Press Round-Up: Regulatory and Professional Discipline – April and May 2025

GDC

GDC launches consultation on new Corporate Strategy to modernise regulation. On 29 May 2025, the GDC published their proposed corporate strategy 2026-2028, inviting responses from dental professionals, stakeholders and partners over the next three months on plans to transform dental regulation. For more information, see the proposed strategy here.

Titled ‘Trusted and Effective: A Strategy for Dental Regulation’, it proposes a new vision of "good oral health for all" and outlines how the GDC will modernise their approach to regulation over the next three years, with outcomes planned through to 2030.

On 7 May 2025, the GDC published their research into sexual misconduct in dentistry. The review highlighted that sexual misconduct is under-reported and there is a need for systemic change to occur. Researchers from the University of Manchester reviewed 23 eligible studies from across the globe. The prevalence of sexual misconduct in dentistry ranged from 5% to 48%, depending on the population and context reported in the studies. The review identified the need for immediate action to ensure that victims and witnesses have access to clear reporting pathways, and are reassured those pathways are safe, effective and supportive.

To read the report, click here.

 

GMC

On Friday 30 May 2025, the GMC released new guidance for regulator’s case examiners and key decision makers, to provide a framework for assessing whether concerns raised, may mean that a doctor may pose a risk to public protection.

On application of the framework, the case examiners and key decision makers should focus on three key questions when deciding whether information received should proceed to an investigation:

• What is the seriousness of the concern? Features that might increase the seriousness can include repeated behaviour, abuse of position or involving vulnerable individuals.
• What is the impact of any relevant context? For example, their working environment or personal circumstances.
• How has the doctor responded? Such as showing insight and remediation.

For the first time, a single set of core principles will be applied by all GMC fitness to practise decision makers.

The full updated guidance can be read here.

The government has confirmed in a ministerial statement that it plans to reform healthcare professional regulation within the UK in this parliamentary period. It is hoped that this will deliver greater flexibility, increase efficiency within fitness to practise processes, develop a less adversarial process and support registrants further as they navigate the GMC process. It is understood that the reform will begin with the GMC’s framework for doctors, before moving on to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Further information can be found here.

On 10 April 2025, the GMC announced the formal approval of 36 courses that teach physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs). It is the first time course providers have been subject to formal quality assurance by the regulator. In total, the GMC has approved 33 PA courses. Four of those – Bradford, Greater Manchester, Queen Mary University of London and Sheffield Hallam – have been approved with conditions, as a consequence of some concerns being identified during the approval process.

For further details see.

R. (on the application of British Medical Association) v General Medical Council EWHC 960 (Admin)

The BMA challenged two decisions of the GMC in its new role as regulator of the associate professions: the use of the term “medical professionals” as a collective descriptor to refer to doctors and associates (PAs and AAs); and the decision to produce a single set of guidance on professional standards, Good Medical Practice (“GMP”) which applies to both doctors and members of the associate professions.  

The judgment handed down by Mr Justice Lambert, dismissed the entirety of the BMA’s claim for judicial review.

 

GPhC

In April the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) issued a joint Enforcement Notice with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) making clear that adverts for named prescription-only medicines (POMs) for weight-management are prohibited.

The notice applies to adverts on platforms including social media (such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok), as well as influencer marketing which involve brands working with individuals who recommend products to their followers, and sponsored adverts that appear on search engines such as Google.

Advertisers are being warned that the ASA’s AI-based Advertising Monitoring system is being used to actively scan for ads that breach the Enforcement Notice.

For more information, see here.

On 9 April 2025, GPhC’s Chief Pharmacy Officer, Roz Gittins wrote to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy owners to draw attention to some emerging issues within the profession. 

The three key emerging issues were listed as:

1. Working with online prescribing services not regulated in the UK: The GPhC have recently taken statutory enforcement against some registered pharmacies supplying medicines that had been prescribed by prescribers working for unregulated online platforms.
2. Supply or administration of non-medicinal, unregulated products: concerns have been raised relating to non-medicinal, unregulated, unlicensed products, including ‘lemon bottle’ (a fat dissolving solution) and other products being used for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Concerns have been raised that these products have potentially caused serious harm.

If the pharmacy owner and/or Superintendent Pharmacist has chosen to offer an unlicensed, unregulated product for sale, it is their responsibility to make sure that they have sought assurances from the supplier and/or completed their own due diligence that the product(s) they provide are safe for patients and the public.

3. Providing complementary or alternative therapy services: It is understood that a small number of pharmacies are providing alternative therapy services, such as acupuncture and cupping to patients and members of the public. Pharmacy owners, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are expected to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge, skills, training and indemnity cover to provide these services, and that they can provide these services in an appropriate environment.

To see the full email, click here.

 

ARB

On 29 May 2025, the Architects Registration Board (ARB) published a comprehensive action plan to improve access to high-quality and relevant professional practical experience for architects, following recommendations made by the independent Professional Practical Experience Commission.

Key actions will include:

• Creating a co-ordinating role for learning providers, through a series of focus groups to define detailed requirements and responsibilities of the new role.
• Introduce a standardised Record of Competency (ROC) – setting minimum requirements for evidencing practical experience recorded through a new ROC. The format and implementation of the standardised record will be co-developed by representatives of learning providers.

The full publication can be read here.

 

SRA

The SRA have authorised the first AI-driven law firm. Garfield Law Ltd is the first purely AI-based firm authorised to provide regulated legal services in England and Wales.

Named regulated solicitors will still be accountable for the firm in delivering high professional standards, which means they are responsible for the system outputs and if anything goes wrong.

For further information, read here.

The SRA have updated their current position on their fining regime. An interim policy statement has been released which outlines some of the short and long term actions that will be taken.

ECCTA

The SRA have stated that they will be making some limited technical changes to the fining guidance relating to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, where they have power to impose unlimited fines.

Drink driving

Following their 2024 consultation, the SRA have decided to no longer issue financial penalties for drink driving, save for exceptional circumstances.

Using global turnover to set financial penalties for firms

Going forward the SRA will use domestic turnover as the basis for all firm fines where this is available, and global turnover will not be used due to the complexities involved. Decision makers are able to assess whether the indicative fine is a sufficient deterrent and may adjust it where felt necessary.

The interim policy statement can be found here.

 

FRC

On 30 May 2025, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) published its final report on the Company and Organisational Data Explorer (CODEx) project, marking the successful completion of this innovative initiative.

 

The 18-month project, led by the FRC and in collaboration with Companies House, the Financial Conduct Authority, The Charity Commission, and HMRC, has successfully delivered on its aim to find innovative and cost-effective ways of accessing and using structured accounting and reporting data in the UK.

More information on the CODEX report can be found here.

On 29 May 2025, the The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) issued a consultation on a proposed UK version of the International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000, “General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements”.

The consultation proposes ISSA (UK) 5000 for use on a voluntary basis by assurance providers. The FRC proposes alignment with the international standard in order to minimise burdens for firms carrying out assurance engagements across multiple jurisdictions.

Stakeholders are invited to comment until 31 July 2025 on the appropriate adoption of ISSA 5000 for the UK market by emailing AAT@frc.org.uk.

The consultation can be read here.

 

FCA

The FCA is leading an international crackdown on ‘fininfluencers’ using social media for illegal social media promotions.

In the UK, the FCA has:

• made 3 arrests with the support of the City of London Police (the National Lead Force for fraud)
• authorised criminal proceedings against 3 individuals
• invited 4 finfluencers for interview
• sent 7 cease and desist letters
• issued 50 warning alerts

You can read further about the crackdown here.

The Financial Conduct Authority have published a streamlined and updated enforcement guide.

You can read the updated enforcement guide here.

The FCA seeks views following publishing proposals for issuing stablecoins, crypto custody and financial resilience of cryptoasset firms, to support a safe, competitive sector.

The FCA will work closely with the Bank of England on the upcoming regime to ensure a clear pathway in regulation for stablecoins.

The deadline for feedback is 31 July 2025.

The proposals can be read here and here.