Two-thirds of GPs make changes after competency test

ALMOST two-thirds of general practitioners who were tested by their patients and peers in a pilot competency programme intend to make changes to their practice based on the feedback they received.

More than 3,000 patients took part in the Irish Medical Council’s professional practice review scheme, which is aimed at identifying problem doctors sooner rather than later.

The profession’s self-regulatory body had hoped that 200 GPs would participate in the pilot programme but had to make do with 147.

Under the new Medical Practitioners Act it will be mandatory for all doctors to maintain their competence and undergo performance assessments over a five year cycle.

The last meeting of the present council decided to publish the results of the pilot project on its website.

The assessment involved the confidential completion of questionnaires from patients, medical colleagues, non-medical colleagues and from doctors themselves.

Council president, Dr Colm Quigley, said the assessment was effective with almost two-thirds of doctors saying they would make changes to their practice based on their feedback.

Dr Quigley also claimed that the exercise confirmed the high standard of medicine in general practice in Ireland, which was similar to Canada’s.

The next pilot project, expected to get under way shortly, is likely to examine the non-clinical competence of hospital consultants.

Health Minister Mary Harney is expected to sign an order soon that will allow a run-in time of a year for the introduction of a mandatory competence programme for doctors.

The new council, announced by the minister last Friday, will be effective from May 31 next.

Dr Quigley pointed out that any fitness to practice complaints made up to the start the new council’s term of office would be dealt under the 1978 Medical Practitioners Act. It is estimated that there about 100 such cases.

The cases will be heard by members of the fitness to practice committee, who will hand over their reports to the new council for a decision under the rules of the 1978 act.

Dr Quigley pointed out that it would take about a year to clear all the outstanding cases.