Doctors have been striking against a new contract (Picture: PA)

Just when you thought doctors couldn’t get more angry, there’s a whole new dispute that’s kicking off.

It’s just been announced that Charlie Massey will be the next CEO of the General Medical Council, an independent body set up to regulate doctors.

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Massey, however, is currently a director general at the Department of Health and advisor to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt – which a lot of medics think is a little too close for comfort.

This means that he has been working closely with Hunt to implement a controversial new contract for junior doctors, which was the cause of a repeated series of strikes by medical professionals.




In February, the National Health Action party released a video of Massey’s meeting at the Public Accounts Committee, in which he appears not to be able to answer questions about the practicality of the government’s ‘seven-day NHS’ plans.

Since Massey’s appointment was announced on Friday, more than 1,300 doctors have signed a letter of no confidence in the GMC.

‘The GMC is an independent organisation that seeks to protect patients,’ the letter says.

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‘However, the appointment of Charlie Massey as the Chief Executive of the GMC demonstrates a lack of regard for the public, and undermines the duty of care that it has towards those it seeks to protect.

‘His position as the Director General of the Department of Health and advisor to the Health Secretary demonstrates, in our view, a clear conflict of interest.

‘We are concerned as to how the GMC can maintain its independence with this appointment.’

The GMC’s offices in central London (Picture: Alamy)

The letter then goes on to demand a full, transparent review into how Massey was appointed to the role.

A spokesman for the General Medical Council told Metro.co.uk: ‘Charlie Massey has been appointed the next Chief Executive of the GMC after a nationally advertised recruitment campaign.

‘We do understand this is a difficult time for the medical profession and we are committed to working with them to address the issues they face.’

Meanwhile, the dispute between Hunt and junior doctors continues to rage – with the health secretary claiming he will impose the new contract on doctors against their wishes.