Two local doctors are put on ‘remedial plan’
TWO local doctors were put on ‘remedial plans’ last year and could not be revalidated as fit to practice by the General Medical Council.
Two others were revalidated after the process was deferred initially while more information was gathered.
The information was set out in the 2022 annual report of the island’s medical director, Dr Peter Rabey, who submitted it to the States in his statutory position of responsible officer, a regulatory role set up in 2015.
‘Revalidation recommendations were made for 16 local doctors to the GMC by the responsible officer in 2022,’ said Dr Rabey.
‘Four doctors had a “defer” recommendation because there was insufficient evidence for a positive recommendation. Two of these have since had positive recommendations.
‘The remaining two have remedial plans in place and will come up for revalidation again in 2023.
‘Positive recommendations were made for 13 other doctors. All recommendations were accepted by the GMC.’
The names of the doctors concerned were not revealed.
Dr Rabey’s report is on the States’ agenda at its next meeting, which starts on 24 May.
The GMC advises doctors that revalidation ‘is an evaluation of your fitness to practice’.
It is intended to help doctors reflect on how they can develop or improve their practice, provide patients with confidence that their doctors are up to date and promote improved quality of care.
Dr Rabey’s report stated that at the end of 2022, there were 285 doctors on the Bailiwick register with a licence to practice and that none received sanctions or warnings from the GMC during the previous 12-month period.
‘Standards around revalidation remain high and processes for identifying and acting on concerns are in place and working effectively,’ said Dr Rabey.
The responsible officer’s duties include ensuring that doctors have annual appraisals, making recommendations to the GMC, investigating and referring concerns and protecting patients.
Dr Rabey’s report will not be debated by the States unless a deputy proposes a motion to debate which is approved by a majority of the Assembly.
The previous report, for 2021, was debated by the States, in April last year, and prompted a controversial speech from Deputy Gavin St Pier in which he raised concerns about safeguarding in the health service and was critical about a doctor, who he named.
He was later cleared of breaking rules on parliamentary privilege.
He also revealed that his speech had resulted in three code of conduct complaints against him, including one by the doctor he named. Those complaints are understood to be ongoing.
