“Your studies will bring you into contact with patients and members of the public, who can be physically and emotionally vulnerable. Because of this, and the fact that you’ll be joining a trusted profession, which is regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC), we expect you to understand that there is a difference in the standard of behaviour expected of students on Programmes that bring them into contact with patients and the public.

Specifically, your behaviour at all times, both in the clinical environment and outside of your studies, must justify the trust that patients and the public place in your as a future member of the medical profession. We and your medical school will support you in your journey, which includes teaching and assessment on professionalism.”

Page 4 of the GMC’s Achieving good medical practice: guidance for medical students (2016).

The above GMC guidance outlines the standards of professional behaviour expected of medical students.

All health and social care professionals are bound by the guidance and rules of conduct set out by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the relevant regulatory or representative body, e.g. the General Medical Council (GMC) for medical students, General Dental Council (GDC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). These in turn define the standards for health and social care education in the UK in settings in which a student is interacting with patients, clients or service users.

Professional attitudes and behaviours are both crucial aspects of a career in medicine and you therefore need to develop these appropriately over the course of the Programme in readiness for your foundation training.

Professionalism encompasses a number of positive attributes such as honesty, integrity, politeness, punctuality, good organisation skills, engaging fully with your studies, complying with University regulations, maintaining your own health, communicating effectively and treating others with respect.

Unprofessional behaviour can include: persistent lateness or absence; dishonesty; rudeness; discrimination, failure to meet deadlines, to respond to communication or to attend teaching sessions and meetings; criminal activity; and drug or alcohol abuse.

You should read and regularly review the GMC’s guidance for students in this area: Achieving good medical practice (2016) and Professional behaviour and fitness to practise (2016).

Aspects of professionalism will be addressed throughout the Programme, including during PBL, PPDPortfolio, ECE visits and ward rounds. Opportunities to demonstrate your professionalism will arise as you progress through the Programme.

If you are involved in a significant incident or pattern of unprofessional behaviour, the Programme has a duty to discuss this with you to ensure you understand the professional requirements of the Programme and a career in medicine and to discuss and agree any support the Programme can offer to enable you to improve your behaviour.

A major occurrence of unprofessional behaviour or a failure to improve a pattern of poor behaviour, despite advice, support and warnings, may lead to referral for consideration by the Chair of the School Fitness to Practise Committee, who will decide if you need to attend a meeting of the Committee to discuss the matter in further detail.

By the end of the Physician Associate Programme, you should have acquired, and be able to demonstrate, the attitudes essential to the practice of medicine, including:

  • Respect for patients and colleagues that encompasses, without prejudice, diversity of background, opportunity, language, culture and way of life;
  • Recognition of patients’ rights, particularly in regard to confidentiality and consent;
  • Ability to cope with uncertainty and adapt to change;
  • Awareness of the moral and ethical responsibilities involved in patient care;
  • Awareness of the need to ensure provision of the highest possible quality of patient care;
  • Development of the capacity for self-audit and for participation in the peer-review process.

In addition, the following objectives have attitudinal implications, especially with respect to the provision of care for populations as well as for individuals.

You should:

  • Understand the ethical and legal issues relevant to the practice of medicine;
  • Understand the principles of disease prevention and health promotion;
  • Have self-management and team-working skills;
  • Understand the provision of healthcare in the community and hospital, the constraints affecting its delivery and audit processes through which delivery is monitored.

These objectives reflect the requirements of the General Medical Council with regard to Good Medical Practice.

Developing Attitudes

You should:

  • Make sure you are familiar with the principles of professional practice as set out in the GMC’s Achieving good medical practice (2016) and Professional behaviour and fitness to practise (2016);
  • Discuss any concerns with your educational supervisor. There may be occasions when you feel other professionals are not following the guidelines (sadly, everyone makes mistakes at times). Be sensitive but be prepared to ask about this;
  • Be prepared to listen to comments and helpful criticism from anyone who is involved in your clinical supervision. They are there to help you develop appropriate professional attitudes and gently warn if things are going wrong. The report from your supervisor at the end of each placement is expected to include an appraisal of your development in this field.