“Patients before profit” standard to protect Doctor status

Commenting on the publication of his (Health Select) Committee’s report on the General Medical Council’s plan to undertake a full revalidation of all doctors, Health Select Committee member, Andrew George, is urging the GMC to ensure that its assessments enforce the highest possible ethical standards not only in relation to clinical decisions but financial and commercial ones as well.

This comes on the back of questions which the MP raised with the Health Secretary a few weeks ago.

Mr George said, “The new structures of the NHS present high risks for doctors. That’s why I hope that the GMC will help all doctors as they re-register and to ensure that they recognise the consequences of commissioning and patient referral decisions which might be challenged because of a perceived conflict of interest.”

Paragraph 74 & 75 of the Select Committee’s report were inserted at Mr George’s recommendation.