DoH announces patient safety checks

The Department of Health (DoH) has announced new plans to protect patient safety in the health service.

According to the report from chief medical officer for England Sir Liam Donaldson, Medical Revalidation – Principles and Next Steps, doctors will be required to renew their professional registration every five years.

This move aims to give patients assurance physicians are practising to the standards expected by the public, patients and profession itself.

Under the new plans, patients will also be asked for their views on their doctor, including communication, involving patients in treatment decisions, care coordination and support for self-care and treating patients with dignity and respect.

Sir Liam said: “I’m confident that this process, agreed with doctors’ representatives will help raise standards of medical practice and improve the quality of the patient experience.”

He added the involvement of the public and patients in this process will help define good healthcare and help doctors renew their registration in the rare cases where they are falling short.

Last month, the DoH outlined plans to assess compassion of care in nursing as part of plans to revolutionise the measure of quality of care of nursing provided on the NHS.