The report has been lodged for a future States meeting as an appendix report, which will not be debated unless a motion to debate is successful.
Deputies Chris Blin and Gavin St Pier have lodged the motion.
‘I hope that HSC will not oppose the motion and a majority of colleagues will support a debate. Health is our largest public service and, as such, the quality of care, outcomes and regulation are public interest issues,’ said Deputy Blin.
‘It is interesting to note from the report that the number of locally registered doctors has grown by about two-thirds in 10 years from 200 or so to closer to 350. That is one reflection of our community’s growing healthcare needs.’
The Responsible Officer, currently Dr Peter Rabey, is required to submit an annual report to the States of Guernsey, through the Committee for Health & Social Care, to discharge his functions.
The report provides a summary of activity relating to regulation and revalidation of doctors in 2025.
Deputy St Pier said the annual report was the only formal information provided to the States in relation to the regulation of any healthcare providers.
‘It is important, in our view, that the States makes the time and takes the opportunity to consider it,’ he said.
‘We think that receiving the Responsible Officer’s annual report ought to be more than a “tick box” exercise for the States.’
Deputy St Pier used his bid to have the Responsible Officer’s report debated in April 2022 to name local paediatrician Sandie Bohin as he outlined perceived weaknesses in safeguarding services.
That incident has continued to have repercussions within and outside the States.
That attempt to debate the report was rejected by 28 votes to 10.
Health & Social Care said at the time that the purpose of the report was to provide a high-level overview of concerns that had been raised about doctors in relation to their capability, conduct or health.
Dr Rabey’s latest report showed that there were 345 doctors on the Bailiwick register at the end of the year, a decrease of 19 over 2024.
Of these, 182 were considered to be local practitioners and 163 were UK-connected. There were 81 local GPs.
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