Blog
Sanctions Guidance is not a score sheet – Court of Appeal findings from GMC v Gilbert & PSA
Jessica Etherington
26 February 2026
Sanctions Guidance is not a score sheet – Court of Appeal findings from GMC v Gilbert & PSA
In a judgment handed down on 6 February 2026, the Court of Appeal (CoA) dismissed appeals by both the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) to overturn the decision to suspend, rather than erase, a consultant surgeon from the medical register.
The judgment arrives at an interesting moment. In November 2025, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) introduced new Sanctions Guidance based on bandings structured around low, medium and high-risk levels, replacing the previous approach that required tribunals to start with the least restrictive sanction. The Court’s findings in Dr Gilbert’s matter should now influence how this guidance is applied.
24 February 2026
Clarity, Consistency, Confidence: HCPC Unveils Key Updates to FTP Decision-Making
On 5 February 2026, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) published an important update outlining significant changes to its Fitness to Practise (FTP) decision-making framework. The HCPC has said that these changes represent a step forward in enhancing consistency, transparency and public protection within the regulatory process.
5 February 2026
Press Round-Up: Regulatory and Professional Discipline – January 2026
In this blog, we cover the press round-up in the regulatory and professional discipline – January 2026
5 February 2026
The GPhC issues updated inspection decision making framework: what pharmacy teams need to know
On 13 January 2026, the GPhC published an update to its inspection decision‑making framework, marking an important shift in how pharmacy inspections will be conducted and evaluated going forward. This revised framework seeks to strengthen regulatory clarity, incorporate recent legislative developments, and support more consistent, transparent decision‑making across the sector.
2 February 2026
ICAEW’s new Guidance on Disciplinary Sanctions: what accountants and accountancy firms need to know
The regulatory landscape for accountants is progressively evolving, driven by heightened public expectations, increased scrutiny of professional conduct, and a greater push for transparency across regulated professions.
