New figures from the UK’s governing body, the General Medical Council, show that the number of concerns raised with it has increased in recent years.
While this is primarily due to more concerns being raised by members of the public, the Royal College of Surgeons of England has expressed alarm that sexual misconduct cases have accounted for more than 40% of GMC appeals since 2016.
This exceeded any other single category.
Responding to the General Medical Council's (GMC) 'Concerns about Fitness to Practise Annual Statistical Report 2025’, Mr Tim Lane, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said: ‘Sexual misconduct has no place in healthcare. The fact that sexual misconduct cases have accounted for more than 40% of GMC appeals since 2016, more than any other single category of concern, demonstrates the seriousness of this issue and the need for continued action across the healthcare system. Greater transparency is an important step towards improving accountability and public confidence.’
Welcoming the progress that has been made, he acknowledged that the figures are ‘unlikely to reflect the full scale of the problem’.
‘Many people remain reluctant to report sexual misconduct because of concerns about career repercussions, power imbalances, and a lack of confidence in existing processes. We are calling on the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to establish a national, independent and anonymous reporting mechanism for NHS staff. This must be trauma-informed and impartial, enabling staff to report sexual misconduct without fear of retaliation or bias.’
In September 2025, a review of medical practitioner tribunals involving sexual misconduct suggested that while current GMC and Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service guidance rightly deems sexual misconduct serious, inconsistent sanctions lack deterrent value and fall short of professional and public ethical standards.
Published by The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the recommendations included:
Adopting a research-informed specialist investigative practice for rape and sexual offences, mirroring the processes outlined by the police force initiative Operation Soteria
Adopting the 3Cs (Clumsy, Creepy, Criminal) model. This model for categorising the severity of sexual misconduct in the South East Coast Ambulance Service resulted in a clearer focus for disciplinary sanctions
Ascribing less weight to mitigating factors such as expressions of remorse, demonstration of insight, and character references
A proposal to weight aggravating factors, including abuse of power, recurrent behaviours, multiple targets, conduct during or before patient care, grooming, manipulation or coercion, and other misconduct.
Additionally, RCS England’s Turning the Tide Report called for a more trauma-informed approach to handling sexual misconduct cases, better support for individuals involved in proceedings, and greater transparency in the data.
