GP leader criticises assessment proposal

GP leader Dr Kailash Chand has criticised plans to force doctors to undergo annual assessments which will result in poor performers losing their licence.

The Chief Medical Officer, Liam Donaldson, will today outline proposals which will see GPs, consultants and private practitioners having to renew their licences every five years.

He will call for senior doctors to assess others who are practising in their area to ensure they are not putting patients at risk, and patients will be asked for feedback.

The annual assessments will look at prescribing habits, adequate assessment of a patient’s condition and any personal issues which might affect their work, such as a problem with drugs or alcohol.

Harold Shipman, a Hyde GP who murdered at least 215 victims by giving lethal morphine injections, was addicted to the painkiller pethidine and had been convicted of prescribing it for personal use.

He also unlawfully acquired the diamorphine he used to kill.

But Dr Chand, secretary of West Pennine Local Medical Committee and North-West member of the British Medical Association’s national council, insisted that the new assessment would not uncover another Harold Shipman.

He criticised it as a bureaucratic tickbox exercise and said that while no one would argue there was a need for competent doctors, this was not the way.

Dr Chand said filling in forms would take doctors away from their patients. He said any assessment should be based on clinical evidence, not opinion.

He added: “It won’t prevent another Shipman — he would have come through this type of assessment with flying colours.

“It’s all just a waste of time.

“There are 101 ways primary care trusts already assess doctors, such as how they prescribe and refer patients to hospital.

“It’s patient care that is important, and any assessment needs to be evidence-based and realistic.”