Doctors face new rules as the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Sanctions Guidance is to be replaced

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (‘MPTS’) (the organisation responsible for organising fitness to practise hearings for doctors, physician associates (‘PAs’), and anaesthesia associates (‘AAs’)) has issued new guidance to support Medical Practitioners Tribunals (‘MPTs’) reach fair and consistent decisions.

The Guidance comes into effect on Monday, 24^th November 2025 and will replace the existing sanctions guidance. There is separate guidance for MPTs involving doctors and for PAs and AAs (the guidance pages for PAs and AAs is still under construction, however, the interim guidance can be located via the following link Hearing resources for PAs and AAs - MPTS).

For the first time, the Guidance includes ‘sanctions bandings’ for specific case types. When reaching a determination on sanction, the Guidance requires an MPT to assess whether the risk to public protection[1] is low, medium, or high and, depending on that assessment, there is a recommended sanction band. For example, if a doctor is found to have been dishonest and the MPT consider there to be a medium risk to public protection, then the recommended sanction is a period of suspension of between three and nine months.

Although the new Guidance may seem to promote consistency in decision-making, there is concern that MPTs could default to the recommended sanction bandings rather than carefully weighing the unique circumstances of each case.

The Guidance also includes more detail to assist MPTs assess the seriousness of an allegation. For example, behaviour or poor performance that was persistent or repeated, predatory behaviour, abuse of a professional position, or a reckless disregard for patient safety or professional standards may increase the seriousness of an allegation.

The introduction of this new Guidance marks a significant development in the regulation of doctors. While its aim is to bring greater consistency to MPT decisions, its true value will only be revealed in how MPTs apply it in practice. Doctors, regulators, and patients alike will be watching closely to see whether it enhances fairness and transparency, or risks constraining the nuanced judgment that complex cases demand.

If you have any queries as to how the new Guidance may impact you, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our specialist Professional Discipline and Regulatory Team (Roger McMillan, Leigh Linton, Rachael McAdorey, Jo Harrison, Stephanie Johnston and Ellen Donaghy).

*This information is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute, nor should be regarded, as a substitute for taking legal advice that is tailored to your circumstances.

[1] That is whether a doctor’s actions or inactions may cause harm to the public, undermine public confidence in the profession or damage professional standards.