Lord Carlile of Berriewasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many National Health Service consultant psychiatrists have been (a) erased and (b) suspended by the General Medical Council in each of the years from 1992 to date; and what was the effect on the consultant's contract of each case of suspension; and [HL871]
What arrangements are in place to disseminate in the National Health Service adverse findings made against doctors by the Professional Conduct Committee and Committee for Professional Performance of the General Medical Council; and whether they are satisfied with such arrangements. [HL872]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)This information is held by the General Medical Council (GMC). They inform us that there was one psychiatrist erased, and one suspended from the Medical Register in 1995, and one suspended and subsequently erased in 1998. Matters relating to a consultant's contract are between the doctor and the National Health Service employer. In cases where consultants are erased from the Medical Register, the contract with the employer becomes void and the doctor is no longer able to practise medicine. In cases of suspension from the GMC register, the consultant is not able to work in the NHS until the suspension is withdrawn.
It is a contractual requirement that all doctors who work in the NHS are registered with the GMC.
Adverse findings against doctors made by the Professional Conduct Committee and the Committee for Professional Performance are sent to NHS trusts 138WA and health authorities in the form of a Health Service Circular. We are currently reviewing the present arrangements.