College responds to Williams Review

12 Jun 2018

Responding today to the publication on Monday of Sir Norman Williams’ review into issues relating to gross negligence manslaughter, Professor David Galloway, the President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, said:

“While the College will take time to fully consider this significant report and its series of recommendations, we welcome its swift publication.

“We particularly welcome the recommendation that the GMC should fall into line with other regulators and lose the power of appeal against the findings of doctors’ disciplinary hearings.

“This College also looks forward to working as a member of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges to take forward the report’s recommendations on medical experts in medico-legal practice, and in producing guidance on reflection and reflective practice. The potential use of reflective practice in direct clinical care and medico-legal practice has been a significant area of concern for our membership, and so we must develop systems and processes which protect the best interests of patients and the medical profession together.

“We must use this opportunity to dismantle the corrosive “blame culture” within the NHS, which is so detrimental to patient safety.”

Category: Workforce