23 February 2007
The General Medical Council will provide more support to NHS employers wishing to address concerns about doctors under proposals published by the government this week.
The white paper on the regulation of all health professionals includes plans for clinicians to prove their fitness to practise every five years. These would help employers investigating complaints or concerns about individual doctors.
Although the GMC will remain heavily involved in malpractice investigations, self-regulation would end, as the council, which is dominated by doctors, would lose the final say over whether a doctor can continue to practise. This would be undertaken by a new, independent adjudicator.
Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said splitting investigation and prosecution would give the public greater confidence in fitness to practise decisions. The GMC board will also have to ensure that 50% of its board members are lay people or legal professionals.
British Medical Association chair James Johnson said the loss of self-regulation could break down the trust between doctors and their patients.
'Part of that trust lies in the fact that good doctors will act as their patients' champions…Our concern is that under these proposals, a doctor's ability to continue working in this way, without fear of falling foul of political imperatives, will be jeopardised,' he added.
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