§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with the General Medical Council their plans for making it a requirement for any physician applying for a new appointment to divulge legal action which he or she may be facing in relation to their medical work. [122753]
§ Ms StuartIt is not the responsibility of the General Medical Council to require physicians applying for new appointments to divulge legal action which they may be facing in relation to their medical work. The GMC is an independent statutory body, which licenses doctors to practise medicine in the United Kingdom, following an examination of their qualifications. It is their job to ensure that the doctors registered are capable of good medical practice within the scope of their registration, which includes being honest and trustworthy.
It is the responsibility of all employers to take all possible action to ensure that doctors they appoint are fit to practise. The Department has issued guidance reinforcing the need for pre employment checks for doctors in the "Good Practice Guidance" issued with the "Appointment of Consultants Regulations 1996". Additionally the Department has also issued HSG(98)64, "The Management of Health, Safety and Welfare Issues of NHS Staff", and HSC 1998/212 "Children's Safeguard Review: Choosing with Care", which cover all NHS staff, and advises NHS employers to ensure proper pre-employment checks are made so that employees do not represent a risk to patients.
The Department also plans to issue a Direction shortly which will require NHS employers to include a declaration in their application forms for hospital and community medical and dental posts, stating whether or not the applicant has been or is the subject of disciplinary action by the police, or a regulatory body in this country or overseas.