Dr Sarah Jacques and Dr Steve Taylor will continue as DAUK’s GP co-leads.

Dr Shonelly Novintan is DAUK’s learn Not Blame lead, Dr Matt Lee is sustainability lead and Dr Victoria Zaslona is SAS lead.

DAUK would like to express our profound thanks to Dr Ellen Welch, who has taken a step back from her role as vice chair but will continue to work on DAUK’s committee, and to Dr Pusho Hossain, for her incredible work as IMG lead, which included being the driving force behind the Overseas NHS Workers’ Day.

The AGM heard a round-up of some of DAUK’s work and achievements.

General practice

It’s been an incredibly busy year for the GP committee at a time when general practice is facing unprecedented pressures.

We continue to campaign and highlight the issues facing general practice from the GP contract to employment opportunities, from funding to collective action.

The ‘Your GP, Here For You’ campaign called for a contract that puts patients at the centre of care. It has provided a positive vision for general practice through continuity of care and sustainable funding.

The GP team lobbied the government over the GP contract with a letter to the health secretary signed by hundreds of GPs and patients.

More recently, co-leads Dr Steve Taylor and Dr Sarah Jacques wrote to the health secretary calling for action to improve patient safety following coroners’ findings into the deaths of two children has made headlines in medical news media.

They have represented DAUK at pharmacy events and conferences, building relationships across healthcare while advocating for greater investment in primary care.

The GP committee is an increasingly influential voice in national discussions, providing constructive policy solutions.

Members contribute extensively to the national media and professional publications, while continuing to engage directly with politicians and policymakers.

Fit Note policy

The GMC

We continue to hold the GMC to account.

We have been a leading opponent of government proposals to retain and expand the General Medical Council’s power to appeal Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service decisions.

Working alongside thirteen other medical organisations, we wrote to health minister Karin Smyth to reconsider the proposals, arguing they undermine confidence in independent regulation.

Physician associates

We continue to highlight the roles of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) and contribute to national discourse.

We have given strong support to Anaesthetists United’s (AU) high-profile legal challenge and expressed our ‘extreme disappointment’ at the High Court dismissing a judicial review of the GMC’s regulation of the roles.

Climate and health

The climate crisis has become an increasingly important patient safety issue.

During June’s heatwave, we surveyed healthcare professionals across the NHS, documenting unsafe temperatures affecting staff and patients.

We shared initial findings and the full report with the media, which attracted extensive national coverage.

We shared the findings with government and called for climate resilience to become a national health priority and for practical investment in NHS infrastructure to protect patients and staff during increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

We’ve collaborated with the National Emergency Briefing on its climate crisis film. We attended the original screening at Westminster, held our own online showing, and encouraged doctors to host one in their healthcare settings.

Our health, Our Planet celebrated its first birthday. It was accessed by more than 3,500 users from more than 80 countries in the first 12 months.

Medical students

Medical student members responded with force to then health secretary Wes Streeting’s comments that doctors were ‘moaning minnies’ and ‘juvenile delinquents’.
DAUK backed a complaint to the prime minister and medical students took to our website to make their voices heard.

We continue to raise the issue of bottlenecks in training and issues around placeholder roles.

Indeed, blogs by our medical students on the issue of bottlenecks in specialty training was referenced in a House of Lords briefing ahead of a debate on government plans for resident doctor training posts.

We backed the Times and Sunday Times campaign End the Graduate Rip-Off, which demands urgent reform of the student loan system in England and Wales.

Dr Taylor spoke to the Times for their campaign article highlighting the burden of student debt on medics, blogged on the issue, and was vocal on social media.

Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill

We responded to the publication of the Medical Training Bill by recognising the pressure on medical training and employment in the NHS.

Our response said that the shortage of training opportunities was  the direct result of poor workforce planning by successive governments, despite our repeated warnings. We also questioned the fairness of changing prioritisation criteria midway through the process.

A fair and effective workforce strategy must be based on long-term planning, expansion of training posts, and policies that treat doctors with consistency and respect, we said.

Palantir and patient data

Over the past year, DAUK has remained a leading clinical voice advocating for the safe and ethical use of patient data.

Led by Dr David Nicholl, we have continued our long-standing opposition to Palantir’s involvement in the Federated Data Platform with Our Data, Our NHS campaign.

Working alongside Foxglove and other campaign groups, we argue Palantir’s involvement erodes public trust and does not provide value for money.

Dr Nicholl has highlighted the issue in national newspapers and radio interviews, and hosted a briefing in Westminster for MPs.

Last month we welcomed the publication of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report.

It raised significant concerns about the growing role of Palantir in public services and the NHS.

NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day

Working with the Medical Women’s Federation, we launched the first NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day in December.

An incredible amount of work went into it from Dr Ellen Welch and Dr Jacques with medical organisations across the country, including the BMA, getting involved.

Healthcare workers shared their powerful stories in the media, in particular the BMJ, and Dr Welch and Dr Jacques explored issues around domestic abuse on a podcast.

Not The NHS Again!

Dr Taylor, in collaboration with Keep Our NHS Public, has launched the Not The NHS Again! Podcast.

The podcast dives deep into the issues facing the NHS, healthcare workers, and patients.

Released on Spotify and YouTube every Friday, it features discussions with campaigners and healthcare experts.

Media

DAUK and our committee members continue to be seen by journalists as trusted sources and authoritative voices to comment on issues.

In the week before the AGM alone, our work surveying healthcare workers about conditions in the heatwave has been covered in the national press, healthcare publications, and national TV.

We regularly contribute to articles and broadcasts, and provide briefings and background material to journalists.

We are proactive in putting out comment on issues on our website and social media, and sending directly to journalists.

And we are quick to respond to requests, with someone being available to speak to a journalist in the majority of cases.

Our GP co-lead Dr Taylor in particular is incredibly active providing comment to general practice publications on GP-related issues.

The DAUK website a document of record and is regularly updated with news, campaigns, activities, and statements.

Social media

We have a strong social media presence which is really helped by how active our committee members are.

Dr Taylor is particularly active on X and helps to amplify our messaging and Dr Ellen Welch really pushes Instagram.

It’s important that our social media is accessed by our committee members, which gives it an authentic and authoritative voice.

Substack

Our Substack offers a vehicle for committee members to blog on issues that interest and affect them. It has also allowed us to repurpose previous blogs and share on social media, and has led to wider discussions and interviews in traditional media.

Collaborative leadership

A great strength of DAUK is our willingness to work collaboratively.

It is a theme that runs through this report, from supporting AU with financial contributions to members invited to present at conferences and events.

Our work on the Federated Data Platform, whistleblowing, the NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day, the climate crisis, and the GMC’s powers of appeal, are illustrations of how this collaborative approach has significantly amplified our voice and influence.

And we’ll be continuing that later this year with a joint conference with Doctors For The NHS in York in October.

Skills for Health, a not-for-profit organisation committed to the development of an improved and sustainable UK healthcare workforce, is running a survey on how AI is being adopted across healthcare.

It aims to understand what is working well, where there are challenges, and what support staff need.

The survey is voluntary and should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Responses are treated in confidence.

Take part in the survey.

We are a non-profit campaigning and lobbying organisation led by frontline doctors, for frontline doctors. We are volunteers and our collective aim is to give frontline workers a voice to be heard.

Please support our work by contributing to our crowd funder.

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Suspension

The High Court has now extended Mr Gilbert’s suspension to 12 months following a successful appeal brought by the (PSA) and the General Medical Council (GMC). The case drew national media attention due to the seriousness of the proven misconduct, the widespread concern expressed by professionals, and the questions it raised about the fairness and structure of medical regulation in the UK. Mr Gilbert was found guilty of multiple counts of serious professional misconduct over a period of more than ten years, including repeated incidents of non-consensual physical contact, sexually motivated remarks and behaviour, harassment, and the use of racially offensive language. These actions were directed at multiple junior colleagues, took place in professional settings, and constituted a significant abuse of power and position.

High Court

The High Court upheld the original findings of fact made by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal, concluding that the conduct had seriously undermined public confidence in the profession and failed to uphold professional standards. Dr Kneale said: “While we are disappointed the sanction remains a suspension rather than erasure from the medical register, we accept the court’s reasoning. “We maintain that such sustained and inappropriate behaviour has no place in the NHS. “In our view, the public is unlikely to be reassured by an additional four-month suspension, and concerns remain about the doctor’s return to unrestricted practice after just one year.”

Reform

DAUK is now urging ‘long-overdue’ reform of the fitness to practise proceedings in line with the Williams Review. Dr Kneale said: “We also believe the GMC should not have appealed the tribunal’s original verdict. “As the body responsible for investigating the case and referring it to the tribunal, it cannot simultaneously function as an impartial appellate challenger. “This dual role undermines the credibility of the process and reinforces longstanding concerns about conflicts of interest within the UK’s medical regulatory framework. “The PSA’s intervention in this case was timely and principled, and demonstrated that fair and independent oversight is not only possible but essential.

Williams Review

“As recommended in the Williams Review, DAUK urges the Government to accelerate long-overdue reforms to ensure that fitness to practise proceedings are conducted independently of the GMC. “DAUK remains committed to standing up for those affected by misconduct in the workplace and campaigning for a regulatory system that prioritises fairness, transparency, and the protection of patients and professionals alike.” Please support our work by contributing to our crowd funder or by becoming a member.

Prof McNally

The ninth woman ever to be elected as a member of the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons, Prof McNally is deputy director of the Centre for Perioperative Care. An electric-cycle advocate, mother of four adult children, and a 4th Dan Karate black belt, Prof McNally is living with myeloma and cardiac amyloidosis. She is a frequent speaker and regular writer on careers, diversity, bullying, sustainability, perioperative care, myeloma, exercise, active travel and how to fix the NHS.

DAUK conference

Prof McNally will be taking part in the discussion on physicians associates in the NHS at the conference. The conference takes place at the Wellcome Collective in London from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 17 May. It is free but donations and contributions can be made via our crowd funder. Please support our work. Imran Khan KC, Dr Rachel Clarke, and Dr Punam Krishan have already been confirmed to talk at the conference. Tickets are available now from Eventbrite.

Broadcast journalist

Before going to medical school, Dr Clarke was a broadcast journalist. She produced and directed current affairs documentaries focusing on subjects such as the Iraq War and the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She continues to write regularly for the Guardian, Sunday Times, New Statesman and Lancet among others. She also appears regularly on television and radio. After visiting Ukraine during the conflict in 2022, Dr Clarke co-founded Hospice Ukraine. Hospice Ukraine is a UK-registered charity which supports the work of local palliative care teams across the country.

Conference

The conference takes place at the Wellcome Collective in London from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 17 May. Imran Khan KC has also been confirmed to speak. Arrival and registration is from 8am, with the introduction starting at 9am. The conference is free but donations and contributions can be made via our crowd funder. Please support our work. Tickets are available now from Eventbrite.

Judicial review

In seeking a judicial review, Anaesthetists United argued in the High Court that PAs and AAs, who are not doctors, are performing roles beyond their competence and training. It was also argued that by not setting their scope of practice, the GMC was putting patients at risk. The case has been heard by Mr Justice Chamberlain, the lead High Court Judge dealing with judicial review cases. It has passed its first legal hurdle and has been granted permission to proceed to a full High Court hearing, which is set to be held before Easter. In reaching his decision, Mr Justice Chamberlain, said: “The claim raises serious issues of importance to the relevant professions and to patients which should be determined on a reasonably expedited basis.”

Legal ruling welcomed

The ruling was today welcomed by our chair Ms Helen Fernandes. She said: “We have been consistent supporters of this crucial legal challenge and provided substantial financial backing. “We are delighted with the ruling and that it will now go to a full judicial review. “With this ruling, as well as the independent Leng Review, we feel even more strongly that the roll out of PAs and AAs now needs to be paused. “Questions around the appropriate regulation, scope of practice, supervision, and ultimately patient safety need to be answered. It’s too important to blindly carry on. “It’s also unsettling for the many PAs and AAs who are already in post, and their teams and their patients.

Patient safety

“We recognise PAs and AAs need to be regulated. However, it must be done by the most appropriate body, which is not the GMC. “GMC regulation only blurs the lines between doctors and non-doctors, confuses the public, and risks patient safety.” Anaesthetists United is aiming to raise another £150,000 to cover its costs in the next stage of the case. For more information on how to support this crucial legal challenge, please visit the Anaesthetists United donations page. And please support the work of DAUK.

Safety concerns

Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “Thank you Baroness Keeley of Worsley and Baroness Bennett for bringing medical profession and the public’s concerns to this debate.” DAUK has welcomed the review but called for it to be open and thorough, with patient safety at its core. He said speaking out had brought about the review. DAUK has been working with medical organisations, politicians and the media to highlight to the public the rollout of physician associates. “With most healthcare interventions, you establish risk before rollout, and certainly before extending the rollout after concerns have been raised,” he said. Dr Kneale expressed concerns that supervision of PAs and AAs has been inadequate, as well as concerns about national standards and consistency in competence. “The only framework we have is a university qualification with, in some cases, a 100 per cent pass rate,” he said.

Physician associates

He also expressed concern that PAs are replacing doctors on rotas, and questioned whether they could ‘safely diagnose without the same training’. “It’s clear many doctors share significant concerns,” he said. “At the Royal College of Physicians EGM, motions highlighting these issues were backed by more than 90 per cent of consultants. Those supervising PAs. This is not a fringe view.” He added: “We need transparency and honesty when discussing the scope, competence, and limits of PAs. Without this, I have little faith in the upcoming review.” Watch the House of Lords debate on the review of physician associate and anaesthesia associate roles. This video is available for the next 11 months and requires a TV licence to watch it. Support our work by becoming a member or donating to our Go Fund Me.