• The General Medical Council has published a new report which highlights that BAME doctors are twice as likely to be referred for fitness to practise concerns.
• The report recommends a new UK-wide framework with standards for effective feedback and induction.
• It suggests an improved performance assessment that identifies and addresses systemic issues and responds to concerns in context.
• It calls for senior leaders to regularly engage with staff and implement strategies to ensure fairness.
• The report also recommends establishing a UK-wide mechanism to deliver the recommendations, share good practice and monitor results.
  
  

Responding to the report published by the General Medical Council on the disproportionate referrals of BAME doctors to fitness to practise processes, the director of policy and strategy of NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin, said:

“At the heart of the NHS’ core values are respect and dignity, compassion and inclusion. We know that there is strong evidence linking a diverse workforce and good patient care and it is also important that the NHS has an engaged and inclusive leadership which reflects the diversity of its workforce and of its local population.

“These findings are therefore troubling, and show just how important it is that we invest in support for equality and diversity across the health and care sector.

Trusts are already working hard to ensure staff are treated fairly and with the respect they deserve, for example by introducing initiatives to improve culture and staff engagement, but there is clearly more to be done.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

“Trusts are already working hard to ensure staff are treated fairly and with the respect they deserve, for example by introducing initiatives to improve culture and staff engagement, but there is clearly more to be done. This consistent, high-quality leadership is a crucial element for improvement in these areas.

This report helpfully provides practical recommendations to reduce disproportionality in fitness to practise referrals and to remove barriers to opportunities for BAME staff.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

“This report helpfully provides practical recommendations to reduce disproportionality in fitness to practise referrals and to remove barriers to opportunities for BAME staff. The report also highlights the need to do more to learn from incidents and to continue to tackle the blame culture in the NHS more generally.”