GMC: Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety: Summary

SJT Textbook: Raising and Acting on Concerns about Patient Safety

Raising Concerns GMC Guidance

This raising concerns GMC guidance explains how every doctor must escalate risks to patient safety, dignity, and care quality without delay or fear of victimisation.

🎥 Video Lesson (YouTube)

🎧 Podcast Lesson (Spotify / Apple / Amazon)

🎯 THE CORE PRINCIPLE

Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety is a core professional duty, not an optional extra. Every doctor, regardless of seniority or role, must take action if they believe patient safety, dignity, or comfort is being compromised. This includes unsafe systems, poor clinical practice, inadequate staffing, bullying cultures, or repeated near misses.

The guidance is built on two linked duties: the duty to raise concerns and the duty to act on concerns. Doctors must follow local reporting procedures first, escalate if concerns persist, and only go external if all internal routes have failed or are inappropriate. Employers and senior doctors carry additional responsibility to ensure concerns are investigated fairly and that staff are protected from victimisation.

In the MSRA SJT, high-scoring answers show early escalation, use of formal systems, documentation, protection of patients, and support for colleagues who raise concerns.

Raising concerns GMC guidance applies to all doctors, regardless of seniority.

⚡ HIGH-YIELD ACTIONS (What Scores Points)

1. Act immediately if a patient is at risk of harm.
2. Raise concerns using local incident reporting systems.
3. Escalate to senior clinicians or managers if unresolved.
4. Keep clear, factual documentation of concerns raised.
5. Encourage and support colleagues to speak up.
6. Follow whistleblowing policies if internal routes fail.
7. Contact a regulator when patient safety remains at risk.
8. Protect confidentiality while raising concerns.
9. Seek independent advice if unsure how to proceed.
10. As a senior, ensure fair investigation and staff protection.

MSRA SJT frequently tests failures in raising concerns GMC standards.

These traps prioritise self-protection, delay, or secrecy over patient safety.

Raising concerns GMC duties include incident reporting, escalation, and whistleblowing.

💬 MODEL PHRASES (Use These in SJT Logic)

* “Patient safety is the immediate priority.”
* “I will submit an incident report.”
* “I will support the colleague who raised the concern.”
* “If this is not addressed locally, I will seek external advice.”

R – Recognise risk
A – Act immediately
I – Incident report
S – Senior escalation
E – External regulator if needed
S – Support whistleblowers
A – Accurate documentation
F – Fair investigation
E – Everyone accountable

Suppressing concerns directly breaches raising concerns GMC expectations.

📋 QUICK FAQ

Must I raise concerns even if I fear backlash?
Yes. Patient safety overrides personal discomfort or fear. Can I go directly to the GMC?
Only if local routes are exhausted or inappropriate. Does this apply to near misses?
Yes. Near misses are important learning events. What if a senior colleague is involved?
You must still raise the concern through proper channels. Can I make a concern public?
Only as a last resort and without breaching confidentiality.

Raising concerns GMC guidance protects doctors from victimisation when acting in good faith.

📚 GMC ANCHOR POINTS

• Duty to raise concerns – Raising and Acting on Concerns Guidance
• Protecting whistleblowers – Public Interest Disclosure Act
• Supportive culture – Good Medical Practice
• Employer responsibilities – Acting on Concerns Guidance
• Confidentiality while raising concerns – Confidentiality Guidance

💡 MINI PRACTICE SCENARIO

You notice repeated medication errors due to understaffing on night shifts. Best action: Submit an incident report and escalate the issue to the clinical lead immediately. Why: Recurrent system risk requires formal reporting and senior escalation to protect patients.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

✓ Patient safety overrides hierarchy
✓ Near misses must be reported
✓ Use formal systems
✓ Escalate if unresolved
✓ Whistleblowers must be protected
✓ Documentation is essential
✓ External escalation is a last resort

🔗 RELATED TOPICS

* → Duty of Candour
* → Leadership and Management
* → Delegation and Referral
* → Teamwork and Communication
* → Professional Boundaries

📖 FULL PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Example SJT — Best of 3 (8 options; choose three)

You observe a senior doctor repeatedly ignoring sepsis protocols.

Options:
A. Ignore it to avoid conflict
B. Report via incident system
C. Discuss concerns with the clinical lead
D. Wait until a serious harm occurs
E. Raise concern with the senior directly only
F. Document specific examples
G. Post anonymously on social media
H. Seek advice from your defence organisation

Example SJT — Rank 5 (best → worst)

A junior colleague reports a safety concern to you.

Options:
A. Thank them and escalate appropriately
B. Document the concern clearly
C. Dismiss it as overreaction
D. Investigate fairly
E. Punish them for complaining