Scots Doctors Attack ‘MOT’ Plans

Leading Scots doctors have warned that plans to regulate GPs would “take away from patient care”. The UK Government wants new safeguards following the inquiry into the serial killer Harold Shipman. The proposals include a shake-up of regulations which would strip the General Medical Council of its power to strike off doctors.

Scotland’s chief medical officer had earlier criticised plans for doctors to undergo regular MOTs. The Scottish Executive said the white paper reflected subsequent discussions, but said there were still a number of areas where Scotland must decide on the most appropriate solution.

Dr Lewis Morrison of the British Medical Association’s Scottish Council said the plans were too time intensive. The UK Government is acting after Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson made the case for reform last year.

Sir Liam’s review of medical regulation followed the inquiry into Shipman, which criticised the way doctors were regulated. Shipman, from Hyde in Greater Manchester, murdered more than 200 people over a period of 23 years.

During the consultation, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Harry Burns warned that the proposals were “unworkable” and said they would place yet another strain on the health service if imposed north of the border.

The department of health in London controls the regulation of doctors but Dr Burns said the plans would be “complex, costly and difficult to implement” in Scotland.

Dr Lewis Morrison, of the British Medical Association’s Scottish Council, said: “The idea of regular checks is not a new one. Some of the things go way beyond that however and are very time intensive. The idea that doctors sit an exam every five years, over and above the self appraisal that we do, will clearly take away from patient care.”

The MOT-style checks, or revalidation as it is also called, will be carried out every five years, ending the situation where once doctors qualify as GPs or consultants they no longer face formal reassessment.

A Scottish Executive spokesman said: “Scottish ministers are committed to regulation of the healthcare professions on a UK-wide basis, taking into consideration both reserved and devolved issues. Alongside that our aim is to ensure that Scotland’s needs are taken into account in any future policy decisions, and to ensure appropriate solutions and legislation for Scotland. In response to the consultation on the Department of Health’s proposals, the Scottish Executive had highlighted some areas of concern.”

The SNP’s health spokeswoman Shona Robison said: “We welcome any measures which improve patient safety. However, it is vitally important that the implementation of the checks are appropriate to the structure and clinical governance in operation in the Scottish health service, concerns which were put very robustly by Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns.”

The executive said any changes to death certification procedures would not automatically apply in Scotland.

In England and Wales, death certificates will need to be signed off by someone appointed by the local NHS trust as well as the relevant doctor. In Scotland it is the responsibility of the procurator fiscal service.