The General Medical Council is an independent regulator, established in Statute. Charlie has been its leader for seven years. It keeps the register of practicing professionals; undertakes fitness practice assessments; sets training and education requirements for medical schools and increasingly supports organisations to proactive support Drs in employment.

Data and insight is a key plank of the organisational approach. using the national trainee survey it has detailed information of organisations supporting trainees at departmental level. Strategically it is becoming more important to be sharing that information with other national regulators, to enable better insight and drive targeted action.

There are now higher numbers of doctors coming onto the register who were trained outside of the UK, than trained in the country and this has meant the GMC has had to adapt to this reality. They have also developed support for employers on caring and supporting for those who were trained outside the UK to ensure their assimilation and transition into UK healthcare is successful and that cultural and non UK training issues do not drive referrals into the fitness to practice process.

Charlie describes what keeps him resilient as a leader. Learning and depending on a team is crucial; balance in work and home life; regular exercise with dogs and competitive table tennis to keep him sharp!

Matthew Winn, podcast host and an experienced leader in healthcare in the UK.