TACKLING CONCERNS LOCALLY - NHS LOTHIAN PILOT
In collaboration with the General Medical Council (GMC), the Scottish Government is currently supporting a pilot in one NHS Board (NHS Lothian), examining the processes for tackling concerns locally. The pilot aims to develop standardised documentation that will assist Responsible Officers for medical revalidation, once appointed, ensure that concerns about practitoners are dealt with promptly and fairly. Collaboration with the GMC will also enable the pilot work to examine the thresholds for referral to the statutory regulatory body for doctors.
The NHS Lothian Pilot Steering Group is Chaired by Dr Charles Swainson, Medical Director NHS Lothian, and includes representation from the Scottish Government Health Directorates (SGHD), General Medical Council (GMC) and National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS).
The pilot aims to:
- Establish confidence in the pilot site processes with the GMC;
- Agree a shared framework for the investigation of doctors where the fitness to practice is a potential or actual consideration;
- Test the application of that framework with current doctors under investigation;
- Agree a revised framework for the investigation of doctors to be shared with other NHS Boards in Scotland.