Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2018 to Question 196142 on Locums: Qualifications, what elements of Sir Keith Pearson’s review entitled Taking revalidation forward need legislative change to be implemented; what legislation needs to be amended; whether the Government assessed whether it should implement those changes; and with reference to the Zholia Alemi case whether the Government plans to make those changes.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Sir Keith Pearson’s review of medical revalidation, Taking Revalidation Forward (TRF), was published in January 2017. One of his recommendations was that:
“The Departments of Health, in consultation with the GMC, should review the RO Regulations with a view to establishing a prescribed connection to a designated body for all doctors who need a licence to practise in the UK. They should also review the criteria for prescribed connections for locums on short-term placements.”
As recommended by TRF, the Department is working with the General Medical Council, NHS England and other stakeholders to assess whether any amendments are needed to the Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010 and 2013. No decision has yet been made.
Any changes to the Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010 and 2013 would require legislative change and would be subject to Parliamentary time.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, further to WPQ 195560, by what method of communication patients or family members who have a concern about contact with Zholia Alemi or the care received by her have been advised to contact the local NHS service where they were treated.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The General Medical Council (GMC) has provided on its website information for patients who are concerned about contact with Zholia Alemi. Patients and family members are advised to speak to the general practitioner surgery, hospital or clinic where they were treated. The GMC’s contact centre is available to people seeking further information.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will undertake a review of the General Medical Council's procedures for revalidating medical professionals as a result of the Zholia Alemi case.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The General Medical Council (GMC) is the independent regulator of doctors across the United Kingdom. The processes for revalidation are a matter for the GMC itself.
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) oversees the work of the healthcare independent regulatory bodies in the UK, including the GMC. The PSA annually reviews the performance of the GMC and considers whether it has met the 24 Standards of Good regulation, covering the four key functions of governance and standards, education and training, registration and fitness to practise.
As recommended by Taking Revalidation Forward, the Department is working with the GMC, NHS England and other stakeholders to consider whether any amendments are needed to the Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010 and 2013.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the powers conferred by the Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010 and 2013 that enable locum agencies to revalidate doctors.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Sir Keith Pearson’s review of medical revalidation, Taking Revalidation Forward (TRF), was published in January 2017. The review made recommendations to improve some aspects of revalidation, for the benefit of both doctors and patients. As recommended by TRF, the Department is working with the General Medical Council, NHS England and other stakeholders to consider whether any amendments are needed to the Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010 and 2013.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Sir Keith Pearson’s review entitled Taking revalidation forward: improving the process of relicensing for doctors, published in January 2017, what steps his Department have taken in response to identified weaknesses in the appraisal and revalidation processes for doctors working as locums; and if he will publish a timeline showing when such steps were (a) initiated and (b) completed.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Sir Keith Pearson’s review of medical revalidation, Taking Revalidation Forward (TRF), was published in January 2017. Sir Keith reviewed evidence on the impact of revalidation and concluded "that revalidation has already delivered significant benefits".
The review made recommendations to improve some aspects of revalidation, for the benefit of both doctors and patients. Implementation of the recommendations was overseen by the Revalidation Oversight Group, chaired by the General Medical Council (GMC). The GMC has advised that all recommendations have been implemented, except for those which may require legislative change.
As recommended by TRF, the Department is working with the GMC, NHS England and other stakeholders to consider whether any amendments are needed to the Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010 and 2013.