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.

In this blog, we have provided a press round-up in the Regulatory and Professional Discipline – March 2026

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.

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.  

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.

In this blog, we cover the press round-up in the regulatory and professional discipline – January 2026

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.

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.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has confirmed that from March 2026, most exams will return to in-person settings. Remote assessments will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances, such as medical needs or where no exam centre is available. This change reverses the flexibility introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The High Court has quashed a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) decision to strike off a nurse following a review hearing.

The Institute of Charted Accounts in England and Wales (‘ICAEW ’) has recently imposed a severe reprimand, a £5000 fine and £6,473 costs on a member who failed to cooperate with them during the investigation process. The tribunal found that the member failed to provide information, explanations and documents requested by the ICAEW Conduct Department, including anti-money laundering policies, share documentation, and other requested materials. It was decided this breached the ICAEW’s Investigation and Disciplinary Regulation 16.1.

This blog contains a Press Round-Up: Regulatory and Professional Discipline for December 2025.

A recent Deloitte Australia AI mishap underscores the risks of reliance on Generative AI tools and should be a warning light for accountants in light of new AI usage requirements in the ICAEW Code of Ethics.

There was a good deal of surprise last week when the government announced that lawyers, accountants and company service providers will in future be supervised by the FCA for money laundering purposes. 

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to its Audit Enforcement Procedure (AEP), aiming to introduce greater flexibility and proportionality in how audit concerns are addressed. Since its inception, the AEP has faced criticism, particularly from mid-tier firms, for its limited adaptability to cases of varying complexity and seriousness. These concerns have been especially pronounced among firms encouraged by the FRC to enter the Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit market to foster competition.

Here is the press round-up in the Regulatory and Professional Discipline sector covering the following dates: August and September 2025

The Joint Insolvency Committee, in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and the Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA), has approved and issued a revised Insolvency Code of Ethics. The updated Code took effect from 1 October 2025.

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) has introduced new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) requirements to the Actuaries’ Code and associated Guidance following a lengthy and wide-ranging consultation process with members, employers and other stakeholders.  

These revisions reflect a broader regulatory trend, mirroring developments at bodies such as the SRA and ICAEW, towards strengthening professional ethics and workplace culture, particularly in relation to the fair treatment of others.

The UK’s approach to counter terrorism preparedness has taken a significant step forward with the passing of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law).

Fire safety is not just a compliance issue—it is a matter of protecting lives, assets, and reputations. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), employers, landlords, and those in control of premises have a legal duty to ensure adequate fire safety measures are in place. Failure to comply can lead to severe legal and financial consequences, but more importantly, it puts people at unnecessary risk.