More than 30 organisations, including DAUK, have called on the Government to preserve the GMC’s ability to investigate doctors’ fitness to practise under a distinct health route.
Doctors Association UK (DAUK) has co-signed a letter to the Health Minister Karin Smith.
In the letter, led by the Medical Protection Society, the coalition of 32 organisations describe the proposal to remove the health category as a ‘significant step backwards’.
The proposal was put forward by the previous government in its consultation on reform of the Medical Act.
Health category
Currently, in cases where doctors are investigated under the health category of impairment, the GMC can use language which acknowledges the health concerns about the doctor without having to use pejorative terminology around misconduct.
It is able to put in place measures to protect the doctor such as some, or all of the hearings, being held in private and the focus is on aiding recovery and return to practice in addition to patient safety.
Under the new plans, concerns about doctors with a health issue would have to be investigated on the grounds of ‘inability to provide care to a sufficient standard’ and/or ‘misconduct’.
This is language the group claim is inappropriate and could deter doctors from seeking early help.
GMC concerns
The GMC has also outlined similar concerns. GMC data shows that it recorded health as a category of impairment in nearly 1,000 of the investigations it conducted over the last six years.
This amounts to almost one in five (17%) of all investigations. In half of these cases (49%) the doctor self-referred to the GMC.
The letter, said: “Our intention is to highlight one small but important step that the Government could take to protect the most vulnerable doctors during a regulatory investigation.
“Our focus on this area, is based on a shared view that supporting the wellbeing of doctors is an essential component of maintaining high quality, safe patient care.
“The impact of a GMC investigation on doctors’ mental wellbeing is well documented. In an MPS survey of nearly 200 doctors who have been investigated, 78% said it harmed their mental health and almost 31% reported experiencing suicidal thoughts during the process. This impact will be even greater for doctors who have existing health concerns.
“Significant progress has been made by the GMC to reduce the impact on doctors facing a fitness to practise investigation, and reduce the number of suicides during the process.
Investigate doctors
“Current provisions within the Medical Act, particularly the ability to investigate doctors under the health category, have been central to this progress.
“It was therefore a significant step backwards when proposals for reform were put forward by the previous government that would have the effect of removing it.
“We strongly urge you to retain health as a distinct category. This would protect doctors at one of the most challenging moments of their lives, improve their retention in the workforce, whilst safeguarding patients. Crucially, it would help towards ensuring that doctors who are unwell feel supported rather than driven out.”
DAUK committee members are all volunteers and campaign on issues facing frontline doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.
