The General Medical Council today launched a national poster campaign to raise awareness of new guidance for doctors that emphasises the importance of partnership with patients in delivering high quality care. The revised Good Medical Practice, which has been sent to 240,000 doctors nationwide, has been written following wide ranging consultation with doctors and patients. The posters will now be displayed in hospitals, clinics and GP practices across the country.

Professor Sir Graeme Catto, President of the General Medical Council, said:

''Patients trust doctors with their lives and wellbeing, and they need to have confidence that doctors are both clinically competent and abide by high ethical standards. The new Good Medical Practice shows how doctors must achieve this. It is the first time that the GMC has set out to get a poster in every GP surgery, hospital and clinic, which demonstrates our commitment to high standards of patient care. We've gone to great lengths to understand the views of patients and doctors and the renewed emphasis on partnership-working in the revised guidance is the result. Partnership-working is not a 'nice to have', it is the route to more effective, inclusive care. This launch also signals the start of a year-long programme of work with patient groups and the profession to embed the principles of Good Medical Practice in doctors' working lives."

Professor Martin Marshall, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said:

"Ensuring high standards in patient care is a national priority, reflecting the government's commitment to putting patients at the centre of healthcare improvements. Doctors play a crucial role in delivering quality, both in terms of a leadership role within teams, and in their face to face work directly with patients. I welcome this new guidance from the General Medical Council which affirms the duties and responsibilities of doctors for the well-being and dignity of their patients. I urge all general practices, clinics and hospitals to display the poster prominently so that patients are made aware of doctors' commitment to a partnership with them in relation to their care."

Rosie Newbigging, Executive Director of Nations, Regions and Services at Asthma UK, said:

"Asthma UK welcomes the new Good Medical Practice guidance. It will help patients to understand the standard of care they should expect from their doctor and places them at the heart of decisions about their treatment. The new guidance will also encourage doctors to recognise the individuality of each patient and support them in caring for themselves to improve and maintain their health."

Launch events are being held in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The London launch will be held at the brand new Evelina Children's Hospital, and will be chaired by Dr Edward Baker, Medical Director of the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Martin Marshall, will speak alongside Professor Sir Graeme Catto, President of the General Medical Council and the Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP, Chair of the House of Commons Health Select Committee. A patient perspective will be provided by Jane Wardle of the Guy's and St Thomas' Members' Council and Rosie Newbigging from Asthma UK.

The new Good Medical Practice guidance is the result of an intensive programme of consultation that has taken into consideration the views of doctors, patients and the general public. It offers guidance for doctors and patients on issues such as standards of care, good communication, relationships with patients and colleagues, probity, conscientious objection, responsibilities towards children and young people, and dealing with relatives, carers and partners.

At the heart of the revised guidance is a renewed commitment to partnership with patients when deciding diagnosis and treatment. Doctors want to work with patients and encourage them to learn more about their condition so they can make informed decisions about their own care.

The principles in the new Good Medical Practice guidance apply to all doctors, at all levels and will be a core part of the curriculum for medical students across the country. Serious or persistent failures to meet the standards outlined in the guidance will put doctors' registration with the GMC at risk.

The launch also includes a vastly improved web version of Good Medical Practice. The new version, available on the GMC's website www.gmc-uk, is designed to be easier to use and includes a range of new features to complement the guidance itself.

General Medical Council (UK)