HC Deb 29 January 1986 vol 90 c555W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in each of the last three years, how many general practitioners have been reprimanded or penalised by family practitioner committees for unprofessional conduct; and what proportion this is of all general practitioners.

Mr. Hayhoe

Investigations by family practitioner committees may lead to general practitioners being found in breach of their terms of service and warned. The numbers in England and the proportion to all general practitioners in England are as follows:

1983 1984 1985
Number 170 178 291
Proportion 1 in 137 1 in 133 1 in 83

The 1985 figure is higher than it would have been because administrative difficulties led to some cases being concluded in 1985 which otherwise would have been concluded in 1984. Family practitioner committees are not concerned specifically with unprofessional conduct.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in each of the last three years, how many doctors have been reprimanded or penalised by the regional health authorities employing them because of unprofessional behaviour; and what proportion these figures represent of all doctors with contracts held by regional health authorities.

Mr. Hayhoe

I regret that the information requested is not collected centrally.