26.08.15
GP trainees unable to see patients after NHS England blunder
More than 40 GP trainees were left unable to work after NHS England failed to include their names on the medical performers list (MPL).
The GPs, from Oxfordshire and the West Midlands, could not train or treat patients over three weeks because of the blunder, described by the BMA as “unacceptable”.
BMA GPs committee deputy chair, Richard Vautrey, said the mistake left doctors “in limbo”.
“At a time when general practice is buckling under pressure from rising patient demand, falling resources and staff shortages, we need to ensure every potential new GP is given the best training opportunities possible so they can deliver first-rate care to patients in the future.
“It is unacceptable that failures in routine processes are stopping doctors from being available to engage in training and treat patients. On a personal level, these doctors are being left in limbo by delays to their registration," Vautrey said.
He added that the error would affect the current GP “workforce crisis” as their training would have to be extended, causing potential delays to their qualification date.
The MPL, which is managed by NHS England, allows doctors to practise in primary care. Medical practitioners cannot perform any primary medical services if they are not general medical practitioners included in a medical performs list in the UK.
NHS England recognised the mistake and disruption caused but said it was a “rare” event.
A spokesperson said they were taking the steps to prevent similar blunders in the future and added: “In many cases, these young doctors were included on the MPL within a week. This incident is being treated by NHS England as a significant event.”
The mistake hit two separate locations, with 14 trainees in the West Midlands and 30 GPs in the Thames Valley being suspended from care services.
This comes just a few days after the RCGP welcomed plans to provide specialist training for paramedics to alleviate the pressure on over-stretched GPs.
Paramedics would undergo a four-month training course to provide out of hours GP services.
Recently Dr Ajit Kadirgamar, a GP for more than 20 years and clinical lead at The Practice group, also told NHE in our July/August edition: “With the access we currently provide, [general practice] is already at full stretch, and we have some major recruitment and workforce issues.”
He added that there is currently a “perfect storm” of GPs leaving the profession, retirements, and fewer people choosing the profession when they exit medical school.