Information Commissioner's DN IC-46060-J1P6 - Threshold for a formal investigation
Dear General Medical Council,
Decision notice DN IC-46060-J1P6 refers to the threshold used to determine whether a formal investigation should take place into the clinical care provided by a doctor to a patient:
https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-tak...
'4. The Commissioner understands that the complainant submitted a complaint to the GMC in 2018 about the clinical care provided to one of his close relatives by a doctor (the Doctor). The GMC considered the complaint and decided to gather further evidence to determine whether the allegations exceeded the threshold for a formal investigation.'
For each of the past 3 years, please provide:
1. the number of doctors about whom you (i) received and (ii) considered complaints;
2. the number of doctors about whom the complaints you (i) received and (ii) considered related to clinical care provided;
3. the number of complaints related to clinical care about which you decided to gather further evidence to determine whether the allegations exceeded the threshold for a formal investigation;
4. the number of complaints related to clinical care about which you decided that the allegations exceeded the threshold for a formal investigation;.
5. statistical information on the outcome of all investigations related to clinical care.
Finally,
6. Please provide a copy of any guidance you have related to determining the threshold for a formal investigation.
Yours faithfully,
J Roberts
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Information Access team
General Medical Council
Email: [GMC request email]
Working with doctors Working for patients
The General Medical Council helps to protect patients and improve medical
education and practice in the UK by setting standards for students and
doctors. We support them in achieving (and exceeding) those standards, and
take action when they are not met.
Dear J Roberts,
Your information request – IR1-2878872531
Thank you for your email dated 7 December, in which you ask for the below:
1. the number of doctors about whom we received and considered
complaints;
2. the number of doctors about whom the complaints related to clinical
care provided;
3. the number of complaints related to clinical care about which we
decided to gather further evidence to determine whether the allegations
exceeded the threshold for a formal investigation;
4. the number of complaints related to clinical care about which we
decided that the allegations exceeded the threshold for a formal
investigation;.
5. statistical information on the outcome of all investigations related
to clinical care.
6. A copy of any guidance you have related to determining the threshold
for a formal investigation.
How we will consider your request
We’re going to look at your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA). This gives us 20 working days to respond but we’ll come back
to you as soon as we can.
Who to contact
Christine Abdy will be handling your request. If you have any questions
you can contact her via email at [1][email address].
Yours sincerely
Lauren Barrowcliffe
Information Access Team Assistant
[2][email address]
General Medical Council
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3AW
Dear J Roberts
Please find attached our response to your request dated 7 December 2020.
Regards
Christine Abdy
Information Access Officer
General Medical Council
J Roberts left an annotation ()
This recent FTT appeal (information rights) concerns an appellant's attempt to obtain details of the professional qualifications held by the Triage Assistant Registrar who decided that her complaint against a particular doctor should not be investigated. Appeal dismissed.
EA/2020/0150V
https://informationrights.decisions.trib...
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J Roberts left an annotation ()
The appeal concerned the following request:
“I wish to make a Freedom of Information request for the qualifications and area of psychiatry of the Expert who provided advise into [the Doctor’s name redacted] conduct."
The GMC refused the request and the complainant's complaint to the IC was not upheld.