Health Committee Revalidation Inquiry Takes On Board BMA Concerns



The British Medical Association (BMA) is pleased that the Health Committee’s inquiry into the General Medical Council’s (GMC) proposed revalidation processes, published today, has taken on some of the BMA concerns. 

Dr Hamish Meldrum, BMA Chairman of Council said: 

“I am pleased that the Health Committee agrees that the revalidation process needs to be streamlined and more realistic in what it is trying to achieve. It is also reassuring to note that the Committee concurs that more guidance and detail is required for responsible officers to deal with concerns about a doctor’s performance.

 The process to revalidate doctors has been in discussion for over ten years and this demonstrates that the original proposals were too bureaucratic and unrealistic. It would be better to build on what we have and standardise doctors’ appraisals throughout the UK. The appraisal process could then be regularly improved and used as a tool to give doctors better feedback about their performance so that patient care can be improved even further.

 Unfortunately it is not always the case that sufficient information exists from the appraisal system about a doctor’s performance. Appraisal systems around the country remain patchy, a fact that has been highlighted by the inquiry. The BMA has received reports that some doctors are not being appraised and some do not even have access to data from their Trust to enable them to be appraised effectively.

 I urge the GMC to take note of this inquiry and work with doctors to ensure that revalidation is delivered on time and benefits patients and doctors.”

Man Charged With Serious Assaults

A 29-year-old man has been charged with attacks on three men in the Muswell Hill area of London. Ali Koc, 29 of Hornsey has been charged with the attempted murder and GBH with intent of a 67-year old man in Muswell Hill; attempted murder and GBH with intent of an 84-year-old man near Wood Vale; attempt to cause GBH with intent on a 37-year old man in north London and attempt to cause GBH with intent on a 63-year old man near Wood Vale. On Wednesday 5 January, a 67-year-old man was found unconscious near the gates of Alexandra Park, Alexandra Palace Way by a member of the public. He had sustained serious head injuries and remains in a critical condition in an east London hospital. Next-of-kin have been informed. It is not currently known how long the victim had been lying on the floor prior to being found. On Friday 28 January, a 63-year-old man was attacked in Queen's Wood, near Wood Vale. He suffered minor injuries and did not need hospital treatment. On Monday 31 January, police were called by the ambulance service after a member of the public found an 84-year-old man with serious head injuries in Queen's Wood, near Wood Vale. He remains in a critical but stable condition in a north London hospital. Next-of-kin have been informed.

Chemical Firm Sentenced After Worker Suffers Toxic Burns

A chemical company has been sentenced after a worker suffered toxic burns to his arms and chest at an Ellesmere Port factory. The employee at Abacus Chemical Ltd was mixing two chemicals together on 7 May 2009 when they exploded, causing him to be drenched in a hot, toxic chemical solution. The company was prosecuted in a joint case brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency following the incident at its plant on Oil Sites Road in Ellesmere Port. Chester Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Knutsford, heard that the company had mixed 22 kilograms of sodium cyanide pellets with hydrogen peroxide to make them less toxic. By taking this action, Abacus avoided having to pay a licensed hazardous waste company to dispose of the pellets at a cost of less than £300. Abacus Chemical Ltd, of Greenfield Business Centre, Greenfield, North Wales, pleaded guilty to three health, safety and environmental offences on 3 February 2011. The company, which no longer has an operating site, was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £14,000 in prosecution costs. The court was told that the company did not have a permit to mix the chemicals, failed to carry out an assessment of the risks, and did not provide protective clothing or adequate equipment. The 58-year-old worker from Barrow-in-Furness required skin grafts to his arms and chest, and has suffered permanent scarring. He has not returned to work since the incident. The HSE investigation found that the chemicals reacted in an exothermic explosion, most likely caused by nearly five times the amount of hydrogen peroxide than was needed being mixed with the sodium cyanide pellets. Abacus Chemical Ltd’s director, Michael St. Amour, was also cautioned for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act, Environmental Permitting Regulations, and Hazardous Waste Regulations.

(BMcN/GK)