Commenting on the BMA Council’s decision today, the Chief Executive of the General Medical Council Niall Dickson said:
‘The decision by the BMA Council to ballot its members on industrial action is a matter for them. We have no role in relations between doctors and their employers.
‘Our job is to protect patients and provide advice and support for doctors. Our guidance is clear – a doctor’s first duty is to his or her patient. As the BMA have itself made clear, patient safety must be the overriding priority.
‘Doctors must make sure arrangements are in place to care for their patients. Their actions must not harm patients or put them at risk.
‘Doctors play a hugely important and positive role in society - we recognise that the circumstances facing each doctor will be different – it will therefore be a matter for each individual to assess their own situation and make sure they follow this guidance.’
Notes
Relevant parts of the GMC guidance are outlined below, as follows:
a) Good Medical Practice: The duties of a doctor registered with the General Medical Council
http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/duties_of_a_doctor.asp
1. Patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives and health. To justify that trust you must show respect for human life and you must:
- Make the care of your patient your first concern;
- Protect and promote the health of patients and the public;
- Provide a good standard of practice and care;
- Treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity; and
- Be honest and open and act with integrity.
You are personally accountable for your professional practice and must always be prepared to justify your decisions and actions.
b) Good Medical Practice: Providing good clinical care
http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/good_clinical_care_index.asp
3. In providing care, you must be readily accessible when you are on duty.
If you have good reason to think that patient safety is or may be seriously compromised by inadequate premises, equipment, or other resources, policies or systems, you should put the matter right if that is possible. In all other cases you should draw the matter to the attention of your employing or contracting body. If they do not take adequate action, you should take independent advice on how to take the matter further. You must record your concerns and the steps you have taken to try to resolve them.
c) Good Medical Practice: Working with colleagues
http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/working_with_colleagues_arranging_cover.asp
48. You must be satisfied that, when you are off duty, suitable arrangements have been made for your patients' medical care. These arrangements should include effective hand-over procedures, involving clear communication with healthcare colleagues. If you are concerned that the arrangements are not suitable, you should take steps to safeguard patient care and you must follow the guidance in paragraph
49. Patient care may be compromised if there is not sufficient medical cover.
Therefore, you must take up any post, including a locum post, you have formally accepted, and you must work your contractual notice period, unless the employer has reasonable time to make other arrangements.
d) Management for Doctors: guidance for doctors
http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/management_for_doctors.asp#arranging_cover
12. It is not possible to set out all the roles doctors take on as managers. If your role involves responsibilities covered in this booklet, you should do your best to make sure that:
- systems are in place to enable high quality medical services to be provided
- care is provided and supervised only by staff who have the appropriate skills (including communication skills), experience, training and qualifications
- significant risks to patients, staff and the health of the wider community are identified, assessed and addressed to minimise risk, and that they are reported in line with local and national procedures
- the people you manage (both doctors and other professionals) are aware of and follow the guidance issued by relevant professional and regulatory bodies, and that they are able to fulfil their professional duties so that standards of practice and care are maintained and improved
- systems are in place to identify the educational and training needs of students and staff, including locums, so that the best use is made of the time and resources available for keeping knowledge and skills up to date
- all decisions, working practices and the working environment are lawful, with particular regard to the law on employment, equal opportunities and health and safety
- information and policies on clinical effectiveness and clinical governance are publicised and implemented effectively.
52. You must be satisfied that suitable arrangements are in place for patient care when staff you manage are off duty, and that effective handover procedures are followed.
For further information please contact the Media Relations Office on 020 7189 5454, out of hours 020 7189 5444/ 07920 461497, email press@gmc-uk.org, website www.gmc-uk.org.
The General Medical Council registers and licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK
The law gives us four main functions:
- keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
- fostering good medical practice
- promoting high standards of medical education and training
- dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt
