MDU welcomes GMC’s recognition of intense pressure on doctors
The Medical Defence Union (MDU) welcomes the GMC’s recognition of the intense pressure doctors are under and the measures it has taken to reduce the need for full scale investigations, to speed up the process and reduce the stress on those involved.
According to GMC’s State of Medical Education and Practice 2016 there were 8,269 complaints about doctors' fitness to practise in 2015, 7% fewer than in 2014. Of 2,808 investigations concluded in 2015, 83% were closed with no action or advice.
Dr Catherine Wills, deputy head of advisory services at the MDU, said:
“We know how stressful it can be for a doctor undergoing a GMC investigation. Half of 138 doctors we surveyed say they worry more about complaints or practise differently as a result of being investigated by the GMC or sued. And a quarter considered leaving the profession. So we are pleased that the GMC is taking measures to reduce the need for investigations at an early stage. These include cases which would not amount to impaired fitness to practise, even if the facts were proven.
“The GMC figures show that only a small number of cases result in action on the doctor’s registration and the report rightly states that medical standards remain among the best in the world. But things can sometimes go wrong in day to day practice and if that happens MDU members can be confident that we have the expertise and experience to provide excellent support. More than 96% of GMC cases in which doctors were represented by the MDU's in-house lawyers in 2014 were resolved without a hearing.”
