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Please see the latest news from GMC Wales. GMC celebrates Eisteddfod: Welsh language guidance for doctors published4 August 2008Welsh-speakers can now read Welsh language versions of several GMC guidance booklets, following a promotional event held today the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff. Deputy Health Minister Gwenda Thomas spoke at the event about the importance of communicating bilingually with the Welsh public, and in particular with young people. Welsh versions of guidance covering young people’s care and making decisions about treatment have been published. The event is part of the GMC’s ongoing commitment to ensure that information for the public is accessible equally in both English and Welsh.
GMC Launch guidance at National Assembly for Wales - “Consent : Patients and doctors making decisions together”3rd June 2008GMC Guidance "Consent: Patients and doctors making decisions together" was launched by Jonathan Morgan AM chair of the Assembly's Health Committee at the Senedd. The new guidance came into effect in June 2008. It highlights how doctors can work together with patients in making decisions about their care and treatment and also reflects recent changes in the law. The publication of this guidance follows over 18 months of consultation involving a range of individuals and organisations from across Wales and the rest of the UK. The meeting was attended by Assembly Members, patient groups, doctors, the BMA and others with an interest in the subject. The event was attended by over 40 people and the event received cross party support from Assembly Members.
0 - 18 Years: Guidance for all doctors - GMC Address meeting of GPs and practice nurses.12 December 2007The GMC was invited to address Caerphilly Local Health Board's Clinical Forum which was attended by 100 general practitioners and nurses. The topic of the meeting was paediatrics and the GMC was asked to brief attendees on the new guidance '0 - 18 years: guidance for all doctors'. Suzanne Fuller from the GMC Standards and Ethics team addressed the meeting giving them an outline of the the guidance, the consultation process used during the formulation of the guidance and how the guidance should be put into practice. This event helped increase understanding of the GMC's work in setting standards to an audience of Welsh GPs and practice nurses. Commenting on the event GMC Head of Welsh Affairs, Natalie Drury said "We very much welcome opportunities such as this to communicate with doctors directly, it is very useful for us to be able to explain the breadth of our work and to receive direct feedback through questions and comments from the GPs themselves who put our guidance into practise". O - 18 years : Guidance for all doctors" launched at Children's Hospital for Wales27 September 2007
The Welsh launch of the new guidance took place at the Children’s Hospital for Wales on 27th September. The Guidance outlines doctors’ roles and responsibilities towards children and young people. This is the first time that doctors’ specific duties in this area have been defined by the General Medical Council (GMC), the regulator for the UK’s 240,000 doctors. The guidance was launched by Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services; Craig Lambourne, Youth Mayor of Bridgend County Borough; Michael Keegan from the GMC Standards and Ethics Team; Dr Richard Lewis, Secretary of BMA Wales; Elaine Cloake from the Childrens' Commissioner's office well as pupils from Willow’s High School and Ed Scott who is currently receiving treatment at the hospital. Under 18s make up a fifth of Wales’ population. These young people need to be protected from harm and rely on others for their well-being. But they are also individuals with rights. It can be challenging for doctors to balance these competing interests (see examples in case study below). 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors sets out the GMCs expectations and will help doctors make decisions that are ethical, lawful and in the best interests of children and young people. The guidance states that all doctors have a duty to consider young patients’ needs and welfare and always act in their best interests. It covers a wide range of issues including: confidentiality; assessing a young person’s ability to make decisions about their treatment; child protection; sexual activity and contraception; access to medical records, and research involving children. The publication follows a three-month consultation with over 350 responses received from under 18s and nearly 600 from individual doctors, parents, organisations and the public. Young people gave us their views in the written consultation and directly by taking part in workshops around Wales and the UK. The cover of the new booklet is illustrated by a 13 year old winner from Northern Ireland who entered the GMC’s UK-wide competition to find a young designer.
The guidance states that doctors must:
Professor Sir Graeme Catto, GMC President said: “This is the first time the GMC has set standards for doctors specifically about children and young people. Previously our advice has only referred to children and young people where their position is different from that of adults; this document recognises that children are individuals with rights that should be respected.
“Throughout our consultation young people told the GMC that doctors don't always listen to them or take them seriously. We hope our new guidance will remind doctors of their ongoing duty to make an effort to communicate effectively with all their patients, including those who are under 18. The principles outlined in the guidance will provide a useful framework for doctors when they are faced with difficult situations. Craig Lambourne, Youth Mayor of Bridgend County Borough who was at the launch said“I think these guidelines will be good for young people, especially the one about involving young people in discussions. In the past young people were "talked at" through adults, usually their parents. It's important that young people get their voices heard and I’m glad that the GMC is taking the views of Wales’ young people seriously. In Wales we have a slogan your voice your choice!” Young designer from Flintshire awarded with iPod for winning poster19 April 2007The General Medical Council Wales (GMC) has today announced that Danielle Baines aged 14 from Connahs Quay High School is the Welsh regional winner of a UK-wide poster competition for under 18s. The GMC asked children and young people to design a poster depicting how they would like to be treated by their doctor. Danielle was presented with an iPod at her School by Natalie Drury, Head of Welsh Affairs, GMC. Danielle’s winning design was chosen from 87 entries from across Wales. The GMC, in partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust and Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity ran the competition as part of a three-month consultation to find out what young people think of doctors and what doctors could do better, so that when the new guidance is issued in September it will properly reflect their views. The consultation ended last month and the GMC received over 600 responses, with more than 350 from under 18s. Natalie Drury Head of Welsh Affairs for the GMC presented Danielle with her prize at Connahs Quay High School and said: “The design is superb. It chimes with what we’ve been hearing from the young people who’ve let us know what they want from their doctor -that young people are individuals with independent voices that need to be listened to and have rights that should be respected. Under 18s make up around a fifth of the Welsh population and have different needs and concerns to those of adults. This is the first time the GMC has set standards for doctors specifically about children and young people.” Danielle Baines said: "I’m very excited about winning the competition and the iPod. Its great that young people have been asked how they want to be treated by their doctors. I hope my poster shows that it’s important that doctors respect and listen to young people’s views.” The new guidance, to be launched in September states that doctors must always act in the best interests of children and young people and take into account their views. It covers a wide range of issues including confidentiality; assessing a young person’s ability to make decisions about their treatment; child protection; sexual activity and contraception.
Above: Competition winner Danielle Baines pictured centre with the winning design.
Above: Danielle Baines with teacher Vicki Smith and GMC Head of Welsh Affairs Natalie Drury. Notes to editorsPhotographs are attached at the end of this e-mail. The GMC’s poster competition was launched on 12 January 2007 by Coronation Street’s Helen Flanagan and closed on 2 March 2007. The GMC received 550 entries in total from across the UK. The overall UK winner was Paul McAleenan from County Down in Northern Ireland. Regional winners from Scotland, England and Wales have also received an iPod prize for their designs. The GMC’s Children’s Guidance consultation ran from 15 November 2006 to 2 March 2007. Over 600 responses were received. The final guidance is expected to be issued in September 2007. The General Medical Council licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK. Our purpose is summed up in the phrase: Regulating doctors, Ensuring Good Medical Practice. The law gives us four main functions:
Welsh Political Party Conferences25 March 2007Political parties in Wales are in pre-election campaign mode and all have held conferences in the coming weeks. Our aim this year was to communicate the positive work of the GMC such as the Children and Young People's guidance consultation, Good Medical Practice and the bilingual Wales specific leaflet on "How to complain about your doctor". We delivered a short presentation at each conference to candidates and AMs (in conjunction with other health organisations), to outline our key areas of work to the Assembly Members and prospective candidates. This exercise will help ensure that newly elected AMs understand the work of the GMC here in Wales and was well received at all conferences. Health Minister Dr Brian Gibbons said: "The GMC has an important role in regulating the medical profession. As former GP, I know how valuable their role is. We work closely with the GMC in Wales on a range of issues to continually improve the medical profession, for the benefit of staff and patients. Recently, the GMC launched an updated the Good Medical Practice document, which emphasises the need to fully take the patient's experience into account, discussing with them the course of treatment and to give them more information so that they are in a better position to manage their condition more effectively. This will ultimately improve their health, quality of life, and reduce pressure, in the long-term on the health service. Conservative Health Spokesman Jonathan Morgan AM said "The GMC in Wales has an excellent track record of working with AMs and has developed a swift relationship with candidates who are seeking election. The ability of the health sector in all its guises to motivate and inform candidates has not gone un-noticed." Swansea Medical School Professionalism Day15 March 2007Swansea Medical Students were today holding their professionalism day. The GMC was invited to speak and Natalie Drury, Head of Welsh Affairs went along to speak to them about the work of the GMC and what "Professionalism" means to us as a Regulator and to them as the doctors of the future. Over 70 F1 students attended and were keen hear about the work of the GMC and how it relates to them. A lively discussion ensued after the presentation with questions ranging from Student Fitness to Practise, Civil Standard of Proof and Good Medical Practice. This was an opportunity for the doctors of the future to gain a better understanding of our functions and hopefully have a positive early experience of the General Medical Council. GMC helps patients in Wales who have concerns about their doctor20 February 2007A new booklet has been published by the General Medical Council (GMC) for patients in Wales explaining what to do if they are unhappy with their doctor's medical practice. The GMC has produced the information as part of an ongoing campaign to improve patients' access to information about GMC procedures. Hard copies of the leaflet, available in Welsh and English, will be sent to all NHS complaints officers in Wales to assist them in advising patients who have concerns. The leaflet will also be available from the GMC website. The booklet offers patients advice about what to do if they think their doctor is not fit to practise or may be a risk to patients. It includes a number to call if patients want to discuss their concern or are not sure whether to report a doctor. The booklet also includes information for patients about other organisations in Wales that may be able to assist them if they have concerns about their doctor. The GMC's purpose is to ensure patient safety and is responsible for ensuring that doctors in the UK meet the standards of good medical practice it sets for them. The GMC deals with serious complaints that may affect a doctor's fitness to practise . It can take action to stop a doctor from practicing or to restrict their practice in some way. There are currently 9,871 doctors on the medical register whose registered address is in Wales. In 2006 the GMC received 137 complaints about some of these doctors. Twelve doctors from Wales appeared before fitness to practice panels in 2006. Natalie Drury, Head of Welsh Affairs says: “The GMC regulates the medical profession and we can only do this effectively if patients understand the complaints process and come forward when they have concerns about a doctor's fitness to practice. “Most complaints are settled locally, often with the help of the local Community Health Council, however it is very important that members of the public understand the role of the GMC and when and how to complain to us if they need to. In 2007 we will be launching an online complaints facility and DVD to ensure patients understand what will happen once they've made their complaint.” To read the leaflet in English or Welsh or for more information on the GMC go to: http://www.gmc-uk.org. CMC yn helpu cleifion yng Nghymru y mae ganddynt bryderon am eu meddyg20 Chwefror 2007Mae'r Cyngor Meddygol Cyffredinol (CMC) wedi cyhoeddi llyfryn newydd i gleifion yng Nghymru, sy'n esbonio'r hyn i'w wneud os na fyddant yn fodlon â'r gwaith meddygol a wneir gan eu meddyg. Mae CMC wedi paratoi'r wybodaeth fel rhan o ymgyrch barhaus i wella'r cyfleoedd i gleifion droi at wybodaeth am weithdrefnau CMC. Dosbarthir copïau caled o'r daflen, a fydd ar gael yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg, i bob swyddog cwynion y Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol yng Nghymru, i'w cynorthwyo wrth iddynt roi cyngor i gleifion y mae ganddynt bryderon. Bydd y daflen ar gael ar wefan CMC hefyd. Mae'r llyfryn yn cynnig cyngor i gleifion am yr hyn i'w wneud os byddant o'r farn nad yw eu meddyg yn addas i wneud gwaith meddyg, neu eu bod yn peri perygl i gleifion. Mae'n cynnwys rhif i ffonio os bydd cleifion yn dymuno trafod eu pryder neu os nad ydynt yn siwr a ddylent riportio meddyg neu beidio. Yn ogystal, mae'r llyfryn cynnwys gwybodaeth i gleifion am sefydliadau eraill yng Nghymru a allai eu cynorthwyo os oes ganddynt bryderon am eu meddyg. Diben CMC yw sicrhau diogelwch cleifion ac mae'n gyfrifol am sicrhau bod meddygon yn y DU yn bodloni safonau gwaith meddygol da y mae'n gosod ar eu cyfer. Mae CMC yn delio â chwynion difrifol a allai effeithio ar addasrwydd meddyg i wneud gwaith meddyg. Mae'n gallu cymryd camau i atal meddyg rhag gwneud gwaith meddyg neu gyfyngu ar eu gwaith mewn rhyw ffordd. Ar hyn o bryd, mae'r gofrestr feddygol yn cynnwys 9,871 o feddygon y mae eu cyfeiriad cofrestredig yng Nghymru. Yn 2006, cafodd CMC 137 o gwynion am rai o'r meddygon hyn. Ymddangosodd deuddeg meddyg o Gymru gerbron paneli addasrwydd i wneud gwaith meddyg yn 2006. Mae Natalie Drury, Pennaeth Materion Cymreig yn dweud: “Mae CMC yn rheoleiddio'r proffesiwn meddygol, a'r unig ffordd y gallwn wneud hyn yn effeithiol yw sicrhau bod cleifion yn deall y broses gwyno, a'u bod yn troi atom pan fydd ganddynt bryderon am addasrwydd meddyg i wneud gwaith meddyg. “Caiff y rhan fwyaf o gwynion eu setlo yn lleol, yn aml gyda chymorth y Cyngor Iechyd Cymuned lleol, fodd bynnag, mae'n bwysig iawn bod y cyhoedd yn deall rôl CMC, yn ogystal â phryd a sut i gwyno i ni os bydd angen iddynt wneud hynny. Yn 2007, byddwn yn lansio cyfleuster cwyno ar-lein a DVD i sicrhau bod cleifion yn deall yr hyn fydd yn digwydd ar ôl iddynt gwyno.” I ddarllen y daflen yn Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg, neu os hoffech gael rhagor o wybodaeth, trowch at: http://www.gmc-uk.org.
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Above: Dr Ieuan Davies is picture holding a copy of "0:18 years: Guidance for all doctors" as a patient arrives at the hospital.
Above: Dr Ieuan Davies discusses treatment with 16 year old Ed Scott at the Children's Hospital for Wales 
