Half way there. The Next Generation will make it to the top.
As the blogging world will be aware, Dr Scott Junior was saved by a collateral referral of the Deans to the General Medical Council. We had news that Dr Scott Junior was due to be referred to the GMC and we subsequently reversed the process. This ensured Dr Scott Junior was effectively free. The matter was featured here by the Register. The summary is this - Dr Scott Junior was effectively pissed off with the rulers of the MMC. He progressed to make some inflammatory remarks on Doctors.net.uk. Doctors.net.uk management failed to support him. Elizabeth Paice, the then London Dean spent large amounts of time on the Doctors.net.uk forum and arranged for a referral to NHS Scotland where Dr Scot Junior worked. Subsequently, Scot Junior was suspended. Dark Knight and his cronies then sought to assist the many bloggers who featured the story day after day. His colleagues joined and wrote to the Scottish Head Honcho. A GMC Referral was done for his Deans and hey presto, he was released and allowed back to work.
It should be borne in mind that, getting two Deans through the GMC procedures is mammoth task. Keeping them in there for a year or more is even more of a tough call. As we can see, superiors within the NHS are protected. This was evidenced by the case R v GMC Ex Parte Remedy UK where no investigation took place despite the negligence and damage caused to hundreds if not thousands of doctors. This is therefore possibly the first time the leading senior deans have been frisked by the General Medical Council. Their contacts were bound to save them and they did.
The original complaint was drafted by myself, Dr Dark Knight, Witchdoctor, Dr Rant and The Jobbing Doctor. A copy can be downloaded here
The complaint can be thrown out immediately before rule 7 as is the case with numerous complaints. This complaint did get past Rule 7 and a allegation list [charge list] was developed. You can access these here [ Needham and Paice]
The final decision can be accessed here [ Needham and Paice]. Essentially, the guidance here is diametrically opposite to that provided by the GMC Ethics team but the case examiners make it up as they go along. They had to effectively bend the rules to allow Paice and Needham out.
Gillian Needham and Professor Paice were eventually cleared. I could have taken this up on Rule 12 Presidential Review and probably won as I have done in the past but the determination to fight was down to about jelly fish level. My colleagues did not have the inspiration to fight this and effectively gave up. As I have no particular affiliation towards Scot Junior whom I consider to be inconsiderate anyway, I didn't waste my time on this.
Anyhow, a cleared complaint and a change in posts or Paice says a lot more about the system we exist in. The battle was fought well in general and this is potentially the best we could have done.
2 comments:
I think GMC should update its guidelines on 'Raising Concerns' as the trainees and/or specialists with no managerial roles are still vulnerable when they report any wrongdoing. They are left all alone to face the GMC as most of the time the complaint is reversed against them and are suspended followed by GMC referral.
They are unable to seek 360 degree feedback because of organized mobbing and references are provided with comments such as poor team player, vague complaints from patients though there will hardly be serious concerns on their clinical practice.
Time and again, these issues have been highlighted but not sure when practical measures will be taken.
Culture of fear and silence is rampant in the NHS.
very very sad but inevitable. being caucasian helps though!
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