Hospital warned over safety and ‘undermining behaviour’

Regulators are carrying out “enhanced monitoring” of clinical radiology services at a major London hospital, after concerns about safety and “undermining behaviour”.

The General Medical Council introduced the special measures on the department at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow last month, it has emerged, after concerns were raised in the regulator’s annual survey by higher specialty trainees.

Enhanced monitoring is used when a department or hospital has failed to improve after concerns have been raised locally, and where the GMC feels the quality of training could affect patient safety or junior doctors’ ability to progress.

In relation to Northwick Park’s clinical radiology, issues highlighted included staff behaviour, whether there is a “supportive environment”, trainee safety, clinical supervision out of hours, educational supervision, and resources for trainers.

GMC medical director and director for education and standards Professor Colin Melville said it was concerned about “the quality of training in the department and undermining behaviours”.

He added: “We’ll continue to work closely with NHS England London to make sure an improvement plan is implemented. We will check that progress is being made to make sure trainees and registrants are working in a safe, supportive, and sustainable training environment.”

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: HSJ, 23 October 2024