|
Good afternoon, Welcome to this issue of Medical Council News. In this issue we look at the Cole’s Medical practice in New Zealand chapter on ‘Doctors’ Health’ and the work of the Council’s Health Committee, the achievement and recognition of Professor Pat Alley, the first New Zealander to be awarded the Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC) Clinical Educator of the Year Award in mid November, and advice about some changes to our Statement on medical certification. In September 2012, Dr Steven Lillis, the Council’s Medical Adviser wrote in Medical Council News, ‘Every week the Council receives complaints or concerns about doctors. They may come from patients, colleagues, the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC), ACC or others. The complaints may be minor or serious, but the one thing they all have in common is that they are all assessed by our complaints triage team (CTT). Meeting every week, the CTT comprises the Council’s Chair, Chief Executive, Registrar, two Medical Advisers, Professional Standards Manager, Senior Policy Adviser and a Council lay member. Usually, the number of cases discussed each week is between eight and twelve’. The referrals can range from competence issues such as poor communication with patients to serious conduct issues, for example sexual assault. Over the past 18 months there has been an increase in the number of cases managed through the CTT, particularly those that relate to doctors’ competence. Each referral is considered by the CTT who may seek a response from the doctor, before reviewing the concern and making a decision as to whether the matter needs to be referred to the Council. Council then decides what, if any steps need to be taken. Such steps could be:
- whether to proceed with a performance assessment;
- or to refer the concern to a professional conduct committee.
This increase in the number of notifications, particularly those relating to concerns about competence, has resulted in an increased number of cases considered by the full Council, and an increased number of performance assessments ordered. The subsequent processes we need to go through are time and resource consuming for the Council members and staff as well as the doctors involved. The table below shows the numbers of competence related cases that have been referred to Council and the number of performance assessments carried out in the last 3 financial years.
| Financial Year | Competence cases to council | Performance assessments ordered |
|---|
| 1 July 2010 - 30 June 2011 | 36 | 22 |
| 1 July 2011 - 30 June 2012 | 60 | 30 | | 1 July 2012 - 30 June 2013 | 43 | 32 | The average performance assessment takes between 3 and 6 months, or longer to complete. Although these processes do take up considerable time and resources, they are critical to maintaining standards and giving health consumer’s confidence about the competence and fitness to practise of all doctors. After four years as Chair, I have decided to resign from Council as from mid February. I leave with the organisation in a strong position and with a productive and important strategic agenda. Farewell from me. With best wishes
Dr John Adams
Chairperson
Medical Council of New Zealand
Stop press
The Medical Council office has moved offices because the building it occupied did not meet earthquake building codes. The Council office has relocated to 17-21 Whitmore Street, Wellington. Although we are at a new location, our contact details remain unchanged - our postal address is still: PO Box 11649
Manners Street
Wellington 6142 and our phone numbers remain: Freephone: 0800 286 801 (for calls within New Zealand only)
Phone: +64 4 384 7635 as do all Council staff phone numbers and email addresses. Click on the following link to see our new location on Google maps: http://goo.gl/maps/Cs32u
|
