Professional Standards Agency: Guidance to help regulators use new powers to protect the public (24 June 2025)

Summary

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) has published guidance to help regulators make best use of the new powers they will gain when their legislation is reformed.  

This follows a renewed commitment from the UK Government to take forward reforms to the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and Care Professions Council. Reform of the remaining healthcare professional regulators is expected to follow. The changes are aimed at allowing regulators to be more agile and efficient in protecting the public.   

Content

The regulators will have new powers to use a less adversarial and quicker ‘accepted outcomes’ process for dealing with complaints about healthcare professionals. PSA accepted outcomes guidance: 

• provides pointers to help regulators decide when a case can be resolved without a public hearing
• advises on when a hearing might be needed to maintain public confidence and ensure a robust review of the evidence
• helps regulators decide who should make the final decision on a case when not referring it to a hearing
• helps regulators decide what information to include when publishing decisions.    

The regulators will also have new powers to make and amend the rules governing the way they regulate. The rulemaking guidance:  

• lays out principles to guide regulators to use their powers transparently, with appropriate consultation and in a way which prioritises public protection 
• encourages regulators to consider how their use of these powers aligns with the practice of other professional regulators, as appropriate.

Guidance for regulators on good practice in rulemaking (June 2025)

Report on the outcome of the consultation on good practice guidance to support regulatory reform (June 2025)

Guidance for regulators on using accepted outcomes in fitness to practise (June 2025)

PSA Accepted outcomes guidance project