Medical regulator reform proposed to tackle antisemitic doctors
Department of Health launches consultation for biggest shake up of an 'outdated' General Medical Council to remedy its inability to 'act decisively'
The Government is taking steps to make it easier to dismiss racist or antisemitic doctors.
The Department of Health and Social Care said there have been “too many” recent examples of doctors using racist and antisemitic language, particularly on social media, without regulators taking swift enough action.
The department said it has launched a consultation on changes to the legislation governing the regulation of doctors, saying the move will lead to the biggest reform of the medical regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC) in four decades.
The department said it is “clear that the current regulatory landscape is outdated and too bureaucratic, hampering the GMC’s ability to act decisively” when doctors step out of bounds.
It is preparing to publish the first tranche of recommendations from Lord Mann, who was commissioned to perform a rapid review into antisemitism and other forms of racism in the health service in November.
Lord Mann concluded that the system has been “too slow and too cumbersome” to deliver consequences.
The Government plans to consult on the first recommendations from the review including giving the GMC new powers to challenge the decisions of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).
And the Professional Standards Authority, the body that oversees all health regulators, will also be given greater powers to scrutinise and challenge decisions.
The department said these changes will increase oversight of the GMC and make it easier for regulators and oversight bodies to act when tribunal decisions are “not strong enough to keep the public safe”.
“The NHS is a universal health service, which means that everyone, regardless of race, religion or belief should feel safe seeking its care,” said Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
“It is unacceptable that this is not the current reality for many patients and staff, and I will not allow it to continue.
“I am grateful to Lord John Mann for his rapid investigation into how we can overhaul the current system and I look forward to setting his common-sense recommendations in motion to ensure NHS patients and staff get the protection they expect.”
Lord Mann said: “Racism, including anti-Jewish racism, has no place in the health sector or our NHS, and those who engage in it should face swift and meaningful consequences.
“For too long, the system has been too slow and too cumbersome to deliver that.
“These reforms will help deliver change. I am pleased that the Government has moved quickly to act on my recommendations, and I look forward to working with it to implement the rest of my review.”
Aside from the Mann recommendations, the Government is also consulting on removing the current rule which prevents regulators from being able to consider fitness to practise concerns involving allegations of historic sexual abuse after five years have passed.
GMC chief executive and registrar Charlie Massey said: “Patients rightly expect assurance that doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates are safe to practise and can be held to account if serious concerns are raised.
“These proposed reforms will allow us to respond more quickly and flexibly when patient safety is at risk.
“They will also allow us to further improve our efficiency and effectiveness while at the same time enabling us to help patients navigate the complaints and concerns process more easily.
“This is an important and long-awaited step towards a more responsive and compassionate approach to healthcare regulation.”
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