June-30-2015 in Healthcare Law
The Medical Council recently published its Annual Report for 2014. Aisling Malone of Hayes solicitors summarises the trends in the general profile of the profession and also in the Medical Council’s complaints process.
The Annual Report includes extracts from the Medical Council’s annual Workforce Intelligence Report which gives an interesting insight into the profession’s profile. As of December 2014, there were 19,049 doctors registered with the Council, an increase of 889 doctors on 2013 figures. In 2014, one in ten young doctors exited the profession in Ireland; 41% of registered doctors were female; 46.3% of doctors were registered as specialists and 21.4% of doctors were aged 55 or older.
Research conducted by the Medical Council early in 2014 on the views of the profession and public about what it means to be a good doctor is also referenced. The earlier report, “Talking about good professional practice” found high levels of trust in the profession, with over 90% of patients satisfied with the care they received from their doctor.
Complaints trends
One of the Medical Council’s core functions however, is the investigation of complaints against registered medical practitioners. It received 308 complaints in 2014, down from approximately 400 in 2013. For a consecutive year, the majority of complaints fell within the category of Responsibilities to Patients, which includes issues such as professional skills, physical and intimate examinations, communication and end of life care.
More complaints were made against male doctors (263) than female (103). Doctors in the 46-55 age bracket were most frequently complained against and the vast majority of complaints were against doctors who are registered as specialists.
26 complaints were referred onwards to an Inquiry by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC), which screens complaints in the first instance. Eight complaints were referred to another body or authority and four doctors were referred for performance assessment of their practice.
19 Fitness to Practise Inquiries were completed, as compared to 39 in 2013. The Annual Report attributes this reduced Inquiry activity partly to the impact of the Corbally High Court judgment but also to factors beyond the Medical Council’s control, such as pending criminal investigations. Notably, only four Inquiries were held in public during 2014 which is significantly lower than the 25 held in 2013.
There were eight findings of professional misconduct and two findings of poor professional performance. Five cases resulted in no adverse finding and undertakings were accepted in four cases.
For further information please click on the link below to access a copy of the report http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/News-and-Publications/Reports/Annual-Report-and-Financial-Statements-2014.html.
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