Overhaul for doctor suspensions

Many are currently suspended unnecessarily

Measures to deal with suspensions of doctors and dentists more efficiently and quickly have been approved by the Department of Health.

The aim is to better protect patients by spotting problems at an early stage.

But it also hoped to reduce unnecessary suspensions, and improve rehabilitation programmes to allow a swift return to work when a suspension is necessary.

A recent report found unnecessary suspensions cost the NHS millions of pounds a year.

This will see an end to the kind of situations that occurred in the past where patients were left unprotected because no-one was sure how to deal with a doctor with performance problems. Sir Liam Donaldson

The guidance has been developed in consultation with the NHS Confederation, the British Medical Association and the British Dental Association.

Health Minister John Hutton said: "The current system of dealing with suspensions is simply not acceptable as it is not fair to doctors, taxpayers and most importantly patients.

"The recent National Audit Office report on suspended clinicians demonstrated all too clearly the cost of failing to manage this process effectively - both in terms of the effect on the individual clinician and the diversion of resources away from patient care and we have a duty to deal with that."

Mr Hutton said patient safety would always be paramount, but the government was keen remove the need for suspensions except in the most exceptional cases.

He said: "It is in the interests of all concerned to ensure that alternatives to suspension are carefully considered.

"Where suspension is appropriate, it is essential that the case is resolved as quickly as possible and action taken to tackle the underlying problem so that the clinician can safely get back to work."

Immediate exclusion

Under the new measures, a doctor or dentist under investigation faces an immediate exclusion from work of no more than two weeks.

Any further exclusion must be limited to four-week periods, and subject to an active review.

This agreement is a significant initial step along the way to addressing our concerns about the current misuse of suspensions. Mr Nizam Mamode

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said a great emphasis would be placed on early recognition of doctors and dentists with performance difficulties.

But he said it was also important to put remedial measures put in place if necessary as quickly as possible, to enable a swift return to work.

He said: "This will see an end to the kind of situations that occurred in the past where patients were left unprotected because no-one was sure how to deal with a doctor with performance problems.

"It will also be good for doctors with emphasis on early intervention to provide support rather than disciplinary action late in the day.

"It should also see an end to the long suspensions culture of the past."

Mr Nizam Mamode, chairman of the BMA's Consultants Negotiating Committee, said: "This agreement is a significant initial step along the way to addressing our concerns about the current misuse of suspensions.

"Good clear reasons are now needed to suspend doctors and suspensions should now be time limited and the process monitored with a view to returning the doctor to work wherever possible as speedily as possible."

Susan Williams, chief executive of the National Patient Safety Agency, also welcomed the guidance.

She said: "Suspensions are costly and can often deprive patients of skilled and dedicated staff.

"They should only be used if patients are at risk."

All NHS bodies will be required to report back how they are ensuring that their local procedures comply with the new guidance.

Alastair Henderson, of the NHS Conderation, said the new procedures should bring clarity and coherence to what were always managerially complex and difficult situations.

"Current arrangements have tended not to work in the interests of patients, NHS organisations or doctors themselves.

"Whilst it vital that trusts retain the power to exclude staff where there are concerns about patient safety or in cases of misconduct, numerous or lengthy suspensions are good for neither the NHS nor doctors concerned.

"We hope that these new procedures will make such situations a thing of the past.

"The procedures will also help spot potential problems before damage is done. That has to be in everyone's interest."

Dr Gerard Panting, of the doctors insurance specialists the Medical Protection Society, said: "The current system of suspensions is cumbersome, squanders NHS resources and causes considerable distress for the doctor concerned.

"It is imperative that exclusion is used as a last resort measure when other options are not appropriate, such as where patient safety is at risk."