The Doctors' Association UK

Doctors' Association UK
AbbreviationDAUK
FormationJanuary 2018
FounderSamantha Batt-Rawden
TypeProfessional association and campaigning organisation
Legal statusPrivate company limited by guarantee
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom
Region served
United Kingdom
MembersRegistered UK doctors and medical students
Co-Chair
Dr Matt Kneale
Co-Chair
Ms Helen Fernandes
Websitedauk.org

The Doctors' Association UK (DAUK) is a grassroots professional association and campaigning organisation for doctors and medical students in the United Kingdom. It was founded in January 2018 in response to the Hadiza Bawa-Garba case and the actions of the General Medical Council (GMC), and has since become a prominent voice on patient safety, medical regulation and working conditions in the NHS.[1][2]

DAUK is structured as a company limited by guarantee and operates as a non-profit run by volunteer frontline doctors.[2] The organisation came to wider public prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it campaigned over shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and over the treatment of migrant healthcare workers.[3][4] More recently the association has campaigned against the GMC regulation of physician associates and anaesthesia associates,[5][6] on the funding of NHS Practitioner Health,[7] and on reform of doctor regulation by the GMC.[8]

History

Formation and the Bawa-Garba case (2018)

DAUK was established in January 2018 by a group of resident doctors led by Samantha Batt-Rawden, in response to the High Court's decision in the case of Hadiza Bawa-Garba, a paediatric trainee who was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter and subsequently struck off the medical register at the GMC's instigation despite a contrary decision by an independent tribunal.[1][9][10]

In February 2018, the association wrote to GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey criticising the regulator's conduct in the case, in a letter signed by more than 4,500 doctors.[1] Bawa-Garba's appeal against erasure was successful in August 2018, with DAUK providing media commentary and supporting the principle of a "just culture" in healthcare.[10][9] Following the appeal, DAUK called for an inquiry into the GMC's actions, which was backed by Philippa Whitford MP and over 1,200 doctors.[11] The House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee subsequently held an inquiry into patient safety and gross negligence manslaughter, to which DAUK submitted written evidence.[12]

Learn Not Blame campaign

DAUK formally launched its Learn Not Blame campaign at the House of Commons in November 2018, with the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock in attendance.[1] The campaign advocates for a culture in which adverse events are used as opportunities for systemic learning rather than for individual blame.[1] The neurologist Jenny Vaughan, a founding member of DAUK and its Learn Not Blame lead, was a leading figure in the campaign and was appointed OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for her work on miscarriages of justice in healthcare.[13] Vaughan died of metastatic breast cancer in March 2024; obituaries appeared in The Guardian, The BMJ and on BBC Radio 4's Last Word.[13][14] DAUK held an inaugural memorial conference at the Wellcome Collection in May 2025.[15]

COVID-19 pandemic

DAUK was an early and prominent critic of the UK government's preparedness for COVID-19. In early March 2020, a DAUK survey of 1,618 doctors found that only eight respondents felt the NHS was ready for a pandemic; the government's Coronavirus Action Plan was published the following day.[16] The Evening Standard credited DAUK as the first organisation to publicly raise the alarm over NHS preparedness.[17]

The association ran a sustained Protect the Frontline campaign highlighting personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, coordinating an open letter signed by 3,963 NHS staff published on the front page of The Sunday Times on 22 March 2020,[18] launching an NHS PPE reporting app live on Sky News in April 2020,[19] and, alongside the Good Law Project, filing for judicial review over PPE shortages and healthcare worker deaths.[20][21] Surveys conducted by the association reported that almost half of doctors had been instructed not to raise concerns about COVID-19 publicly, with around a third reporting bullying when they did so.[22][3]

DAUK also campaigned successfully for the scrapping of the Immigration health surcharge for international medical graduates (IMGs) and their dependants, an outcome the Guardian described as a government u-turn directly attributable to DAUK's lobbying and a parliamentary intervention by Keir Starmer.[4][23] The association called for indefinite leave to remain to be extended to IMGs who had served during the pandemic and continued to lobby on death-in-service benefits for healthcare workers.[24]

Campaigns

Doctor regulation reform

DAUK has continued to campaign for reform of the GMC, in particular for the repeal of section 40A of the Medical Act 1983, which gives the GMC power to appeal decisions of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) to the High Court. The 2018 Williams Review into gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare, established in the wake of the Bawa-Garba case, recommended removal of this power, but as of 2025 it remained in place.[8][25] In April 2021, DAUK joined twelve other healthcare organisations — including the BMA, the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners — in a joint letter to the Health Secretary urging that section 40A be removed in the forthcoming Health and Social Care Bill.[26]

In 2026, DAUK is consulting on the UK Government's draft General Medical Council Order 2026, which would constitute the most substantial reform of medical regulation since the Medical Act 1983.[27][28]

Physician associates and anaesthesia associates

From 2023, DAUK became a leading critic of the regulation of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) by the GMC under the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024.[29][30] In October 2023, an open letter to the GMC organised by DAUK Co-Chairs Matt Kneale and Helen Fernandes was signed by more than 2,800 doctors, describing the proposed regulation as "unsafe, premature, and lacking the necessary safeguards".[31] A further letter to The Times in September 2024, signed by more than 30 senior doctors, stated that "Parliament was misled with statements implying widespread support from the medical profession" when the order was debated.[32]

In 2024, DAUK contributed £30,000 to the crowdfunding effort of Anaesthetists United, which brought a judicial review in the High Court challenging the GMC's regulation of PAs and AAs. The challenge was supported by Marion and Brendan Chesterton, the parents of Emily Chesterton, who died aged 30 after being seen by a physician associate she believed to be a GP.[6][33] The case proceeded to a full High Court hearing before Mrs Justice Lambert, with judgment handed down on 5 September 2025.[34] A parallel BMA challenge over the GMC's use of the term "medical professionals" was dismissed in April 2025.[35][36]

In November 2024, Health Secretary Wes Streeting commissioned the Leng Review, an independent review of PA and AA roles led by Professor Gillian Leng — following sustained pressure from DAUK and others.[5][37] DAUK submitted detailed evidence to the review.[38] The review's final report, published in July 2025, recommended that physician associates be renamed "physician assistants" to reduce patient confusion.[39][40] DAUK criticised the wider findings as resting on a "weak evidence base", and continued to call for PA and AA regulation to be transferred away from the GMC.[40]

International medical graduates

Building on its Immigration health surcharge campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic, DAUK has continued to lobby for the position of international medical graduates (IMGs) in the NHS. The association has campaigned for reductions in indefinite leave to remain fees for healthcare professionals,[41] against delays to Certificates of Sponsorship and Biometric Residence Permits, and for IMG prioritisation in the response to the medical training competition crisis.[42]

Doctor wellbeing and Practitioner Health

In April 2024, NHS England announced that funding for NHS Practitioner Health — a confidential mental health and addiction service for doctors and dentists — would be withdrawn for secondary care doctors with only days' notice. DAUK Co-Chair Helen Fernandes described the decision as "absolutely outrageous", and DAUK ran a social media campaign that was widely reported in the medical press.[7][43] NHS England reversed the decision within a week, and the service's funding was subsequently extended through to 2029.[7]

The association has also campaigned on what it characterises as disproportionate GMC fees for doctors taking maternity, shared parental and adoption leave, arguing that the current arrangements may be "indirectly discriminatory" under the Equality Act 2010.[44][45]

Resident doctors and workforce policy

DAUK has commented on the resident doctors' pay dispute in England, although the principal trade union representing those doctors is the British Medical Association. In 2025–26, DAUK responded to reports in the Health Service Journal that NHS England Chief Executive Sir Jim Mackey intended to accelerate clinical models less reliant on doctors in response to industrial action, arguing that workforce substitution was being used as a strategic response to strikes rather than an evidence-based patient safety measure.[46]

Organisation

DAUK is structured as a company limited by guarantee, with a volunteer executive committee elected at its annual general meeting.[2] As of 2026, there are two Co-Chairs — Helen Fernandes, a consultant neurosurgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital,[47] and Matt Kneale, an emergency medicine doctor and member of the British Medical Association Professional Regulation Committee.[48]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Robinson, Francesca (18 June 2019). "Learn Not Blame: how a grassroots campaign struck a chord". BMJ. 365 l4232. doi:10.1136/bmj.l4232. PMID 31213439.
  2. 1 2 3 "Doctors' Association UK (DAUK)". Medical Journalists' Association. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 Campbell, Denis (31 March 2020). "NHS staff 'gagged' over coronavirus shortages". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  4. 1 2 Marsh, Sarah (21 May 2020). "'It's great for morale': doctors welcome NHS surcharge U-turn". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  5. 1 2 "Health secretary launches independent review into safety of physician associates". Pulse Today. 20 November 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Physician associates legal ruling welcomed". Doctors' Association UK. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "GP mental health service funding extended to 2029". Pulse Today. 8 September 2025.
  8. 1 2 "GMC launches another 23 MPTS appeals ahead of legislation change". Pulse Today. 10 June 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Struck-off doctor wins appeal to work". BBC News. 13 August 2018.
  10. 1 2 Gayle, Damien; Boseley, Sarah (13 August 2018). "Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba wins appeal against being struck off". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  11. ↑ "Hundreds of doctors demand investigation into GMC's 'aggressive pursuit' of Bawa-Garba". GPonline. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Patient safety and gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare inquiry". UK Parliament. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  13. 1 2 Warren, Penny (26 April 2024). "Jenny Vaughan obituary". The Guardian.
  14. ↑ "Obituary: Dr Jenny Rosemary Vaughan OBE". Advances in Clinical Neuroscience & Rehabilitation. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Jenny Vaughan Memorial Conference". Doctors' Association UK. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  16. ↑ Campbell, Denis (2 March 2020). "Coronavirus: just eight out of 1,600 doctors in poll say NHS is ready". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  17. ↑ "Day in intensive care scared me, says doctor who skydives as hobby". Evening Standard. 24 March 2020.
  18. ↑ "Coronavirus letter to the editor: Without protection, NHS staff are cannon fodder". The Times. 22 March 2020. ISSN 0140-0460.
  19. ↑ Malnick, Edward (4 April 2020). "Nurses forced to 'hold their breath' while treating coronavirus patients because of masks shortage". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235.
  20. ↑ Siddique, Haroon (10 May 2020). "Coronavirus: doctors call for inquiry into PPE shortages for NHS staff". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  21. ↑ "Coronavirus crisis: doctors take legal action to force inquiry into PPE shortage". The Times. June 2020. ISSN 0140-0460.
  22. ↑ Haynes, Charlie; Clayton, James (15 May 2020). "Doctors 'told not to discuss PPE shortages'". BBC News.
  23. ↑ "Boris Johnson drops NHS fee for migrant healthcare workers in humiliating U-turn". The Independent. 21 May 2020.
  24. ↑ Booth, Robert; Campbell, Denis (29 March 2020). "Concerns over death-in-service benefits keeping doctors from NHS frontline". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  25. ↑ "Williams review into gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare". GOV.UK. 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "Healthcare bodies urge government to strip GMC of power to appeal MPTS rulings". Doctors' Association UK. April 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "Reforming the General Medical Council legislative framework". Department of Health and Social Care. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "Regulation is changing". General Medical Council. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "The Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "DAUK supports fatal motion to throw out physician associates legislation". Doctors' Association UK. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "DAUK urges GMC reevaluation: More than 2,800 doctors warn against PA regulation risks". Doctors' Association UK. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  32. ↑ "Physician associates: Doctors' leaders call for pause on expansion plans in letter to the Times". Doctors' Association UK. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "Misdiagnosis: Bereaved mum calls for physician associate role clarity". BBC News. 10 July 2023.
  34. ↑ Anaesthetists United Limited & Ors, R (on the application of) v General Medical Council, EWHC 2270 (Admin) (High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division 5 September 2025).
  35. ↑ British Medical Association, R (on the application of) v General Medical Council, EWHC 960 (Admin) (High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division 17 April 2025).
  36. ↑ "Doctors lose court fight over physician associates". PA Media via Yahoo News. 17 April 2025.
  37. ↑ "Physician associates: New independent review welcomed". Doctors' Association UK. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  38. ↑ "Patient safety concerns raised in evidence to physician associates review". Doctors' Association UK. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  39. ↑ "Reports physician associates to be renamed welcomed". Doctors' Association UK. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  40. 1 2 "Q&A: What the Leng Review means for general practice". Pulse Today. 18 July 2025.
  41. ↑ "Pulse Today reports on DAUK's letter to every MP to support a debate on January 30 to reduce ILR fees for healthcare professionals". Doctors' Association UK. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  42. ↑ "The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill 2024–2026". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  43. ↑ "Practitioner Health funding to be pulled for hospital doctors". Doctors' Association UK. April 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "DAUK urges rethink on GMC fees for doctors taking parental leave". GPonline. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  45. ↑ "GMC maternity leave fees may be 'indirectly discriminatory'". Doctors' Association UK. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  46. ↑ "DAUK responds to NHS England chief executive's threat to reduce reliance on doctors". Doctors' Association UK. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  47. ↑ "Chair 'delighted' to continue in the role for another year". Doctors' Association UK. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  48. ↑ "DAUK Co-Chair Matt Kneale on GMC maternity leave fees". Pulse Today. 16 February 2026.
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