The General Medical Council (GMC) has released a new set of guidelines to help doctors in the UK protect children from abuse.

The guidelines will also offer support to those who are concerned about reporting issues. The guidelines were issued after several cases showed there are fears of complaints from parents were preventing doctors from working in the area. The concerns also deterred other doctors from raising child protection concerns with the authorities.

"It is vital that all doctors have the confidence to act if they believe that a child or young person may be being abused or neglected. Taking action will be justified, even if it turns out that the child or young person is not at risk of, or suffering, abuse or neglect, as long as the concerns are honestly held and reasonable, and the doctor takes action through appropriate channels," the guidelines read.

The guidelines were released after a two year of a project by a working group chaired by senior family judge the Rt Hon Lord Justice Thorpe. The guidelines will be issued to more than 000 doctors across the country.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC described the issue of child protection as a complex issue of practice for any professional and doctors face a delicate task of making judgments in a charged atmosphere.