Category Archives: health
New era of five-yearly doctor checks starts
New era of five-yearly doctor checks starts
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt: “Doctors will get a chance to address deficiencies”
Regular checks on doctors’ skills will start from December, heralding the biggest shake-up in medical regulation for more than 150 years.
The UK’s 220,000 doctors will have annual appraisals, with a decision taken every five years on whether they are fit to continue working.
But it will be April 2016 before the vast majority of the first round of checks have been done.
The health secretary said it was about addressing “deficiencies” in skills.
Jeremy Hunt said that if doctors failed to satisfy the standards of the General Medical Council (GMC) they would be prevented from practising.
But he said the new system was about identifying where there were “gaps” in knowledge or skills and giving doctors a “chance to put those issues right”.
Carer shares views with politicians
CARERS from Inverclyde say their concerns are being taken seriously by the Scottish Parliament.
Eric Baxter • Published 13 Oct 2012 14:00
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HELPING CARERS: Christina Boyd and Duncan McNeil MSP at the Carers Parliament.
CARERS from Inverclyde say their concerns are being taken seriously by the Scottish Parliament.
The first ‘Carers Parliament’ took place at Holyrood attended by carers from Shetland to Dumfries.
Greenock carer Christina Boyd said ministers, MSPs, senior doctors and heads of social work all listened to the challenges that are faced by carers who also outlined the changes needed to improve their lives and the lives of those they care for.
Ms Boyd said: “The Carers Parliament shows that issues facing Scottish carers are being taken seriously and it gave us a chance to tell the people at the top what really matters.
“We often feel ignored and think that politicians and professionals make decisions without considering our point of view.”
She added: “I hope the Carers Parliament will help to change all that.
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