GMC to provide new guidance on child protection

15 July 2010

A WORKING group has been set up to produce new guidance for doctors involved in child protection.

The GMC has announced that Rt Hon Lord Justice Thorpe, the deputy chair of the Family Justice Council and Lord Justice of Appeal, will chair the group. The council revealed he will work with doctors from six specialties as well as seven lay members to produce the latest guidance on this “complex and challenging area of practice”.

The 14-strong working group will take into account current GMC guidance and consider significant developments regarding doctors’ roles in child protection. Members will also consider any relevant guidelines published by other organisations on the issue and consult with a range of experts.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the General Medical Council, said: “Providing doctors who work in child protection with guidance that will help them in their day to day work is vital. We need to build confidence in what will always be a difficult area of practice. The working group’s members come from different perspectives but they are all committed to developing clear guidance for doctors which will promote good practice and benefit vulnerable children”.

The new guidance will complement and support existing GMC guidance which covers child protection issues, including 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors, Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together and Confidentiality.

The guidance is due to be published by the end of 2011.