Thomas Warren
This report repeats 1 earlier warning, and was raised again 1 time later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of clarity on who should enquire into previous fitness to practice concerns and NCAS referrals for locum doctors
“There does not appear to be clarity as to who or which organization should enquire into previous fitness to practice concerns and referrals to NCAS (or successor organization) which have not led to restrictions or conditions of registration by the GMC when locum doctors are being recruited by an Agency at short notice by prospective NHS Trusts”
2. incomplete sequence of employment and references for long term locum doctors with gaps or overseas work
“There are particular difficulties with securing a complete sequence of employment and the associated references and confirmation about concerns for fitness to practice of long term locum doctors who may have gaps between jobs or worked abroad”
3. GMC held crucial fitness to practice information that was not shared with employing organisations
“Crucial information was held by the GMC about concerns about this doctor's fitness to practice, including his referral to NCAS. This information was not available to those enquiring about his fitness to practice at a subsequent time”
4. absence of regulatory mechanism to monitor incomplete NCAS assessments before new locum roles
“There did not appear to be any regulatory mechanism for monitoring or reviewing cases where the doctor no longer works for the Trust where a remediation referral was made and NCAS (or other body) assessment is not completed, before subsequent locum employment”
Linked reports
Earlier report
“My view is that this statement casts doubt on 7 aa fitness to practice and this is of grave concern as my understanding is that he currently continues to practice as a GP within my Coroner Area.”
This report
“Crucial information was held by the GMC about concerns about this doctor's fitness to practice, including his referral to NCAS. This information was not available to those enquiring about his fitness to practice at a subsequent time.”
This report
“There are particular difficulties with securing a complete sequence of employment and the associated references and confirmation about concerns for fitness to practice of long term locum doctors who may have gaps between jobs or worked abroad”
Later report
“The Trust had relied on long term locum consultants, leading to some short-term gaps in provision.”
Responses
2014-0378-Response-by-Department-of-Health.pdf ↗· Department of Health and Social Care
2014-0378-Response-by-Lewisham-Greenwich-NHS-Trust.pdf ↗· Department of Health and Social Care
Stated action · January 2015
“time. We also review both policy and practice in relation to employment checks on a regular basis and as changes to the national requirements are introduced.”