UK government responds to the IMMDS Review - GMC statement
Today the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published their response to the 2020 Independent Medicine and Medical Devices Safety Review’s (IMMDS) First Do No Harm report, led by Baroness Julia Cumberlege.
The report highlighted patient stories of unacceptable harm caused by medicines and devices, alongside recommendations for the healthcare system to reflect and act upon. Once we have reviewed the DHSC's response we will publish our own in full.
Charlie Massey, Chief Executive of the General Medical Council, said:
‘The IMMDS review clearly highlighted where patients have been let down and harmed by system failures. We’ve listened carefully to those stories and are determined to work with others on the patient¬¬ safety improvements and increased transparency that the review rightly discusses.
‘Although we already explicitly require doctors to declare conflicts of interest, we agree that current arrangements for managing these have not always provided the assurance patients deserve. Any system must be patient focused and enforceable, providing accurate and accessible information that covers the entire multi-disciplinary team.
‘We believe these principles can be best addressed through the declaration and publication of interests at a local level, where the full context of a doctor’s work is understood. We are committed to working with the Department of Health and partners to develop a local solution which will work for patients, doctors, and employers alike.’
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