GMC independent support
Have you raised concerns with the General Medical Council or are you a witness? If so, you’re able to access independent support.
We understand that you’re probably going through a difficult time. Whether you think you’d benefit from confidential and tailored support, or would prefer practical help and advice, our specially trained team would be happy to talk to you.
You can contact us any time – we’re open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Calls to this number is charged at local rates.
You can talk to us about how you’re feeling. This could be about an ongoing GMC investigation into concerns, or about events that gave rise to these concerns. Or you might want to talk to somebody about the impact these events have had on you. We can listen to you and guide you through a difficult time.
If it’s practical help and advice you’d like, we can talk you through options and suggestions to manage the situation and any impact on your life.
If we think another organisation may be able to offer you specialist support we can put you in contact with them. We have an extensive knowledge of support organisations to meet a range of needs.
Our service is free, independent, confidential and non-judgemental. We won’t share any information with the GMC (unless you want us to). Our focus is providing you the best possible support, help and advice.
We won’t know any specific details about the GMC’s investigation, unless you choose to share it with us. Your named GMC contact is the best person to speak to if you’ve got specific questions about the investigation.
We can support you if the GMC are investigating:
- a concern you’ve raised about a registrant, or
- you’re a witness in an ongoing GMC investigation, or
- you’re a close relative or friend of a patient whose care is being investigated
You can call us at any point, whether at the start or end of the GMC process, or at any point between.
Once the GMC’s process has concluded, we can support you with the outcome and to move forward for up to three months. This may include signposting you to other organisations for future ongoing support.
We can also support you for up to two telephone calls if you call us regarding a new concern that the GMC isn’t yet investigating, or a historic concern that they haven’t re-opened.
Depending on when you call, you may have to wait a minute or so for your call to be answered, but we aim for everyone who calls to be answered as quickly as possible.
A trained member of our dedicated team will answer the call and will ask you if you’ve heard the data protection message.
If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, you can contact us using Relay UK, putting 18001 ahead of the number you are calling.
If you would like help in another language during your contact with Victim Support, we are happy to arrange and pay for an interpreter to support you and answer any questions or concerns you have.
You don’t have to give your name or any personal information if you don’t want to.
The person you’re speaking to will ask you some questions to help clarify your experience. They won’t know about your case as they are independent. You can tell them in confidence what’s happened and, if you want to, talk through how you’re feeling.
If you’d like more information on how we can support you, please call us on 0300 303 3709. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm (excluding bank holidays).
If you call outside of these hours, you can access immediate support by a 24/7 call hander who will refer you to our specialist casework team who can make contact during working hours.
You don’t have to take up any support, we’d be happy to explain our service to you.
The GMC have a dedicated area of their website for witnesses, where they explain how they work with witnesses.
If you’d like to know more information or an update on the investigation, please call your named contact at the GMC. If you don’t have their details, please call their contact centre on 0161 923 6602.