Pulse to launch white paper on GP fitness-to-practice investigations

Pulse and its publishers Cogora will be launching a white paper on the complaints system and fitness-to-practice investigations process at Pulse LIVE in Birmingham on 10 June.

The paper will look at the principles behind a good complaints process, the particular challenges faced by practices in implementing a constructive system and what commissioners can do to support them.

It will also look at how the threat of complaints escalating leads to defensive medicine from GPs, and how they are being given responsibility for the problems within the NHS as a whole.

There will be a panel event at Pulse LIVE chaired by report author and Pulse editor in chief Jaimie Kaffash, with panellists including the chair of the BMA’s GP Committee, Dr Katie Bramall, and representatives from Healthwatch and Medical Protection, who are supporting the paper.

The paper has been based on a survey of around 800 practices across the UK, interviews with more than 50 GPs and practice managers, alongside dozens of NHS datasets and freedom of information requests from ICBs.

This comes ahead of a Department of Health and Social Care review into the complaints system, which is it hoped this this paper will influence.

Mr Kaffash said: ‘The doctor-patient relationship has been affected by years of underfunding, and practices are facing the brunt of patients concerns about NHS-wide issues. There has – rightly – been a number of papers on looking at how the system should be reformed to give patients more of a voice.

‘This paper, which we are excited to launch at Pulse Live, will complement such reports, providing GPs and practice managers with a voice about how we can ensure a constructive system that benefits both practices and patients.’

The conference, which is free to attend for GPs and trainees, will also feature an on-stage talk with Dr Bramall as part of our Big Interview series.

Pulse editor Sofia Lind said: ‘The Big Interview with Dr Katie Bramall comes at a particularly important time as she is leading GPs in collective action in protest at 2026/27 contract changes. She is also due to embark on negotiation for a wholesale new GMS contract with the Government, which could be transformative for the profession.’

The full agenda for Pulse LIVE Birmingham is now live and will also cover a range of clinical topics including lipid management, vitiligo, chronic anxiety, asthma and more, worth up to 4 CPD points.

Discover our programme of free, CPD-accredited events – delivered face-to-face and online – designed to bring you practical clinical updates and expert-led sessions. Book your free place today and join us in person or virtually.