The number of complaints received by GMC from Haemophiliacs & their families

The request was successful.

Dear General Medical Council,

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information:

How many complaints have been received regarding infection of HIV and Hepatitis C to Haemophiliacs from factor concentrates?

How many complaints have there been since 1990? (Regarding the above)

In what year was Roy Pounder part of the GMC investigating these complaints?

How many of these complaints were upheld?

Yours faithfully,

Sean Cavens

FOI, General Medical Council

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Working with doctors Working for patients

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take action when they are not met.

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FOI, General Medical Council

Dear Mr Cavens,

 

Your information request – IR1-2855531179

Thank you for your email dated 8 November, in which you ask for the number
of complaints regarding infection of HIV and Hepatitis C to Haemophiliacs
from factor concentrates since 1990, the number which were upheld and what
year was Roy Pounder part of the GMC investigating these complaints.

 

How we will consider your request

We’re going to look at your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA). The FOIA 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

 

 

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Christine Abdy (0161 923 6421), General Medical Council

Dear Mr Cavens

 

Your information request – IR1-2855531179

 

I would be grateful for clarification about part of your request.  You
ask: ‘ In what year was Roy Pounder part of the GMC investigating these
complaints?’   Could you please explain what you mean.

 

Thanks

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Christine Abdy

Information Access Officer

General Medical Council

 

 

From: FOI
Sent: 12 November 2020 15:53
To: [FOI #704516 email]
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - The number of complaints
received by GMC from Haemophiliacs & their families

 

Dear Mr Cavens,

 

Your information request – IR1-2855531179

Thank you for your email dated 8 November, in which you ask for the number
of complaints regarding infection of HIV and Hepatitis C to Haemophiliacs
from factor concentrates since 1990, the number which were upheld and what
year was Roy Pounder part of the GMC investigating these complaints.

 

How we will consider your request

We’re going to look at your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA). The FOIA 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

 

 

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Dear Christine Abdy (0161 923 6421),

At what point was Roy Pounder part of the disciplinary board investigating complaints from Haemophiliacs and/or relatives?

And does the Royal college of physicians play any part in advising the GMC in relation to these complaints under investigation?

Yours sincerely,

Sean Cavens

Dear Christine Abdy (0161 923 6421),

I’d already responded to this on the 30th November when you first ask for clarification.
Dear Christine Abdy (0161 923 6421),

At what point was Roy Pounder part of the disciplinary board investigating complaints from Haemophiliacs and/or relatives?

And does the Royal college of physicians play any part in advising the GMC in relation to these complaints under investigation?

Yours sincerely,

Sean Cavens

Yours sincerely,

Sean Cavens

Christine Abdy (0161 923 6421), General Medical Council

Thank you for your email.

I am unavailable until Tuesday 8 December with no access to my emails. If
you require any urgent assistance please contact the Information Access
Team on 0161 923 6365 or re-send your email to [GMC request email]

 

Christine Abdy

Information Access Officer

General Medical Council

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.

show quoted sections

Christine Abdy (0161 923 6421), General Medical Council

Dear Mr Cavens

 

Your information request – IR1-2855531179

 

Thank you for your email of 8 November, and clarification on 30
November.   I have considered your request under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.  I’m sorry for the delay in response.

 

Contaminated blood has had a devastating impact on patients and their
families, and our thoughts are with those who came to harm. The GMC is
working closely with the Infected Blood Inquiry and continues to provide
information for its investigations.

 

The GMC has identified 24 complaints relating to infection of HIV and
Hepatitis C to haemophiliacs from factor concentrates.   These involved 31
doctors and 22 complainants.   All the complaints were received since
1990.

 

I should explain that the GMC does not ‘uphold’ complaints.  We look for
issues that would bring into question a doctor's fitness to practise,
rather than the validity or accuracy of a complaint.  None of the 24
complaints led to findings of misconduct or impaired fitness to practise;
 the reasons for this will depend on each individual case and the guidance
followed by decision makers at the time. 

 

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) appoint a large pool of
tribunal members, whose role it is to make interim orders tribunal and
medical practitioners tribunal decisions.  Prior to the creation of the
MPTS, this function was carried out by GMC panels or committees.  The GMC
also employs Case Examiners, both medical and non-medical, who decide
whether a doctor should be referred to a tribunal for consideration of
whether any sanctions should be imposed on their registration.  A previous
similar role was undertaken by ‘screeners’.   We have no record of a Roy
Pounder having held any such roles at the GMC or MPTS.

 

The Royal College of Physicians does not play an advisory role in GMC
fitness to practise investigations.

 

I hope this is useful.  Please let me know if you have any queries.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Christine Abdy

Information Access Officer

General Medical Council

 

 

Dear Christine Abdy

 

 

At what point was Roy Pounder part of the disciplinary board investigating
complaints from Haemophiliacs and/or relatives?

 

 

 

And does the Royal college of physicians play any part in advising the GMC
in relation to these complaints under investigation?

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Sean Cavens

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Sean Cavens

 

 

 

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