The Government is poised to introduce sweeping reforms aimed at making it significantly easier to dismiss doctors found to have engaged in racist or antisemitic conduct.
The move, described as the biggest overhaul of the General Medical Council (GMC) in four decades, comes amid growing concerns over a perceived lack of swift action against medical professionals using discriminatory language.
The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on legislative changes, citing "too many" recent instances of doctors, particularly on social media, using racist and antisemitic language without adequate regulatory response.
It argues that the existing regulatory framework is "outdated and too bureaucratic", hindering the GMC's ability to act decisively when doctors overstep professional boundaries.
The proposed reforms stem from a rapid review conducted by Lord Mann, commissioned last November to investigate antisemitism and other forms of racism within the health service.
Lord Mann concluded that the current system has been "too slow and too cumbersome" to deliver appropriate consequences.
Among the initial recommendations from Lord Mann's review, which the government plans to consult on, are new powers for the GMC to challenge decisions made by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).
Additionally, the Professional Standards Authority, which oversees all health regulators, will be granted enhanced powers to scrutinise and contest such decisions.
The department said that the changes will bolster oversight of the GMC, enabling regulators and oversight bodies to intervene more readily when tribunal outcomes are deemed "not strong enough to keep the public safe".
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "The NHS is a universal health service, which means that everyone, regardless of race, religion or belief should feel safe seeking its care. It is unacceptable that this is not the current reality for many patients and staff, and I will not allow it to continue.
"I am grateful to Lord John Mann for his rapid investigation into how we can overhaul the current system and I look forward to setting his common-sense recommendations in motion to ensure NHS patients and staff get the protection they expect."
Lord Mann said: "Racism, including anti-Jewish racism, has no place in the health sector or our NHS, and those who engage in it should face swift and meaningful consequences.
"For too long, the system has been too slow and too cumbersome to deliver that. These reforms will help deliver change.
"I am pleased that the Government has moved quickly to act on my recommendations, and I look forward to working with it to implement the rest of my review."
Beyond Lord Mann's recommendations, the Government is also consulting on removing a rule that currently prevents regulators from considering fitness to practise concerns involving allegations of historic sexual abuse after a five-year period has elapsed.
Charlie Massey, chief executive and registrar of the GMC, welcomed the proposed changes.
He said: "Patients rightly expect assurance that doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates are safe to practise and can be held to account if serious concerns are raised.
"These proposed reforms will allow us to respond more quickly and flexibly when patient safety is at risk. They will also allow us to further improve our efficiency and effectiveness while at the same time enabling us to help patients navigate the complaints and concerns process more easily.
"This is an important and long-awaited step towards a more responsive and compassionate approach to healthcare regulation."
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