Guidance available

Its ‘Principles of Raising Concerns’ can be downloaded from the GDC’s main website alongside a more detailed advice sheet which has a step by step guide about what to do.

This states:

"If you are worried about something dangerous or illegal affecting (or which could affect) other people, and are raising awareness of it in order to protect vulnerable individuals and so that others can deal with it, you are raising a concern. Raising a concern is different from making a complaint. When someone makes a complaint, they may be expected to prove their case. When you raise a concern, you should not be expected to prove the malpractice you are concerned about."

Key points

• Take immediate or prompt action
• Protect patient confidentiality
• Keep an accurate record of concerns and actions taken

Step by step guide

Stage 1 - Check your workplace’s policy
Stage 2 - Raise your concern internally
Stage 3 - Escalate your concern internally
Stage 4 - Escalate your concern to a regulator
Stage 5 - Raise or escalate your concern externally – going public