honesty, professionalism, and the highest ethical standards in medical practice.
How do the changes in the New Good Medical Practice support patient-centred care?
The updates emphasise effective communication, informed consent, and respectful patient interactions to create an environment conducive to patient-centred care, where the patient's needs and preferences are prioritised.
In the New Good Medical Practice, what does the "Colleagues, Culture, and Safety" domain prioritise?
The "Colleagues, Culture, and Safety" domain focuses on the creation of a safe workplace culture that ensures the well-being and safety of both healthcare staff and patients, promoting an environment of trust and support.
What is the main focus of the New Good Medical Practice updates for doctors?
The main focus of the New Good Medical Practice updates is to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and practice, keeping doctors in line with the evolving landscape of healthcare.
Why are the changes in the New Good Medical Practice important for the medical profession?
These changes are essential to maintain the relevance and effectiveness of the guidance in a dynamic medical field, helping doctors adapt to new challenges and provide the best possible care.
Can you explain how the New Good Medical Practice addresses workplace harassment, bullying, or discrimination?
The New Good Medical Practice addresses these critical issues by including guidance and support for doctors who have experienced or witnessed workplace harassment, bullying, or discrimination, promoting a safe and inclusive working environment.
How will the New Good Medical Practice positively impact the quality of patient care?
The New Good Medical Practice will enhance the quality of patient care by emphasising effective communication, safety measures, and respectful interactions, ensuring that patients receive the highest standards of care.
Why should doctors familiarise themselves with the New Good Medical Practice?
Familiarising themselves with the New Good Medical Practice is crucial. It ensures doctors understand and adhere to the updated standards, ultimately promoting the highest levels of professionalism and patient care in the ever-evolving medical landscape.
