IT beggars belief that doctors whose professional conduct has been called into question in one hospital can go off and get a job in another one quite easily and without their CVs being properly checked.
IT beggars belief that doctors whose professional conduct has been called into question in one hospital can go off and get a job in another one quite easily and without their CVs being properly checked. Last week, we saw a doctor found guilty at an Irish Medical Council fitness to practice inquiry of 28 counts of poor professional performance and six counts of professional misconduct during his time working in three hospitals.
In each of these hospitals his professionalism as a doctor had been called into question and there were internal sanctions, yet he was able to move from one hospital to another and secure further employment. Did the HR people involved not check up on him with the last place he worked? This is worrying as patients’ lives could be put at risk.
Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher has, rightly, called for stricter supervision of non-consultant hospital doctors in the interests of patient safety. He said that, notwithstanding staffing shortages, recruitment standards cannot be allowed to slip.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar needs to act urgently on the matter.
*****
Click here to sign up to our mailing list and get the best of West Cork delivered straight to your inbox.