GMC takes action to protect trainees and ensure patient safety at Norfolk hospital department
The General Medical Council (GMC) has placed conditions on the Medicine and Surgery departments at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, following repeated concerns about handover, clinical supervision and inappropriate behaviour.
The regulator, which is responsible for quality assuring postgraduate medical training, has applied the conditions to address longstanding concerns about clinical supervision and racist and misogynistic behaviours in Medicine and Surgery.
A process called enhanced monitoring is the way the GMC ensures organisations address serious concerns about training. If those concerns are not fully addressed the GMC can then place conditions on its approval of a training programme.
The conditions are designed to ensure standards can be met on a sustainable basis, and that patient safety and trainee wellbeing is maintained. Ultimately, if conditions are not met, trainees can be removed from the site.
Professor Colin Melville, Medical Director and Director for Education and Standards at the GMC said:
‘We have placed conditions on Medicine and Surgery at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to ensure long-standing concerns are addressed.
‘Despite ongoing work with the trust for two years, doctors in training in these departments continue to report a range of concerns, including racist and misogynistic behaviours, which need to be addressed as a priority. There are also concerns around the clinical supervision of doctors in training, handover processes and access to educational opportunities.
‘Our standards require training pathways to be fair for everyone to ensure effective training, trainee wellbeing and patient safety are maintained – but these are not currently being met.
‘Our priority is to make sure doctors are receiving a high standard of training in an environment that is inclusive, supportive, and fair for everyone.'
The GMC receives information about training from various sources, including its annual national training survey where doctors in training and trainers feedback on their experiences. In some instances, the GMC may activate enhanced monitoring procedures to protect patients and training.
Conditions will be regularly reviewed by NHS England – East of England and the GMC.
