Negligence Lawyer Welcomes Reforms To Regularly Assess Doctors Doctors Five-Year Checks Planned for 2012 08.02.2011 A medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell has welcomed reforms suggested by the House of Commons Health Committee to frequently assess if doctors are fit to practice. The recommendations, designed to prevent a repeat of the Shipman murders, come after a committee report found that identifying potentially dangerous doctors is often seen as an “almost insignificant part” of the appraisal process. Currently, doctors can go their whole career without facing any formal assessment of their competency. The General Medical Council (GMC) hopes to change this by introducing "revalidation" - a process that would see doctors being assessed throughout their careers - by the end of 2012. This would take the form of annual appraisal and a fuller meeting every five years in which doctors would be asked to demonstrate they meet clinical standards and were up to date on medical developments. Rachelle Mahapatra, a Partner in Irwin Mitchell’s Clinical Negligence team, said: “It is vital that the release of this new report leads to action on the number of issues that it raises in relation to regulating doctors. “So many of the cases we deal with emerge as a result of errors that are avoidable, and it is time that lessons are learnt and that steps are taken to help prevent any further terrible tragedies such as those seen under Dr Harold Shipman. “ Todmorden GP Shipman, from Hyde in Greater Manchester, murdered more than 200 people over a period of 23 years. Press contact James Clarke Press Officer +44 (0)161 838 3169 Email James Related articles 20.02.2019Handyman Devastated By Asbestos Cancer Diagnosis Calls On Ex-Butlins Filey Colleagues For Help 19.02.2019Light Aircraft Passengers At Risk Of Being Left Unable To Access Funds Due To Inadequate Insurance Rules 18.02.2019Essex Teenager Seriously Hurt By Drink And Drugs Driver Issues Road Safety Plea 18.02.2019Legal Experts Urge Abuse Survivors Not To Suffer In Silence After Teaching Assistant Carl Jones Jailed For Sex Offences 15.02.2019Transgender Man Fights For Right To Be Recognised As Father On Child's Birth Certificate 14.02.2019Former Shipyard Worker Seeks Answers After Lung Cancer Diagnosis Is Linked To Asbestos