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This article is for Medical Professionals

Professional Reference articles are designed for health professionals to use. They are written by UK doctors and based on research evidence, UK and European Guidelines. You may find one of our health articles more useful.

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There is no unchallengeable definition of the term 'underperforming doctor'. Nevertheless, some sort of working definition is useful for individual doctors, employing authorities and for patients. As a rule of thumb, an underperforming doctor is one who persistently fails to comply with the standards identified in the the GMC Handbook Good Medical Practice (GMP).[1]

The most significant word in the above paragraph is 'persistently'. Since we are all human and we all have our off days it is impossible to comply with all the GMC standards all the time. The definition of an underperforming doctor must therefore capture the sense that such a doctor has a tendency to underperform on numerous occasions.

Experts providing reports to GMC screeners are asked a) whether the doctor's performance was of a standard that could be expected of a reasonably competent medical practitioner and b) whether any such deficiency was serious. The term 'reasonably competent' is itself difficult to define but is meant to emphasise that a doctor's performance should be judged against that of a competent GP as they go about their daily business rather than that of an MRCGP examination candidate. 'Seriousness' again is a variable feast but is meant to encapsulate both the degree of deviation from acceptable standards and the harm that such deviation might bring to patients.

The duties of a doctor registered with the GMC[1]

GMP identifies these as follows:

  • Make the care of your patient your first concern.
  • Protect and promote the health of patients and the public.
  • Provide a good standard of practice and care.
  • Keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date.
  • Recognise and work within the limits of your competence.
  • Work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients' interests.
  • Treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity.
  • Treat patients politely and considerately.
  • Respect patients' right to confidentiality.
  • Work in partnership with patients.
  • Listen to patients and respond to their concerns and preferences.
  • Give patients the information they want or need in a way they can understand.
  • Respect patients' right to reach decisions with you about their treatment and care.
  • Support patients in caring for themselves to improve and maintain their health.
  • Be honest and open and act with integrity.
  • Act without delay if you have good reason to believe that you or a colleague may be putting patients at risk.
  • Never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues.
  • Never abuse your patients' trust in you or the public's trust in the profession.
  • You are personally accountable for your professional practice and must always be prepared to justify your decisions and actions.

The monitoring of performance can and should take place at many levels from the individual to the profession as a whole.

A very basic but important level is the individual clinician. Individual monitoring can be as simple as five minutes of self-reflection, mulling over the patients seen that session, over a cup of coffee. More formal methods, such as the 'patient's unmet needs' (PUNs) and a 'doctor's educational needs' (DENs) logs, individual audits and personal development plans (PDPs), are all tried and tested methods of gaining evidence suitable for external review.

At practice level, the following all create an environment in which the monitoring of professional standards should flourish:

  • Significant event analysis/serious untoward incident reporting.[2]
  • Discussion of near misses.
  • Informal exchange between members of the primary care team.

Primary Care Organisations have had a limited role to play in the monitoring of individual practitioners but they are currently one of the bodies to whom the whistle-blower may first turn.[3]

Revalidation

The appraisal and revalidation process is driven by the GMC. Local Primary Care Organisations deliver the appraisal and revalidation process to nationally agreed criteria. See the separate Revalidation - Current State of Play article.

The GMC guidance 'Good Medical Practice' states:[1]

If you have concerns that a colleague may not be fit to practise and may be putting patients at risk, you must ask for advice from a colleague, your defence body or from the GMC. If you are still concerned, you must report this, in line with GMC guidance and your workplace policy, and make a record of the steps you have taken.

When a colleague underperforms, a judgement needs to be made in the same way as any other judgement made in general practice. A range of options should be considered and the risks and benefits of each evaluated. The least 'invasive' action would be a quiet chat with the person involved. They may have a perfectly reasonable explanation for their actions or they may be able to identify a system failure requiring a change of protocol which would affect the whole practice. The colleague may welcome an opportunity to 'offload'; or, they may see the approach as an unwarranted intrusion into their private and professional life.

Other options - which should be considered if there is the slightest risk to patient safety - would include approaching other members of the practice team (eg, the practice manager or the senior partner), reporting the matter to the Primary Care Organisation or contacting the GMC.

This situation is never easy and an unwarranted accusation unsupported by evidence may result in a counter-allegation which may result in the whistle-blower themself getting into trouble. This is why, before embarking on any of these options, a call to one's medical defence organisation would be a wise move.

Possible causes of underperformance

The causes of a doctor to underperform cover a range of very different problems - for example:

Personal

  • Poor training for general practice.
  • Lack of continuing education.
  • Isolation from colleagues.
  • Physical health problems.
  • Mental health problems, including alcohol and drug abuse.
  • Stress related to work or to domestic situations.
  • Low morale.
  • Burnout.
  • Excessive workload.

Practice

  • Poor practice infrastructure.
  • Poor relationships within the practice.
  • Poor premises and facilities.
  • Financial pressures.
  • Inadequate staffing levels.

There is also a clear link between the health and well-being of a doctor and the organisation in which they work.[4]

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Further reading and references

  1. Good Medical Practice - 2013; General Medical Council (last updated 2020).

  2. McKay J, Bradley N, Lough M, et al; A review of significant events analysed in general practice: implications for the quality and safety of patient care. BMC Fam Pract. 2009 Sep 110:61.

  3. Cox SJ, Holden JD; Presentation and outcome of clinical poor performance in one health district over a 5-year period: 2002-2007. Br J Gen Pract. 2009 May59(562):344-8.

  4. Cohen D, Rhydderch M; Measuring a doctor's performance: personality, health and well-being. Occupational Medicine 2006 56(7):438-440.

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