Random spot checks to ensure doctors keep skills up to date

RANDOM spot checks will be made by the Medical Council to ensure doctors are keeping their medical skills up to date.

From next year, all doctors will have to show that they are continuing to educate themselves and auditing their work

The new statutory requirement, part of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, came into force last month but were formally launched yesterday by the Minister for Health Mary Harney.

Medical Council president Professor Kieran Murphy said that for most doctors it was the formalisation in law of a process with which they were already engaged. Around half of doctors are already participating in training programmes on a voluntary basis.

All registered doctors are now required by law to join a professional competence scheme by May 1, 2011.

They will have to participate in 50 hours of continuing medical education during a full year, or 250 hours over a five-year period. Doctors will also become involved in auditing their performance and submit records that will be randomly checked by the council.

Prof Murphy said the council would be working with the training bodies to help doctors meet the required standard. Doctors refusing to participate in professional competence schemes could be brought before the council’s fitness to practice committee. “It is an important milestone for the medical profession and an important milestone for enhancing patient safety,” said Prof Murphy.

“It will ensure that all doctors are helped to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills during the course of their professional lives and will help ensure that patients are getting the highest possible standards and quality of care,” he pointed out.

Ms Harney said the statutory requirement was being introduced for one reason – to ensure patient safety.

“This is a significant step in implementing a modern, reformed system of regulation for the medical profession which will satisfy the public and the profession that medical practitioners are appropriately qualified and competent to practice in a safe manner on a continuing basis,” said the minister.