Academy published report on Remediation of Doctors

The Academy today publishes its Remediation Working Group Report. The report looks at how medical Royal Colleges and Faculties might provide specialist input into remediation. It is a response to the Department of Health’s 2011 recommendations that medical royal colleges should produce guidance and also provide assessment and specialist input into remediation programmes. It follows on from the Academy’s 2009 remediation and revalidation report and the expectation that the medical Royal Colleges and Faculties should be “part of the solution” for the remediation of doctors. 
 
The Academy recognises that remediation remains the responsibility of the Designated Body and its Responsible Officer and any involvement of a College should be commissioned through them. The report focuses on supporting preventative activities in order to enable intervention at an earlier / low level stage of concern.
 
Key recommendations:
  • Direct involvement of a College in remediation should be commissioned by a Designated Body and underpinned by an agreement covering indemnity and funding
  • Colleges which provide invited reviews should agree a set of principles for the conduct and quality assurance of these reviews
  • Colleges should review their guidance and educational resources so that Designated Bodies can access them to support the remediation of early or low level concerns
  • Colleges should consider how they might encourage and develop the role of senior doctors who provide supervision for peers undergoing remediation
  • Future involvement of Colleges in remediation is likely to take place in partnership with other organisations such as NCAS via PSUs, particularly where complex interventions such as external placements are required.