All of Britain’s 150,000 practising doctors are to undergo annual reviews to
weed out poor performers, in the biggest reform of medical regulation for
150 years, The Times has learnt.
Family doctors, hospital consultants and private practitioners will have to
apply to renew their licences every five years, according to plans published
today by the Chief Medical Officer.
The system – the first of its kind in the world – is designed to identify
doctors who repeatedly make poor clinical decisions. Inspectors will use
evidence from patients’ questionnaires and feedback from colleagues. Doctors
“unable to remedy significant shortfalls in their standards of practice”
risk being removed from the medical register, the report says.
Critics said that it would mean doctors spending less time with patients and
practising “defensive medicine”.
The report by Sir Liam Donaldson, Medical Revalidation: Principles and Next
Steps, outlines how senior doctors will be appointed to assess the
competence of GPs and hospital consultants in their area to ensure that
patients’ lives are not being put at risk.
The medical colleges, which represent different clinical specialties, will
have to develop tests to check that doctors are keeping abreast of advances.
Trials will begin within two years. At the moment doctors face no formal
reassessments of their competence, clinical skills or performance between
entering independent practice as a GP or consultant and retiring. An airline
pilot would be assessed about 100 times over a similar period.
The proposals were produced with the General Medical Council (GMC) and the
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. Many doctors may be concerned about
bureaucracy diverting them from patient care.
To date, the Government has only recommended to trusts that they carry out
regular reviews of how doctors’ skills are progressing, based on
conversations with the individual concerned. That system, according to
today’s report, is “patchy and not fit for relicensing [the renewal of
doctors’ licences] across the country”.
The new regime will make annual reviews mandatory. They will cover the full
range of performance factors, including prescribing habits, interaction with
patients and personal problems such as alcohol or drug misuse.
The GMC, which was founded in 1858 to regulate doctors’ fitness to practise,
recommended continuing reviews of doctors’ credentials ten years ago, after
a series of scandals over medical incompetence. Weaknesses in the monitoring
system for GPs were also revealed by the case of Harold Shipman, who
murdered up to 250 of his patients, usually with narcotic drugs that he had
stockpiled.
Appraisals will be considered a “continuing process” leading up to licences
being reissued every five years. Medical students and those who work in
short-term appointments or as locums will also face annual checks.
The report emphasises that the system will be “focused on raising standards,
not a disciplinary mechanism to deal with the small proportion of doctors
who may cause concern”.
Yet Sir Liam has said in the past that “most doctors know of another doctor
who, on balance, they would prefer not to treat their own family”.
Sir Graeme Catto, President of the GMC, said that it had dealt with 5,168
complaints about doctors last year – 1,300 more than in 2000 – but only
about one in three led to an investigation, and fewer than 5 per cent to a
hearing. A total of 60 were struck off.
He described the report as a “wake-up call” for doctors and local NHS
organisations. “We have been recommending a system of revalidation for ten
years,” he told The Times.
“It has taken so long to get up and running because of the complexities and
scale of the task – covering doctors across the whole of the UK.”
Sir Graeme denied that the reforms would lead to a culture of “defensive
medicine”, with doctors worried about the consequences of their actions.
“It’s very easy to concentrate on the bad apples, but we hope that this new
system will mean that more problems can be identified and addressed at a
local level, before they become serious.”
Michael Summers, vice-chairman of the Patients’ Association, said: “We have
been waiting for this since the Shipman inquiry and earlier. It is important
that patients have a much greater voice in this process and doctors should
feel a responsibility to report colleagues where necessary.”
Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association, said: “As the
Chief Medical Officer points out in today’s report, the majority of doctors
provide high-quality care and strong commitment to their patients. It is
essential that the CMO’s proposals are not unduly burdensome for doctors,
that they enable them to develop and improve their skills and do not result
in them having to spend less time with patients.
“We want to see a system that is good for patients and fair to doctors. The
system should not be seen as a tool to weed out the very small number of
doctors who underperform – there are other processes in place to do this.”
Trials should begin by next year, but Dr Meldrum said that the BMA was
concerned about the timescales.
The Department of Health denied that the processes would lead to extra
bureaucracy. It said that in the best NHS organisations medical directors
were already performing the role of responsible officers.
Dame Carol Black, President of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which
will receive a £3.9 million grant, described revalidation as a “unique
opportunity” for all doctors to demonstrate to patients, the public, their
employers and peers their competence to provide high-quality medical care.
“This work is progressing well, with input from employers, lay
representatives and other agencies. It is a process that will reinforce the
trust that patients have in their doctors.”
I have seen 4 GP's and all said they knew little about fibromyalgia and that I knew more than them. One said it was not his speciality, the problem is the 2 local specialists I saw didn't have any knowledge either! It is a condition that has been scientifically proven, they should know!
Linda, Beaconsfield, Bucks
It's interesting to see that a number of GPs' have said why don't MPs' get tested annually? Well I'll tell you why.
MPs' can and do make mistakes. While MPs' may try to hide their mistakes, doctors have an easier solution, they just quite literally bury their mistakes. Can u see the difference?
Graham , St. Albans, uk
One wonders whether the proposed new tests for medical doctors ("All doctors face annual test of their competence", July 23) will include the testing of the many registered and qualified doctors who have not worked in actual clinical practice for decades but would wish to call themselves doctors...
Phillippo, Devon,
I would like all doctors to be aware of fibro and all nurse's and carers no one knows what it is and this is unfair on us .. We want people every where to know what fibromyalgia is ..
all doctors should know what fibromyalgia is and have an understanding of it like they do with MS cancer strokes
SEZ, Leighton Buzzard, bedfordshire
Government Should Completely Shut Down A to Z Of Whole Health(illhealth)System And Anyone found doing work should be sent to gallows that britain operates at deep underground military bases
james casbolt, porton down, england
As a Fibromylgia sufferer and a member of the FMA UK forum, there are many people who have trouble with doctors not recognising this condition, despite it being recognised on the NHS' own website, or even telling people it's in their own heads... I hope that this will weed out such ignorant doctors.
Sheila, SWANSEA, UK
At last the government has made a sensible proposal: let's hope they do actually follow through with it. I have Fibromyalgia Syndrome and despite this condition being widely recognised and researched in the USA, it is not well known in this country due to doctors who do not keep up with research.
D McSpadden, Portsmouth,
Another attack by Government to demotivate GPs sufficiently that enough leave the profession and the Government can privatise it and "come to the rescue!"
Please remember GP's are GENERAL Practitioners, not specialists in every known condition!
Tests for dentists, nurses and MP's also please.
Neil, Birmingham,
An overworked and under funded NHS, new immigrants cueing up at surgeries with exotic troubles, lets help by introducing an exam that takes the doctors focus away from their patients and into swatting 6 months of the year for this critical exam. Must be a stealth tax there somewhere.
Peter Mc, Middx,
it is about time that this overhaul happened as i have come across quite few doctors who have mis diagnosed to the point that it was life threatening, i have fibromyalgia which i was intially told was 'psycological' and would pass with time.
susan buss, gosport, hampshire
This shower can’t even administer tests to primary school children; what chance with professionals doing complex and often subjective work?
No doubt they will contract ETS to mark the tests.
John, London,
Only annually?
Why don't they employ someone to watch over them full time?
Perhaps add some CCTV cameras to the mix?
Oh, and they'll need to pay some more people to watch over those people to make sure they are up to their job also.
Andy, Surrey,
Surely there should be compulsory update courses for doctors to ensure they have the latest information about medical research, acknowledged illnesses and treatments . Test of competence should then not be necessary. No doctor could then deny the existence of conditions that they don't know exist.
Stella Bernardi, Southwater, UK
Good idea in principle but "the devil is in the detail" - the tests are bound to be arranged so that nobody will fail them - just jump through a few more hoops.
It's another time-wasting exercise in control and intimidation by the politicians who refuse to be tested for competence themselves.
Jonathan Pitts Crick, Bristol, uk
I have a chronic disease Emphysema. I probably know more about it than my GP. He was the one who sent me on rehab, Expert Patients programmes etc to learn more about my condition. Why? So that I could help him treat me, thanks to him I am still alive.
That is a good Doctor
Howard, Basildon, England
This is a good plan and should be extended to cover politicians also and in their case make them be responsible for bad decisions and excess waste of tax payers money. No reward for bad performance
Tony , Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Well, it's been a long time coming! How I would love to visit my GP and feel confident that he or she can help me? I have fibromyalgia; a horrible, disabling and invisible condition that has been with me for over 10 years. Maybe in years to come I can feel more optimistic about such a visit?
Liz Pusey, Heddington, UK
I have seen many doctors in my life some good and awful. Please don't witch hunt the good. But testing every year/two years is surely going to be very costly to the NHS and us a whole.
Fran Rhodes, Gt Cornard, UK
Fibromyaligia,the invisable condition,is not being researched,yet 2 milliion people suffer from this incredibly painful,disableing condition.Despite pleading about it to the govt,for help,top drs wont spend money on research.
chris thomson, tameside, england
At a time when every other profession is being told to be accountable and competent, accept pay cuts and have no input in deciding their wages. Politicians are not held accoutable for their votes in parliament on behalf of their constituents, have a vetoing vote on their own pay, and are incompetent
Dr Collins, Sheffield, UK
As an airline pilot I have proficiency checks twice a year.As a patient I feel I have more chance of being killed by a bad decision of my doctor than I have as a passenger being killed by a bad decision of the captain on my airline flight. At least the airline captain has a first officer to monitor
lotus, Hong Kong,
Crafters of these exams can compel use only of old 'establishment' medicine to the detriment of creative, knowledgeable MD's and their patients.
Some US state medical boards controversially view MD's use of new techniques and regimens not yet universally accepted, as grounds for loss of license.
Steve Richardson, North Carolina, USA
Im sure the already debt-ridden, underpayed (in actual terms, not according to absurd figures on the NHS website), and over-worked (unofficially...junior doctors working more than 12hour shifts, while getting paid for 7), will appreciate this. As a Dr's partner, their patience is running thin!
Jane Collins, Sheffield, UK
Great movement! Why all doctors? What about those who have no time to keep updated coz the workload? I would agree with a few, not logical though.
Manoj K, NRIE Edinburgh, UK
In principle, it is a good idea. It will of course mean more time spent at the computer and less face to face with the patient. Remember, doctors are good at 'bookwork' and will relish this activity...but, it means you will have to wait longer, or see less of the doctor. Ho-hum...
vmc, Glasgow,
Can we have similar system for lawyers please to make sure practising lawyers are uptodate with current regulations and practices.
jon sangtani, london, UK
I am fairly certain that airline pilots have to undergo annual or bi-annual competence tests. Although this is a very tough process and disastrous if a pilot fails and gets 'grounded(?)' or made redundant, it is very as a regulatory scheme.
Mark, London, UK
I suffer with Fibromyalgia and M.E. badly named Yuppie Flu, ive had this for four years, and have had to fight any GP ive met to acknowledge this fact even though ive been assessed by Southampton Hospital. Ive even been told "i dont recognize your illness as one" but i live with it daily.
Carole Hall, Waterlooville, Hampshire
I hope that all this reform will mean that GPs are better informed about invisible conditions that cause debilitating pain to many day after day after day. I suffer with Fibromyalgia and I am constantly fighting with the lack of information that is given to GPs and yet it is them that we turn to 1st
Lorraine, Bordon Hampshire, UK
Asking colleagues to assess doctors is not a good idea. It leads either to a bad working atmosphere or achieves nothing, as most people don't want to harm their work colleagues, even in the interests of the public. Assessment by patients will result in more useless prescriptions and sick notes.
Jon, manchester,
This idea just fits nicely into the rest of the stupid, impractical and expensive ideas our governments subscribe to. This is so fraught with unintended consequences (much loved by our present masters) that it could easily cause major disruption to health services.
mike gee, bournemouth, uk
Complementary therapists now have to undergo "CPD" (eg. attending regular training courses) on an ongoing basis in order to retain their qualification so I think this is only right. I also suggest that MPs should be subject to similar tests on an annual basis.
Yvonne, Doncaster, UK
Suggest we have the same for government ministers - hate to think of the failure rate, though......
Chris, London,
Any chance of annual competence tests for MPs and Government Ministers - especially those in charge of areas such as Education where regular testing is mandatory for 'consumers' of that Department's services.
john, Oxford, England
In principle, not a bad idea. Doctors should not complain about keeping their professional skills honed. What I fear from this government however is yet another misconceived, misguided, expensive and totally impractical scheme which will break down irreparably in the first ten minutes
Dr. Nicholas Lee, Windsor, UK
Lets be careful not to attack the many excellent GP's however if an area is under HCC warning letter regarding collective complaint/bullying and an active bypass pattern exists with 40 mile round trips for normal care - lets start there.Bad care leaks NHS funds and may affect jobs for the good guys
mary foord brown, suffolk coastal,
Oh great - MORE bureaucrats
Sarah, London,
If a doctor fail in this test, he would go outside UK to practice his art, as a doctor with a UK degree is allowed to practice in many countries. But with this reform, governments will be very suspicious with UK doctors abroad...
(sorry for my poor english)
Hameed Sadel, Rabat, Morocco
Another nail in the coffin of Shavian "professions' conspiracy against laiety".
Don't kill this desirable idea with botched-up implementation. All previous attempts have been thwarted by complex ,impracticable procedures.I know this from my 37 years in the NHS.
Dr.Abdul Jaleel, Darlington, United Kingdom
Personally, I'd spend the money that would be involved in testing on training more doctors who had more TIME to listen to people and treat the patient as a "whole person".That might give them a chance to diagnose and prescribe accurately instead of being in a perpetual rush to meet targets .
Bronwen Tickner, South Harting, England
Surely MP's need an annual competence test if anybody .
Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,
All UK Drs have been appraised for the last 4 or 5 years and have been waiting to see what will be the requirements for revalidation. I was a GP appraiser and have had 5 appraisals myself. We see the process as about standards however clearly for the government it is motivated by control.
Dr P, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
May we now look forward to similar annual tests of competence for politicians? Oh no, of course not! I forgot that they never have to prove they have any form of competence in the first place.
Funny, though, isn't it?
Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,
The remark about Canada is misleading. "Continuing competence" is demonstrated by accumulating "brownie points" attending meetings in hotels with golf courses or on board cruise ships. There is no attendance record. In consequence a whole new "points provider" industry has developed.
M Clement Hall, Guelph, Canada
Yet another attack on the professions from MPs who squeal like stuck pigs whenever it is suggested that any aspect of their activities (expenses?) is subject to any form of check.
Do they not realise the badwill this "we're the only ones who can be trusted" attitude creates?
Warren Hertzberg, London,
This government doesn't trust professionals; teachers too must now have a licence which can be taken away.
I predict this scheme will be too superficial to achieve anything except undermine doctors and waste untold working hours in collecting statistics and ticking boxes.
Big Brother is watching.
Chris Jakeman, Peterborough,
And how much is this going to cost the NHS? Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"?
marion marchant, Reigate,
Can we apply similar reviews to Government Ministers?
Martin, London,
Possibly not a bad idea but perhaps we can take a lead from this measure and have annual reviews of the politicians and if they are considered competent enough to do their job...
chris, Wiltshire,
And I presume we will have to pay something for the privilege? Junior doctors graduating from university are seeing their pay cut drastically already: increased GMC fees, reduced hours (and therefore banding supplement) due to the EU working time directive, loss of accommodation, and top-up fees!
Dr Damian Jenkins, Oxford,
So, if someone pass the test, will their evaluator be sued alongside ?
m pallam, athens, greece
Perfectly reasonable suggestion - but let's make sure that all lawyers, journalists and politicians are subjected to a similar regime.
Nick, Rotherham, UK
Ah well, at least it will create more regulators, and enable the bitter, jealous and particularly the uninformed to denigrate the career of someone who genuinely want to do good for society.
Gareth Jones, Dusseldorf, Germany
More paperwork....just like the Police. Excellent...
James Cullup, Oxford,
I agree services should be inspected to ensure quality/value for money but public services are far too scrutinised already. Why don't we inspect the private sector and especially banking policy. How did this governement allow our banks to get themselves into their present unaccountable position?
D. Williams, East Sussex,
any evidence that any GPs are not competent? another fool idea from this fool government-- quis custodiet ipsos custodies?
peter c, Devizes, Wessex
Let us hope the GPs have heard of FIBROMYALGIA - most GPs think we are imagining the aches, pains and fatigue. In fact over 80% of doctors worldwide have admitted in a global survey that they had no training relating to FIBROMYALGIA. Meanwhile USA claims FIBROMYALGIA has reached epidemic proportions
Jeanne Hambleton, Chichester, UL
Let us hope the GPs have heard of FIBROMYALGIA - most GPs think we are imagining the aches, pains and fatigue. In fact over 80% of doctors worldwide have admitted in a global survey that they had no training relating to FIBROMYALGIA. Meanwhile USA claims FIBROMYALGIA has reached epidemic proportions
Jeanne Hambleton, Chichester, UK
If a doctor can't handle continuing education and training with a review only once in a year then he should not prescribe drugs. which can and do harm as well as good. If doctors don't like being paid by the NHS they can exercise freedom of choice and resign and treat us privately.
Jonathan Foreman, London,
Excellent news. It always amazed me how following the atrocities of Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr ANYONE working in a school had to undergo a CGB check (And let us not forget Huntley was not actually a teacher), yet following Shipman's deeds nothing was introduced to prevent this happening again.
Carl, Bristol, England
Thiomersal is 50% mercury by mass and should never have been in childrens' vacinations, it was quietly removed in 2003. Thank you for poisoning a generation of children. Doctors need to go on a refresher course in toxicology.
james, edinburgh, UK
GPs are appraised every year in Wales. GMC's plan to revalidation have been in pipeline for the last few years. What the CMO has said is nothing new. Every year, all practices have to submit results of patient questionaires to LHBs(PCTs in England) as part of new GMS contract, Why to waste moremoney
Name withheld, Wales,
How can you 'make' doctors perform research or be tested specifically on 'invisible illnesses' (Helen) what a rediculous point to make, however, believe doctors should be assessed regularly, any competant physican would fly through. One drawback is the mass of paperwork doctors already deal with.
Jon, Swansea,
My husband is a GP, & has a huge dossier on a fellow GP, who amongst other things missed leukemia ina child, & keeps misprescribing, but the PCT said they don't have evidence that he could cause 'severe harm'. Seems he must kill s/one first to be struck off.
Amanda, London,
Of course GP's should be required to demonstrate that they are maintaining their generic knowledge & skills. In addition, specialists should be subject to additional annual testing regarding their specialism(s). The Shipman argument is a red herring - rogues exist in all professions.
J. Willmott, Swindon,
Excellent, another government plan for me to wast more of my time filling out forms and another attempt to devalue doctors. Under performing doctors exist, but sacking them is impossible due to archaic labour laws. WIl the government be changing them?!
Dr Chris Floyd, London,
Defensive medicine or the weeding out of poor doctors ( and there are some) I do not know enough to decide,but I do now enough to pick up on the routine defence of lying by a Ministry.
This will, without any shadow of a doubt ,have to result in some increase in bureaucracy.
robert everitt, wolverhampton,
Let me see; How to assess the competence of a politician. Does he avoid answering direct questions? Does he bury bad news? Does he bribe and bully MPs to win votes? Does he falsify or exaggerate dossiers? Does he shirk the blame for his own policy failures? Does he break his manifesto promises?
Phil, Epsom, England
As someone with Fibromyalgia I had a huge problem with diagnosis, Dc's and Spec'lists were loathe to confirm it.
I hope the new measures will give Dc' confidence in their abilities,
All I hope is that they wont have to make snap decisions to fulfill any targets - the NHS is in crisis as it is Suz
Suz, Macclesfield, England
I do hope they will be tested on invisible illnesses and made to research them. I suffer from fibromyalgia which although invisible is a very real, painful and life changing condition, yet many doctors are ignorant of Fibro and offer very little help if any to their patients who suffer from it.
Helen Watts, Stanford le Hope,
"All doctors face annual test of their competence"
shame MPs don't have to
Liz, London,
Remember the expression "the operation was successful but the patient died." Why is it that the NHS only publishes results for a handful of operations? While in the US surgeons have had their results published for years. The NHS is as ever being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Graham , St. Albans, uk
GPs already have yearly appraisals, which take a lot of extra hours to prepare. Funnily this system does not seem to exist UK wide. Nice government blunder to stuff that hole with new expensive bureaucracy. Just another square wheel reinvented and added to the stock. Quality is not the aim !
F van Galen, SOUTHAMPTON, UK
Anyone who thinks this will prevent another Shipman is hopelessly ill-informed.
Anybody who thinks this is anything to do with Shipman is hopelessly naive.
This is about power and authority, not quality.
Name withheld, Birmingham, England
About time too, some GP's never improve or update after they have read the books in Uni. , some verge on incompetent and the patients need to be questioning their decisions more, I do and get answers and most of the time. Like most of society, 80% are good at their job, the rest carried along.
Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain
eye opener to see how people 'value' the NHS. sounds like most problems in the health system was attributed to 'inefficient and incompetent' dr. in actual fact, drs' hands are tied with the lack of resources and hosp system defects, when compared with other european countries. hence the difference
sw, cambridge, uk
How many new civil service jobs will be created so that the professional regulators can themselves be regulated? Of course there will have to be an additional tier of senior civil servants to manage this new tier and so on ad infinitem.
Ultimately MPs will need to be re-elected on an annual basis.
Stephen Green, Correns, France
I hope Sir Liam Donaldson is also subject to this assessment. In my book he would lose his license. No antibiotics for earache? I grew up at a time when mastoid infections were killing! Antibiotics solved that! Proposing statins costing £BILLIONS when only 1% will benefit. RESIGN!
M. Cawdery, Craigavon, Co UK(EU)
Splendid old chestnut but welcome all the same.
As a retired consultant and BMA activist of yesteryear ,I hope there will be adequate representation of patient groups on licensing Review Panels but not necessarily pharmacists and superannuated nurses hell -bent on avenging doctos.
Dr.Abdul Jaleel, Darlington, United Kingdom
Reviews and tests, reviews and tests, reviews and tests---the only thing that is really needed is an annual review and test of competeance of the Covernment and the MP's
Adrian, Romsey, England (it used to be once)
Presumably the Government will also introduce an annaul test for politicians to check their competence. That would certainly keep the politicians on their toes.
Mark, Hull, UK
Is this another presumed populist edict from a government desperate to stay in power? If it is, then move over 143K p.a advisers, Ill do it for half that!
Can anyone tell me the point of this, other than wasting more of the doctors time?
BG
Bill Glanvill, Horsham , Sussex
I wonder if anyone is assessing Sir Liam Donaldson's competence. First MTAS that has lead to 1,000s of junior doctors being made unemployed and leaving the NHS including me and now this idiocy. As a doctor I have no problem with being made accountable for my mistakes, does he? What will he do next?
Jamie Andrews, Sydney, Australia
Let's start this scheme with heads of privatised services & utilities. If train delays or water leaks exceed a certain level, let it be decreed officially that the director is not competent to run a whelk stall. If things improve, then we can think about applying the same rule elsewhere.
jo, birmingham, uk
It's about time they were checked for compitance and arrogance!! I now belong to a very good gp practice but as a child I saw plenty of QUACKS. I was even told I had red flew once after I'd walked into a post and cut my head open.
Mark Sheppard, Retford, UK
I bet that will be as popular; and as useful; as Ofsted.
Martin Green, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
All other professionals undergo this successfully so there is no reason why this should not happen. To mention Shipman is spurious; would chartered accountants stop being assessed because of Mad Mike Hoare, a violent mercenary who also paid his accountancy subscriptions on time?
Dave, Slough,
Its not a good idea to test their competence. They will not pass!
Matt, Naples, Italy
There used to be a coherent system of continuing post grad education, abolished by N-Labour. A professionally led out of hours system; went the same way. Bureuacracy has become bloated and expensive since 1997. Now this nonsense as some moronic response to a psychopath dr .Total taxation waste.
jbzola, staines,
Has anyone noticed the flood of young doctors leaving for Australia and New Zealand?
Jonathan Allcock, West Midlands,
How many senior doctors will it take to assess all doctors annually? What else would they be doing with their time, if not this? Treating the sick, perhaps?
What about annual tests of competence for civil servants, or better still ministers?
sheila, Leicester,
Could we have a similar test for prime ministers please?
G .P.Edlin, london, uk
Millions of hours wasted on paperwork - why not just test those where serious doubts exist?
phil, hong kong,
Another , well thought out, Zanu -Labour scheme.
ronnie, bucks, UK
Shame they haven't put the same scrutiny on the banks and city institutions that have lead us into this almighty economic mess, but then the NHS is not where they end up after office is it? Was it 7 million Mr Blair now gets...at a bank! Time we had a chance to judge Mr Brown......
Dr C, Waihi, NewZealand
Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of the BMA said "The system should not be seen as a tool to weed out the very small number of doctors who underperform – there are other processes in place to do this.”
So what exactly is the point of it then?
Oonagh, Hong Kong,
great!
BUT, how to, if the doctors spend too much time on preparing the test, instead of treating patients?
Jack Don, Fuzhou, China
Excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!
In addition to the competence test, I suggest Efficiency test also !
The doctors in Germany ,France, Austria and main Europe are three times more efficient , on salaries twice less than "doctors" in UK !
Herbert Sinclair, London, UK
Good idea; BUT, what it would mean in reality is that many doctors would turn their backs on the bureaucracy and leave the UK.
How about a competency evaluation for Nu-Labour instead; same criteria; interviews with the public and interviews with other politicians (from across the aisle)!
Rece Porter, Orlando, USA
Works for us health professionals in Canada, where continuing education is huge. Not surprised a similar thing hasn't been implemented over there in the UK!
Anna, Fairmont,
An excellent initiative!
It would be less necessary if there was more selection in medical colleges: from what I see around me, British parents who can afford it can buy a degree in medicine for their precious moron.
If a patient wants to see a good doctor, they have best choose a foreign one...
LN, Bristol,
It's time the nation started wrorying about the competence of the hospital administrators and government departments managing health. THAT is where the risk to patients lies. None of this will stop a Shipman type incident. He would have passed this type of process without breaking a sweat.
J. Ferguson, Belfast, UK
The usual HR-run nonsense with all the right buzzwords. How about clinicians rating managers - every year? There is no evidence to suggest that this leads to better clinical outcomes. Poor doctors (as well as other professionals) are already regulated.
Dr Ian Burgess, Bristol,
A number of quality measures is currently routine in clinical practice; morbidity and mortality conferences; critical incident review; medical audit; complaints review.
I'm not sure personalisd revalidation is going to improve patient safety. It all smells of a public relations exercise to me.
Andrew, Cardiff, Wales
That is a brilliant idea, wonderful !
I am a NHS doctor and in the future I will only treat patient who are not overweight, who do not smoke, do not complain about back pain and are not depressed.
That will keep me off complains and unnecessary frustration.
That is the future of the NHS !
Niels Holgerson, Dundee, UK
in Italy, all the md, expecially the named "big barons", (primarys are that category 3 hrs of supervisioned work of others=10.000€/month), they all faced monthly tests of in-competence, and if their association to the political local mob is not confirmed, the politicians immediately cut their jobs.
edoardo chioni, rome, italy