General Medical Council MPs poll - January 2021 - GMC
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General Medical Council MPs poll - January 2021
Methodology
Quantitative
100 x Members of the House of Commons
72 x Members of the House of Lords
Who?
47 x Members of Devolved Assemblies
(14 x MLAs, 20 x MSPs, 13 x MSs)
What? 10 minute online survey
When? 8th – 31st January 2021Regional definitions
- This report uses regional data as an analysis variable. These regions are made up of different
audiences and parts of the UK, and definitions for each can be seen below:
- London: MPs representing London constituencies
- Midlands: MPs representing constituencies in the East and West Midlands
- North England: MPs representing constituencies in Yorkshire & the Humber, North East, and North West of England
- Northern Ireland: MPs representing Northern Ireland constituencies and Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Scotland: MPs representing Scottish constituencies and Members of Scottish Parliament
- South and East of England: MPs representing constituencies in the South West, South East, and East of England
- Wales: MPs representing Welsh constituencies and Members of the Welsh AssemblyAs in 2020, the vast majority of all audiences are confident in the way doctors are
regulated by the GMC
There is a rise in confidence among MPs and Lords, although a drop among Devolved respondents. This Devolved drop is partly
explained by an increase in ‘don’t know’, suggesting a lack of familiarity
How confident, if at all, are you in the way that doctors are regulated by the General Medical Council?
Change in
confidence
Total
Total 86% 8% 6% +1%
MP 87% 6% 7% +5%
Lords 87% 11% 2% +5%
Devolved 82% 9% 9% -14%
Net: Confident Net: Not confident Don't know
Base: All respondents (219); MPs (100), Lords (72), Devolved (47)The vast majority of respondents from all parties are confident in the way the
GMC regulates doctors, with over nine-tenths of Labour respondents confident
How confident, if at all, are you in the way that doctors are regulated by the General Medical Council?
Change in
confidence
Conservative 82% 11% 7% -1%
Labour 93% 1% 6% +10%
Other 84% 11% 4% -5%
Net: Confident Net: Not confident Don't know
Base: All Conservatives (66), Labour (74), Other (79)
NB Numbers are made up of respondents from all political groupsAll respondents in Wales are confident in how the GMC regulates doctors, and over nine-tenths in
North England and Scotland are confident
The lowest confidence can be seen from politicians in Northern Ireland and the Midlands which have both dropped significantly since last year.
This drop explained by an increase in respondents saying ‘Don’t know’ and that they are not confident.
How confident, if at all, are you in the way that doctors are regulated by the General Medical Council?
Change in
confidence
Wales 100% +3%
North England 96% 4% +8%
Scotland 93% 7% -3%
South and East of England 86% 10% 4% +23%
London* 84% 16% -4%
Midlands* 65% 10% 24% -29%
Northern Ireland 60% 27% 13% -29%
Net: Confident Net: Not confident Don't know * Low base size
Base: All respondents representing: South and East England (22), London (16), North England (23), Midlands (9), Northern Ireland (19), Wales (22), Scotland (36)
N.B. Numbers for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales include responses from both MPs and Devolved AssembliesAll Scottish MPs, Welsh MPs, and Members of the Senedd are confident in how doctors are
regulated by the GMC, but confidence among MLAs is much lower
Among MLAs we see an increase in respondents both disagreeing and saying ‘Don’t know’ to this question
How confident, if at all, are you in the way that doctors are regulated by the General Medical Council?
Change in
confidence
Scotland MP 100% +11%
Wales MP* 100% 0%
MS* 100% +6%
MSP 90% 10% -10%
England 85% 7% 8% +5%
NI MP* 82% 18% +1%
MLA* 57% 29% 14% -33%
Net: Confident Net: Not confident Don't know * Low base size
Base: All Members of Scottish Parliament (20), Members of the Senedd Cymru (13), Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (14), Members of Parliament for England (70), Northern Ireland (5), Wales
(9), Scotland (16)Those confident in the GMC’s regulation believe that the GMC looks out for the interest of both
patients and doctors, and that they generally trust regulators.
Lords are most likely to say they trust regulators in general, whereas MPs and Devolved respondents are most likely to believe
the GMC looks out for the interests of patients and doctors.
You said you are confident in the way doctors are regulated by the GMC. Why do you say this? (prompted)
MPs Lords Devolved
I believe the GMC looks out for the interests of both patients and doctors 37% 41% 27% 45%
I generally tend to trust regulators/authorities 37% 40% 30% 40%
From what I have read in the newspapers 20% 18% 24% 16%
From professional experience 17% 14% 18% 23%
From personal/family experience 17% 15% 19% 15%
From what I have seen/heard on TV/radio 15% 15% 11% 22%
It is clear what processes the GMC uses 10% 8% 10% 16%
Word-of-mouth/what someone else told me 9% 7% 13% 7%
I have undertaken a particular piece of casework on behalf of a constituent and
9% 10% - 20%
were happy with the outcome
Other 3%
Prefer not to say 0%
Don't know 3%
Base: All confident in the GMC (192); MPs (90), Lords (63), Devolved (39)Compared to last year, there is a big rise (+10%) in respondents trusting the GMC
due to a general trust in regulators
You said you are confident in the way doctors are regulated by the GMC. Why do you say this? (prompted)
I believe the GMC looks out for the interests of both patients and doctors 39%
37%
I generally tend to trust regulators/authorities 27%
37%
From what I have read in the newspapers 17%
20%
From professional experience 17%
17%
From personal/family experience 19%
17%
From what I have seen/heard on TV/radio 18%
15%
It is clear what processes the GMC uses 13%
10%
Word-of-mouth/what someone else told me 12%
9%
I have undertaken a particular piece of casework on behalf of a constituent and were happy with the outcome 2%
9%
Other 3%
3%
Prefer not to say 0%
0%
Don't know 2%
3%
2020 2021
Base: All confident in the GMC (192); MPs (90), Lords (63), Devolved (39)Labour politicians are most likely to have confidence in the GMC’s regulation because they believe
that the GMC looks out for the interests of both patients and doctors, while Conservative and
politicians from other parties have a general trust in regulators
You said you are confident in the way doctors are regulated by the GMC. Why do you say this? (prompted)
43%
I generally tend to trust regulators/authorities 25%
39%
32%
I believe the GMC looks out for the interests of both patients and doctors 45%
36%
22%
From what I have read in the newspapers 13%
22%
17%
From what I have seen/heard on TV/radio 14%
13%
16%
From personal/family experience 13% Conservative
20%
Labour
15%
From professional experience 21% Other
17%
8%
Word-of-mouth/what someone else told me 10%
9%
I have undertaken a particular piece of casework on behalf of a constituent and were 4%
16%
happy with the outcome 7%
1%
It is clear what processes the GMC uses 20%
11%
3%
Other 0%
4%
Base: All Conservatives (55), Labour (69), Other (68)
NB Numbers are made up of respondents from all political groupsThe picture is fairly consistent across the assemblies and Westminster, with a belief that the GMC
looks out for the interest of patients and doctors, and a general trust of regulators the main drivers
of confidence in the GMC
You said you are confident in the way doctors are regulated by the GMC. Why do you say this? (prompted)
England Scotland
Total MSP* MS* MLA* NI MP* Wales MP*
MP MP*
I believe the GMC looks out for the interests of both patients and doctors 37% 39% 62% 38% 40% - 60% 44%
I generally tend to trust regulators/authorities 37% 50% 23% 38% 41% 57% 22% 43%
From what I have read in the newspapers 20% 28% 8% - 17% - 22% 19%
From professional experience 17% 22% 23% 25% 14% 21% 30% 6%
From personal/family experience 17% 6% 15% 38% 15% 21% 12% 19%
From what I have seen/heard on TV/radio 15% 39% 8% - 13% - 33% 20%
It is clear what processes the GMC uses 10% - 38% 25% 6% - 12% 23%
Word-of-mouth/what someone else told me 9% 6% 15% - 7% - 8% 13%
I have undertaken a particular piece of casework on behalf of a constituent and were happy 9% 11% 23% 38% 12% - - 4%
Other 3% - - - 3% 21% - 6%
Don't know 3% - - - 6% - - 6%
Base 192 18* 13* 8* 61 4* 9* 16*
* Low base sizeAs seen in 2020, the small number (n=16) who are not confident in the GMC are most likely to say
so because they think the GMC represents the interests of doctors and not those of patients
You said you are not confident in the way doctors are regulated by the GMC. Why do you say this? (prompted)
I believe the GMC looks out for doctors' interests, not the patient's 62%
I don't tend to trust regulators/authorities in general 29%
It is not clear what processes the GMC uses 28%
From personal/family experience 25%
From professional experience 15%
Word-of-mouth/what someone else told me 15%
I have undertaken a particular piece of casework on behalf of a
constituent and were unhappy with the outcome 15%
I believe the GMC looks out for patients' interests, not the doctor's 0%
From what I have seen/heard on TV/radio 0%
From what I have read in the newspapers 0%
Base: All not confident in the GMC (16)
* NB audiences not reported due to low base sizeThe role respondents most associate with the GMC is the provision of ethical and professional
guidance for the medical profession, followed by the investigation and acting on of concerns about
doctors
Which of the following roles and responsibilities, if any, do you associate with the GMC? (prompted)
MPs Lords Devolved
Provides ethical and professional guidance for the medical profession 67% 65% 80% 53%
Investigates and acts on concerns about doctors 66% 56% 74% 74%
Determines who can practise medicine in the UK 63% 60% 70% 58%
Sets the standards for medical practice in the UK 62% 58% 70% 58%
Makes sure doctors keep their knowledge and skills up to date 52% 51% 59% 45%
Serves as an independent membership body for doctors 45% 43% 46% 48%
Sets the standards for medical education and training in the UK 43% 37% 54% 41%
Helps patients to raise concerns about doctors' practise 35% 33% 39% 34%
Campaigns on issues that are important to doctors 35% 33% 39% 33%
Independent of government and accountable to parliament 33% 26% 41% 35%
Helps doctors to raise concerns about patient safety 27% 26% 27% 29%
Campaigns on issues that are important to patients 13% 12% 17% 9%
Other 1%
Don't know 5%
Base: All respondents (219); MPs (100), Lords (72), Devolved (47)The biggest changes in association since last year’s research are an increase in ensuring doctors
keep their knowledge and skills up to date (+11%) and being independent of government (+6%)
There are no large drops in association; provision of ethical guidance has dropped slightly (-3%), but remains the top
association
Which of the following roles and responsibilities, if any, do you associate with the GMC? (prompted)
Provides ethical and professional guidance for the medical profession 70%
67%
Investigates and acts on concerns about doctors 66%
66%
Determines who can practise medicine in the UK 60%
63%
Sets the standards for medical practice in the UK 61%
62%
Makes sure doctors keep their knowledge and skills up to date 41%
52%
Serves as an independent membership body for doctors 43%
45%
Sets the standards for medical education and training in the UK 45%
43%
Helps patients to raise concerns about doctors' practise 33%
35%
Campaigns on issues that are important to doctors 37%
35%
Independent of government and accountable to parliament 27%
33%
Helps doctors to raise concerns about patient safety 28%
27%
Campaigns on issues that are important to patients 10%
13%
Other 2%
1%
Don't know 6%
5%
2020 2021
Base: All 2020 respondents (212), all 2021 respondents (219)Half of respondents from the Devolved Assemblies agree that the GMC’s approach to regulation
responds to the needs of the individual parts of the UK
There is at least a 10% increase in agreement among both Devolved and MP respondents, although there is a drop in
agreement among Lords
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "The GMC's approach to regulation anticipates and
responds to the needs of the individual parts of the UK."
Change in
agreement
Total
Total 41% 32% 9% 18% +6%
MPs 41% 33% 8% 18% +13%
Lords 35% 36% 11% 17% -8%
Devolved 52% 24% 6% 18% +10%
Net: Agree Neutral Net: Disagree Don’t know
Base: All respondents (219); MPs (100), Lords (72), Devolved (47)When analysing by party, a third of Conservatives believe the GMC’s regulation respondents to the
needs of the individual parts of the UK. There is a big increase in agreement among Labour
politicians, where almost half agree
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "The GMC's approach to regulation anticipates and
responds to the needs of the individual parts of the UK."
Change in
agreement
Conservative 32% 41% 10% 17% +1%
Labour 46% 26% 4% 24% +16%
Other 49% 26% 11% 13% -4%
Net: Agree Neither agree nor disagree Net: Disagree Don't know
Base: All Conservatives (66), Labour (74), Other (79)
NB Numbers are made up of respondents from all political groupsWhen looking by region, we generally see an improvement in agreement, particularly among those
in Scotland and London
A drop in agreement among Northern Irish respondents can be explained by a big increase in ‘Don’t know’ responses. No
region has more respondents disagreeing than agreeing
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "The GMC's approach to regulation anticipates and
responds to the needs of the individual parts of the UK."
Change in
agreement
London* 64% 13% 7% 17% +24%
Scotland 59% 19% 4% 18% +23%
Northern Ireland 52% 13% 16% 19% -6%
North England 44% 35% 5% 17% +18%
Wales 41% 34% 20% 5% -2%
South and East of England 33% 38% 6% 23% +18%
Midlands* 21% 55% 0% 24% -2%
Net: Agree Neither agree nor disagree Net: Disagree Don't know * Low base size
Base: All respondents representing: South and East England (22), London (16), North England (23), Midlands (9), Northern Ireland (19), Wales (22), Scotland (36)
N.B. Numbers for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales include responses from both MPs and Devolved AssembliesNorthern Ireland MPs are most likely to agree that the GMC’s approach responds to the needs of
the individual parts of the UK, although there is considerable disagreement. MSPs are the only
audience not to disagree with this statement
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "The GMC's approach to regulation anticipates and
responds to the needs of the individual parts of the UK."
Change in
agreement
NI MP* 65% 35% +25%
MSP 60% 20% 20% +29%
Scotland MP* 58% 18% 13% 12% +11%
MLA* 50% 14% 14% 21% -10%
Wales MP* 45% 15% 40% -5%
MS* 38% 46% 8% 8% -1%
England 38% 37% 5% 20% +15%
Net: Agree Neither agree nor disagree Net: Disagree Don't know * Low base size
Base: All Members of Scottish Parliament (20), Members of the Senedd Cymru (13), Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (14), Members of Parliament for England (70), Northern Ireland (5), Wales
(9), Scotland (16)Awareness of why the GMC is calling for legislative reform is generally low, with
two-fifths knowing nothing at all. Those in the Devolved Assemblies have the
highest awareness
As you may or may not know, the GMC is currently calling for legislative reform. How much, if anything, do you know about
why they are doing this?
Change in
‘A great deal’
Total
Total 6% 53% 40% -1%
MP 7% 52% 41% 0%
Lords 4% 58% 38% -3%
Devolved 2% 8% 49% 41% -2%
A great deal A fair amount Not a lot Nothing at all
Base: All respondents (219); MPs (100), Lords (72), Devolved (47)Two-thirds of respondents say they do not know what effect the proposed reforms would have on the medical
workforce
Those who do have a view though are most likely to say the effect will be positive. An increase in respondents saying ‘Don’t know’ explains the drop in positivity for
Lords. While fewer Devolved respondents know a great deal about the reforms, general awareness is higher, which corresponds with a sizeable increase in positivity
towards the proposed reforms
What is your understanding of the effect these reforms would have on the medical workforce?
Change in
positivity
Total
Total 24% 8% 2% 66% -3%
MPs 14% 14% 5% 67% -6%
Lords 33% 5% 63% -13%
Devolved 29% 71% +14%
Net: Positive No tangible effect Net: Negative Don't know
Base: All respondents with some awareness of proposed reform (136); MPs (62), Lords (46), Devolved (28)Three-quarters of Devolved respondents and two-thirds of MPs have done work
on behalf of their constituents regarding complaints against the medical
profession
Have you ever done any work on behalf of your constituents regarding complaints against the medical profession?
69% 67%
75%
Yes
No
Don’t know
20% 22%
15%
11% 11% 10%
Total MPs Devolved
Total
2020 67% 63% 76%
Base: All MPs and Devolved (147); MPs (100), Devolved (47)
*NB question not asked of LordsTwo-fifths of Lords surveyed have done work regarding complaints against the
medical profession
Have you ever done any work regarding complaints against the medical profession?
40% (36% in 2020)
Yes
No
Don’t know
53%
7%
Base: All Lords (72)
*NB this wording was only asked of Lords due to Members of the House of Lords not having constituentsAround a third of MPs and Devolved respondents that have dealt with complaints
against the medical profession contacted the GMC as part of the work
Only a tenth of Lords say the same, however
Did you contact the GMC as part of this work?
12%
28% 33% 31%
Yes
71%
No
57% 48%
Don’t know 63%
15% 19% 17%
6%
Total MPs Lords Devolved
Total
2020 23% 27% 15% 21%
Base: All that have dealt with complaints against medical profession (133); MPs (69), Lords (29), Devolved (35)Around a third of both MPs and Devolved respondents have had contact with the
GMC in the past 12 months
The vast majority of Lords have had no contact, however
For which, if any, of the following reasons have you had contact with the GMC in the past 12 months?
87%
Net: Any contact
MPs = 34% (22% in 2020) 73%
Lords = 13% (8% in 2020) 66% 68%
Devolved = 32% (18% in 2020)
24% 22%
17%
11%
5% 4% 3% 4% 4% 6% 4% 5% 4%
1% 2% 3%
Casework Committee work Preparation for a debate Other N/A – I have had no contact with
the GMC in the past 12 months
Total MP Lords Devolved
Base: All respondents (219); MPs (100), Lords (72), Devolved (47)Casework is the main reason for contact among all sub-groups except those in the House of Lords,
who are most likely to have done so in preparation for a debate
For which, if any, of the following reasons have you had contact with the GMC in the past 12 months?
S&E North Scotland
Total MPs Lords Devolved London Midlands MSP MS* MLA* England MP NI MP* Wales MP*
England England MP*
Casework 17% 24% 5% 22% 16% 23% 21% 43% 20% 15% 29% 24% 18% 36% 17%
Preparation for a debate 4% 4% 6% 2% - 5% 4% - 5% - - 2% 18% 12% 13%
Committee work 4% 3% 1% 11% 4% - 8% - 10% 8% 14% 4% - - -
Other 4% 5% 3% 4% 15% - - - 5% 8% - 5% - - -
N/A 73% 66% 87% 68% 65% 72% 67% 57% 70% 69% 64% 65% 82% 52% 77%
Base 219 100 72 47 22 16 23 9 18 13 8 61 4 9 16Around two-fifths of respondents agree the GMC is focusing on the right issues as
a regulator, with very low levels of disagreement
This is consistent across each of the different political audiences
To what extent do you agree or disagree that the GMC is focusing on the right issues as a regulator?
Change in
agreement
Total
Total 38% 28% 7% 28% +1%
MPs 38% 31% 7% 24% +14%
Lords 36% 22% 9% 32% -14%
Devolved 38% 30% 2% 29% -13%
Net: Agree Neutral Net: Disagree Don’t know
Base: All respondents (219); MPs (100), Lords (72), Devolved (47)Respondents from all parties are more significantly more likely to agree the GMC is focusing on the
right issues as a regular than disagree
There is a big increase in agreement among Labour respondents, but a big drop in those from other parties, which see an
increase in both disagreement and ‘Don’t know’ responses
To what extent do you agree or disagree that the GMC is focusing on the right issues as a regulator?
Change in
agreement
Conservative 30% 31% 10% 28% +2%
Labour 48% 26% 1% 25% +16%
Other 38% 26% 7% 29% -21%
Net: Agree Neither agree nor disagree Net: Disagree Don't know
Base: All Conservatives (66), Labour (74), Other (79)
NB Numbers are made up of respondents from all political groupsOver half of Welsh respondents now agree the GMC is focussing on the right issues. There are also big
increases in agreement among respondents in London, Northern England, and Southern England
Agreement among Northern Irish respondents has dropped by half, with significantly higher levels of respondents saying they disagree or ‘Don’t
know’
To what extent do you agree or disagree that the GMC is focusing on the right issues as a regulator?
Change in
agreement
Wales 54% 41% 5% +20%
London* 48% 17% 7% 28% +30%
North England 46% 25% 10% 19% +24%
Northern Ireland 36% 27% 8% 29% -35%
Scotland 35% 26% 2% 37% -7%
South and East of England 35% 28% 10% 28% +15%
Midlands* 19% 57% 24% -4%
Net: Agree Neither agree nor disagree Net: Disagree Don't know * Low base size
Base: All respondents representing: South and East England (22), London (16), North England (23), Midlands (9), Northern Ireland (19), Wales (22), Scotland (36)
N.B. Numbers for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales include responses from both MPs and Devolved AssembliesWelsh MPs are the group most likely to agree that the GMC is focusing on the right issues as a
regulator. Northern Irish MPs are most likely to disagree
To what extent do you agree or disagree that the GMC is focusing on the right issues as a regulator?
Change in
agreement
Wales MP* 80% 20% +52%
MSP 40% 20% 40% -4%
MS* 38% 54% 8% -1%
England 37% 31% 8% 24% +16%
MLA* 36% 29% 7% 29% -34%
NI MP* 35% 18% 18% 29% -46%
Scotland MP* 23% 39% 6% 31% -16%
Net: Agree Neither agree nor disagree Net: Disagree Don't know * Low base size
Base: All Members of Scottish Parliament (20), Members of the Senedd Cymru (13), Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (14), Members of Parliament for England (70), Northern Ireland (5), Wales
(9), Scotland (16)A fifth of MPs are aware of the GMC’s dedicated parliamentary correspondence
channel, and a tenth of Lords are aware
Are you aware of the GMC's dedicated parliamentary representative only correspondence channel (a dedicated mailing list
for MPs and Lords)?
11% 6% 10%
22%
66% 84%
Base: All MPs (100), Lords (72)
NB: Question was not asked in 2020Suggestions on improving the relationship between the Devolved Assemblies
mainly revolves around engaging with members beyond those on the Health
Committees, and offering more briefings
How do you feel that the relationship between parliament/assembly/Scottish parliament and the GMC could be improved
over the next 12 months?
“I am not really aware of any relationship between the Scottish Parliament and the “There have been a series of high profile, clinical governance issues in the H&SC Trusts in
GMC. I assume the Health Committee will have some relationship. Maybe after the NI, it would be useful to understand what they are doing to facilitate, investigate, etc.”
elections the GMC could provide a briefing.” Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Member of Scottish Parliament
“More contact and briefings. I am aware of BMA briefings but not GMC. I'd like to know “Streamline and focus communications to online the top line issues that are a priority for
more about what they do and how they make a difference.” us and them.”
Member of the Welsh Parliament Member of Scottish Parliament
“Better communication to all MLAs, rather than just Health Committee/Executive “Short and easily digestible briefings.”
members.” Member of the Welsh Parliament
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
“I feel that the GMC has to be more pro-active in contacting MSPs regarding upcoming
“More understanding of why the GMC takes a particular view on a given issue rather
work and/or plans.”
than simply stating the position.”
Member of Scottish Parliament
Member of the Welsh Parliament
“I presume there is a relationship with the Health Committee, but not aware of the “More regular briefings (post Covid) and updates for members, including those not on
wider work of the GMC in relation to the Scottish Parliament.” the Health Committee.”
Member of Scottish Parliament Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
“Share information outside the Health Committee to other MLAs.” “Virtual briefings on a periodic basis.”
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly Member of the Welsh Parliament
Base: All Devolved Assemblies (47)The best panel, the best data, the best tools
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