GMC reports mixed progress on its discrimination targets

There has been a reduction in disproportionate employer referrals of doctors from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and those who qualified outside the UK, according to a new report from the General Medical Council (GMC) that shows discrimination, racism, and unequal opportunities continue to affect doctors and medical students.

The latest figures show that 2.4% of employers have evidence of such disproportionality, down from 5.6% in the 2016-20 baseline period. This has been achieved, in part, through initiatives such as improved processes for employers’ referrals of doctors and the promotion of mentoring programmes to support doctors.

However, although fairness has improved in some areas of postgraduate specialty training, inequalities remain across key measures, including specialty exams and differences in new doctors’ preparedness for practice.

The GMC’s Fair to refer? research highlighted several systemic factors contributing to this disproportionality, including:

• Ineffective or delayed feedback, particularly for doctors in minority ethnic groups.
• Managers avoiding difficult conversations, especially across ethnic lines, allowing concerns to escalate unnecessarily.
• Inadequate induction and support for doctors new to the UK or NHS systems.
• Isolated or segregated roles with limited access to senior mentorship.
• Leadership cultures that are remote or inaccessible, reducing opportunities for challenge or support.
• Organisational responses that focus on blame rather than learning, creating heightened risks for doctors perceived as “outsiders”.

Black and ethnic minority medics now make up the majority of doctors working in the UK, and more than 40% of registered doctors are qualified overseas.

Ambition to eradicate discrimination by 2031

The GMC says tackling discrimination and unfairness is vital to retaining the skilled workforce needed to deliver safe, high-quality care, and has set a longer-term ambition to eradicate discrimination, disadvantage and unfairness in medical education and training by 2031. Progress towards this has been slower, and in its report the GMC says ‘continued system-wide action’ is still needed.

The report includes calls to action for governments, health system leaders, designated bodies, medical education providers and education and teaching leaders. They include prioritising equality, diversity and inclusion activity, developing and delivering anti-racism resources, and improving inductions for internationally qualified doctors recruited into the NHS.

GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey says: “These are long-standing and deep-rooted issues that can only be addressed by continued and concerted action. In the years since we set these challenging targets, we have seen tangible improvements, but there remains much more to do.

“There needs to be a redoubling of efforts to address lingering unfairness and inequality. For doctors to be able provide the best possible care for their patients, they must have supportive workplaces where they feel they belong, regardless of their background.”

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Pavilion Health Today. She has over 25 years of experience writing for medical journals and trade publications. Subjects include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, disability, insurance, stock market and emerging technologies.

See Full Bio