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Press release: NHS Employers' response to GMC annual tracking survey

16 May 2006

Alastair Henderson, Deputy Director of NHS Employers said:

'The GMC's survey paints an encouraging picture of the willingness of doctors to pursue concerns about the ability of their colleagues but highlights the need for employers, the GMC and the professions to work together to ensure there are clear and well understood processes for handling concerns about doctors.

We have issued guidance to GPs to remind them of their processes for raising concerns and we will continue to reinforce this.  We are also continuing to support employers to develop their whistleblowing procedures in trusts.

Employers have a vital role to play in the regulation of doctors and NHS Employers is working in partnership with the GMC, for example through the Employers Reference Group, to ensure that we take every step to protect patients.'

Notes for editors

Contact details

The press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers.

If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:

• Gemma Jeffcoate
  0207 074 3308 or gemma.jeffcoate@nhsemployers.org
• Emma Stafford
  0207 074 3307 or emma.stafford@nhsemployers.org

For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726.

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