Doctors warn of more scandals

Dr Bogle said it had been a terrible year for doctors

Doctors leaders have admitted the profession has had a "terrible year" - but say there will be more bad publicity to come.

The cases of Harold Shipman, convicted of 15 murders of former patients, the organ stripping scandal at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, the Bristol babies inquiry and incompetent gynaecologist Rodney Ledward have damaged doctors, said Dr Ian Bogle, chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA).

This has been a terrible year - Bristol, Alder Hey, Shipman and Ledward - unfortunately, there will be more

Dr Ian Bogle, BMA chairman

Speaking at the BMA's annual conference in London, Dr Bogle warned that there would be further scandals affecting the profession.

He backed plans to introduce revalidation - "MOT tests" - for doctors, provided a workable system is introduced.

However, he said the government's plans to take away some of the powers of the General Medical Council (GMC) were a source of concern.

Dr Bogle told around 500 delegates: "This has been a terrible year - Bristol, Alder Hey, Shipman and Ledward. Unfortunately, there will be more.

"Not because we are getting worse, but because detection is getting better.

"This is the culture change in medicine."

Gynaecologist Rodney Ledward mutilated female patients

He added: "Let there be no mistake. The BMA called for revalidation, the BMA wants revalidation. The BMA is working for a system of revalidation that works, a system that properly protects patients and supports doctors."

But he described the government's planned "assessment and support centres", which will take over some of the GMC's roles, as "boot camps" and said they would not stamp out poor performance.

He claimed there had been successes in persuading the government to consult doctors on its reforms and plans to spend additional funding for the NHS.

To seize on exceptional cases and present them as representative of the profession as a whole eats away at patients' confidence

Dr Ian Bogle, BMA chairman

The National Plan for the NHS, due to be published later this month, was "eagerly awaited" by all doctors.

Dr Bogle also criticised the Government for seizing on the medical scandals to portray a negative image of the profession.

He said: "No-one defends poor practice. But to seize on exceptional cases and present them as representative of the profession as a whole does not just damage doctors' morale, it eats away at patients' confidence.

"And that is something I will never forgive."

BMA representatives passed a motion calling for further expansion of the NHS Direct phone helpline to be frozen until it was proven to be effective.

They also warned ministers that their plan for modernisation of the NHS would fail if it was based on spin instead of substance.