Fitness-to-practise reform

These changes recognise the GMC’s priorities of public protection, fairn

ess for doctors and value for money. I believe that the current system is unsustainable and, unless there is comprehensive reform, public and professional confidence will be undermined.

Public hearings can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for all those involved – not just for doctors but also for witnesses and experts.

I believe that the current system is unsustainable and, unless there is comprehensive reform, public and professional confidence will be undermined

A doctor can be investigated formally numerous times concerning the same incident and it can often take many months to bring a case to a hearing. Not infrequently, allegations reported in the press later turn out to be unfounded, yet the damage to reputation and career prospects cannot be undone.

I welcome the GMC’s proposals to develop a more proportionate, streamlined and cost-efficient process for dealing with fitness-to-practise cases. While each case should be assessed on an individual basis, MPS has seen a number of cases with no justification for a public hearing.

I also support the proposal to offer meetings and discussions with doctors so that, at an earlier stage, the GMC can better understand the seriousness of the case and any mitigating factors. This will enable the GMC to identify whether a fair and proportionate sanction can be reached by agreement, without the need for a hearing. Nevertheless, nothing must compromise a doctor’s absolute right to a full hearing if such agreement cannot be reached.

The success of the proposed reforms will require a significantly different approach to case handling. It will be necessary to consult and engage all stakeholders, including patient groups, to gain public confidence that the new process serves the GMC’s purposes of public protection, fairness for doctors and value for money.