Doctors assisting in our investigations
When someone raises serious concerns about a doctor’s behaviour, health or performance, we investigate to decide whether patient safety, or public confidence in doctors is at risk.
Learn more about the type of concerns we can investigate and the actions we may take.
During our fitness to practise investigations, we may need to contact doctors and ask them to assist us as a witness, as they may have relevant information.
What is expected of you?
We will tell you when we contact a doctor to request their help in our investigation.
We do this so you can signpost the doctor to additional support. Or make any other relevant persons – who can also provide support - aware of the doctor’s involvement in our investigation.
Primary care
If you think it’s appropriate, please signpost the doctor-witness to any local support available.
If the doctor-witness may have more appropriate local support, such as from their GP practice manager, please let that person know so that more appropriate local support can be offered.
Please carefully consider the doctor-witness’s situation and only share information that’s necessary.
Secondary care
Please signpost the doctor-witness to any local support that may be available. This might include:
- their employer’s occupational health services
- NHS England’s staff mental health and wellbeing hubs
- Citizens Advice Witness Service.
Further information and support
We'll give the doctor-witness guidance on what to expect. However, you may wish to also signpost doctors to our Independent Support Service, or these support organisations.
