Regulation 17 Additional responsibilities of responsible officers: prescribed connection under regulation 12

(1)

Where a responsible officer has responsibilities under regulation 13 in respect of a medical practitioner who has a prescribed connection with a designated body in accordance with regulation 12, the responsible officer has the following additional responsibilities to the extent that the medical practitioner concerned is practising in England.

(2)

The responsible officer must ensure that the medical practitioner has established systems and procedures which will enable them to carry out their responsibilities under regulation 16(2) effectively.

(3)

In relation to monitoring medical practitioners’ conduct and performance, the responsible officer must—

(a)

review regularly the general performance information held by the designated body, including clinical indicators relating to outcomes for patients;

(b)

identify any issues arising from that information relating to medical practitioners, such as variations in individual performance; and

(c)

take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that the designated body addresses any such issues.

(4)

In relation to ensuring that appropriate action is taken in response to concerns about medical practitioners’ conduct or performance, the responsible officer must take all reasonably practicable steps to—

(a)

ensure that the body for whom the medical practitioner is the responsible officer initiates investigations with appropriately qualified investigators;

(b)

ensure that procedures are in place to address concerns raised about the medical practitioner by patients or staff of that body or arising from any other source;

(c)

ensure that any investigation into the conduct or performance of a medical practitioner takes into account any other relevant matters within that body;

(d)

consider the need for further monitoring of the practitioner’s conduct and performance and take steps to ensure that this takes place where appropriate;

(e)

ensure that a medical practitioner who is subject to procedures under this paragraph is kept informed about the progress of the investigation;

(f)

ensure that procedures under this paragraph include provision for the medical practitioner’s comments to be sought and taken into account where appropriate;

(g)

where appropriate—

(i)

take any steps necessary to protect patients;

(ii)

recommend to the medical practitioner’s employer that the practitioner should be suspended or have conditions or restrictions placed on their practice; and

(h)

identify concerns and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to address these, including but not limited to—

(i)

requiring the medical practitioner to undergo training or retraining;

(ii)

offering rehabilitation services;

(iii)

providing opportunities to increase the medical practitioner’s work experience;

(i)

maintain accurate records of all steps taken in accordance with this paragraph.