SFTP – GMC Policy updates Clare Owen, Policy Manager

Introduction  GMP 2013  MSC & GMC SFTP survey  Mental health guidance  Provisional Registration  Policy updates

Good Medical Practice

GMP Changes  Aligned with appraisal framework for revalidation.  Doctors must ensure their patients are receiving basic care.  New duties relating to community care.  Mentoring – doctors should be willing to support junior colleagues.

Good Medical Practice

Work to be done  Updating the SFTP guidance to reflect the new version of GMP  How to make the updated guidance relevant to medical students?  An opportunity to look again at the advice we give to medical schools

MSC & GMC Survey  In 2012 both organisations carried out a joint survey on SFTP  The first part of the survey looked at the relationships between different bodies involved in the SFTP process.  The second part asked for views of the current joint guidance on SFTP and how it might be improved.  23 medical schools responded

Survey results  17 schools explicitly said that they found the guidance helpful  2 schools said the guidance was not helpful  Medical schools would like more practical examples and case studies which show how the guidance should be applied in practise.

Survey results More guidance was requested on:  The link between SFTP and provisional registration.  The relationship between SFTP and health and disability

Mental health guidance  Based on research  Due to be published in July 2013

Mental health guidance Key points:  Medical schools should put measures in place to promote good mental health and wellbeing in their students.  Staff should not treat students

Mental health guidance Key points:  Confidentiality policies  Monitoring students  SFTP processes can be used to remove a student from the course but they must only be used as a last resort.

Provisional registration Update on 2012 registration process:  7182 applications from UK medical schools  520 made a positive declaration  447 needed further investigation  7 were taken to a panel for further consideration  4 were refused registration

Provisional registration Applicant A:  Sent inappropriate s – medical school investigated  Student uncooperative with investigation  Criticised academic staff  Some health issues and lacking insight

Provisional registration Applicant B:  Investigated by medical school in 2011 for a range of issues  These issues included dishonesty and failing to follow instructions.

Provisional registration Applicant C:  Convicted of assault following the consumption of illegal drugs  Lack of candour with the medical school and the GMC about the offence  Lack of insight  No evidence that they had support services in place to prevent a relapse of their drug use

Provisional registration Applicant D:  Subject to FTP panel in July 2012 which looked at their health and conduct  There was evidence of cognitive impairment  Misconduct included a lack of engagement and unpredictable outbursts  The medical school panel found the student fit to graduate but had concerns

Policy updates  GMC letter to VC’s about only graduating students who are FTP.  MSC database of excluded students.  Pool of panellists to hear F1 appeals  FTP and TOI

Questions