Sir Donald Irvine: Its' a step in modernisation

Plans have also been put forward to change the way the GMC investigates and hears fitness to practise cases against doctors.

At present, the GMC carries out both roles but this is expected to change next year.

According to officials, complaints against doctors have risen from 3,000 last year to 4,300 this year.

Some of these will be dealt with through the NHS complaints procedures.

However, the GMC's fitness to practise committee which hears cases against doctors is planning to sit for 50 weeks next year in an attempt to deal with the record number of complaints.

The reform proposals are outlined in a document which has been made available for public consultation.

Response are due to be returned within one month and will be considered by GMC members at a meeting in December.

Modernisation

GMC president Sir Donald Irvine told the BBC: "The steps that we are consulting on today represent another step in the modernisation of medical regulation."

Sir Donald said a "cultural change" was needed within the medical profession, but said there had been a "coming together" about what needed to be done.

High profile cases such as that of the Bristol heart babies, and rogue gynaecologists Rodney Ledward and Richard Neale have highlighted shortcomings in the current system of self-regulation.

The British Medical Association passed a vote of no confidence in the GMC at its annual meeting in June.

The government has outlined plans to introduce a new body to oversee the work of the GMC and other medical regulatory bodies.

The Consumer Association has urged the government to press ahead with its plans for an umbrella body to oversee the GMC and other regulation bodies.

It said failure to introduce the new body would mean that variations in standards would continue.