Blog
GDC launches new Fitness to Practise Consultation: Advancing fairness, transparency and professional confidence
Tajmina Begum
10 April 2026
GDC launches new Fitness to Practise Consultation: Advancing fairness, transparency and professional confidence
On 31 March 2026, the General Dental Council (GDC) unveiled on of its most substantial regulatory reviews in recent years: a 12-week public consultation aimed at overhauling key element of its Fitness to Practise (FtP) framework. This initiative marks a critical milestone in the regulator’s ongoing commitment to improving fairness, reducing professional fear and reinforcing public trust in dental regulation.
The consultation is open until 18 June 2026 and seeks stakeholder views on proposed updates to guidance of case examiners and its undertakings bank. This is a shift toward a more consistent, transparent and compassionate approach to FtP decision-making.
8 April 2026
Press Round-Up: Regulatory and Professional Discipline – March 2026
In this blog, we have provided a press round-up in the Regulatory and Professional Discipline – March 2026
31 March 2026
Mazur & others v CILEX & others
The Court of Appeal has now handed down judgment in Julia Mazur & others v CILEX & others [2026] EWCA Civ 369 (the “Judgment”) providing welcome clarity on the conduct of litigation as a reserved legal activity.
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.