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Found 500 results
  1. News Article
    A woman was imprisoned for falsely pretending to be a psychiatrist with the NHS for more than 20 years has now been asked to pay back over £400,000 to the health service or face even more jail time. The 62-year-old woman, Zholia Alemi was sentenced to seven years in jail after she was found guilty of committing a string of frauds. Alemi had claimed that she got her qualifications from University of Auckland in New Zealand, however, a jury at Manchester Crown Court found that she had forged the degree certificate along with the letter of verification she used in 1995 to register herself with the General Medical Council. The Manchester Crown Court was told that Alemi, who is from Burnley moved across the country to work in a series of positions, which included posts in Greater Manchester to make sure that 'the finger of suspicion' did not point at her. Adrian Foster, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order. Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. "She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years. In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk. "Her fraudulent actions also enabled her to dishonestly earn income and benefits more than £1million, to which she was not entitled. She cheated the public purse and £406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS." Read full story Source: Wales Online, 5 June 2025
  2. News Article
    Doctors trust a parent’s gut instinct that their child is becoming severely ill, research has shown, finding that it is a better indicator of health than medical tests. The study analysed data from almost 190,000 A&E visits by children in Melbourne, Australia, where the parents were routinely asked: “Are you worried your child is getting worse?” Parents’ intuition was “significantly” linked to the likelihood of admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), with children four times more likely to need ICU care if their parents had voiced concerns. Read full article (Paywalled) Source: The Times, 29 May 2025
  3. News Article
    The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, has urged doctors to vote against industrial action as the British Medical Association (BMA) ballots resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, for strike action that could last for six months. Resident doctors say their pay has declined by 23% in real terms since 2008. If they choose to go on strike, walkouts could begin in July and potentially last until January 2026. The government accepted salary recommendations from pay review bodies earlier this month, resulting in an average 5.4% rise for resident doctors. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 29 May 2025
  4. News Article
    A new AMN Healthcare survey published 27 May found it now takes an average of 31 days to schedule a physician appointment in 15 of the largest US metropolitan areas — up 19% from 2022 and 48% from 2004. AMN Healthcare conducted the survey of 1,391 physician offices in January and February. In 2022, the last year the survey was conducted, it took 26 days. In 2004, the first year the survey was conducted, it took 21 days. The survey, which focused on six medical specialties, gathered data from offices across the Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., San Diego, Seattle and Washington, D.C., areas. It highlights ongoing challenges related to scheduling physician appointments. Read full story Source: Becker's Clinical Leadership, 27 May 2025
  5. Content Article
    A Brighton GP surgery is under threat despite providing excellent services and strong links to the local community. This decision flies in the face of the proven 'social value' being delivered and potentially puts patients at risk. The reasons are presented in this excellent article which exposes the continued 'race to the bottom' due to an apparently unnecessary tendering exercise, a decision made behind closed doors and a failure to consult. Quote from Polly Toynbee's article in the Guardian: "Here’s the puzzle. Andrew Lansley’s calamitous system that opened the NHS to “any willing provider” to compete for contracts was supposedly swept away in 2022, replaced with ICBs that strove for cooperation across all NHS and social services in England. Yet some ICBs still apply the old competitive impulse to NHS services, even though they now have an obligation to ensure that tenders help to reduce inequalities."
  6. News Article
    A senior doctor has been accused of wrongly failing to escalate the care of a 13-year-old girl whose death led to the adoption of Martha’s rule, which gives the right to a second medical opinion in hospitals. At a disciplinary tribunal in Manchester, Prof Richard Thompson was also said to have provided a colleague with “false and misleading information” about the condition of Martha Mills. Martha died on 31 August 2021 at King’s College hospital (KCH) in south London after contracting sepsis. In 2022, a coroner ruled that she would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs of her rapidly deteriorating condition and transferred her to intensive care earlier, which her parents had asked doctors to do. Thompson, a specialist in paediatric liver disease, and the on-duty consultant – although he was on call at home – on 29 August 2021, is accused by the General Medical Council (GMC) of misconduct that impairs his fitness to practise. Opening the GMC’s case at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service on Monday, Christopher Rose said, based on a review of the case by Dr Stephen Playfor, a medical examiner at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Thompson: Should have taken more “aggressive intervention” between noon and 1pm on 29 August, including referring Martha to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Should have gone into the hospital from about 5pm to carry out an in-person assessment of a rash Martha had developed. Gave “false, outdated and misleading information” in a phone call at approximately 9.40pm to Dr Akash Deep in the PICU team. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 19 May 2025
  7. News Article
    A hospital trust is involved in a row with the British Medical Association amid concerns over a ’bullying culture’, it has emerged. HSJ has learned of tensions at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, including an ongoing dispute over a senior medic who has been off work for an extended period. Meanwhile, in recent weeks, the union Unison has launched a survey of the trust’s staff about behaviour, and begun offering staff “don’t bully me” badges, according to flyers claiming there is a “bullying culture”. The union’s organiser Sarah Brummitt said its survey had been launched in response to local reports of bullying concerns. She said: “The survey is open to all staff, and will hopefully give us a better understanding of what issues they are facing, if any.” It follows several concerns raised over the past year about leadership and culture at the trust. The trust says it is “committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive working environment.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 15 May 2025
  8. News Article
    An ex-doctor is now costing Columbia University over $1 billion after a new sex abuse settlement with nearly 600 victims in a deal approved in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday. Columbia University agreed to the record-breaking $750 million settlement with 576 victims of disgraced gynaecologist and convicted sex criminal Robert Hadden — with a per-case average of $1.3 million, the attorney for the victims announced. "This settlement is not about money — it's about accountability," said victim Laurie Maldonando. "Columbia University enabled sadistic abuse," said Maldonando, who was a patient of Hadden’s for nearly a decade, "and now, they’ve been forced to face the truth." In 2023, Hadden was sentenced to 20 years in prison for preying on — and sexually abusing — hundreds of vulnerable patients during his years as a gynaecologist at prestigious Big Apple hospitals, including ones associated with Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian. "For far too long, Columbia and New York-Presbyterian have prioritized protecting their reputations over protecting their patients," said attorney Anthony T. DiPietro, who has battled with Columbia in court on behalf of hundreds of Hadden victims since 2012. DiPietro said he discovered a "smoking gun" that year — a letter penned by the then-head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia in 1995, apologizing for "Hadden’s assault" and undercutting the institution’s claims they were unaware — by digging around the Utah basement of a client. The attorney had already secured $277 million in previous settlements against Columbia for Hadden victims, bringing the hospitals' total payouts to just over $1 billion with Monday’s agreement. "We deeply regret the pain that his patients suffered, and this settlement is another step forward in our ongoing work and commitment to repair harm and support survivors," said a spokesperson for the university, who "commended" the survivors for their "bravery." Read full story Source: Fox News, 6 May 2025
  9. News Article
    A surgeon found to have left patients in "agony" after using artificial mesh to treat prolapsed bowels faces allegations he falsified medical notes. Tony Dixon was suspended after the surgery was found to have caused harm to hundreds of patients at two hospitals in Bristol. Now, a new hearing will examine Dr Dixon's records. He is accused of dishonestly creating patient records long after he was involved in their care, something he "strongly denies". The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) will begin Monday. It will examine claims medical records for seven patients contained false information, and were not created at the correct time. A spokesperson for Dr Dixon said: "[He] always endeavoured to provide the highest standard of care to his patients. "He strongly disputes falsifying any medical records and will provide his detailed evidence about those serious allegations to the tribunal, initially by way of a detailed witness statement which he has provided to the General Medical Council." Read full story Source: BBC News, 12 May 2025
  10. Content Article
    Doctors for America advocates are involved in activities at the local, state and federal level. Doctors for America's 2024 Impact report showcase their achievements, challenges, and milestones improving access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity. 
  11. News Article
    A German palliative care doctor has been charged with murdering 15 of his patients using a cocktail of lethal drugs. Prosecutors in Berlin have accused the 40-year-old of setting fire to the homes of some of his suspected victims to cover his tracks. He allegedly killed 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024, though prosecutors have said they believe that total could rise. The doctor, who has not been named due to strict privacy laws in Germany, has not admitted to the charges, prosecutors said. He is accused of administering an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients without their knowledge or consent. The relaxant "paralysed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes", the prosecutor's office said in a statement. He worked in several German states, and the ages of those whose deaths are being treated as suspicious range from 25 to 94. The doctor was initially suspected of having killed four people in his care when he was arrested in August 2024 but investigations have uncovered other suspicious deaths, with more exhumations on potential victims planned. A "lifelong professional ban" and "preventative detention" is being sought for the 40-year-old suspect. He remains in custody. Read full story Source: BBC News, 16 April 2025
  12. Content Article
    In my third year of medical school, my mother announced she wanted to become a physician associate (PA). I always encouraged her to follow her dreams — until she told me her motivation. “It’s basically the same as being a doctor, but with less time at university,” she said. Her words gave me pause. Despite years of medical training, even I wasn’t entirely sure where the line was drawn between doctors and PAs. And if I was confused, how could patients be expected to understand the difference? For some doctors, the PA role can feel less like a collaborative partnership and more like a threat to their professional identity. The British Medical Association has accused the government of using PAs as substitutes for doctors, compromising patient safety in the process. These concerns are not hypothetical.
  13. Content Article
    More than 1 in 6 physicians have thought about or attempted suicide. 38% of them knew of at least one fellow doctor who had suicide ideation. A Medscape survey asked physicians what factors they saw behind the suicide issues, the role their job stress plays and where doctors in a crisis can turn for effective professional help.
  14. News Article
    Jagdip Sidhu was the platonic ideal of an NHS doctor. He took very little private work, despite it being common for consultants. His only exception was for those who needed urgent care that couldn’t get treated on the NHS. It was a point of ethics. “He said: I’m only going to do it for people who clinically cannot wait,” explains Amandip, Jagdip's brother. “I’m not going to sit and profit off people’s adverse health and misery.” But the hospital was impossible to get away from. On days and nights off, he would get urgent messages from the managers at his NHS trust asking him to clear more beds on the ward or hit new performance targets. Gradually, he had less time for anything outside of work. He’d developed “tunnel vision”, as Amandip describes it. By 2017, something had broken in him. “He had just suddenly aged,” recalls his brother, pausing for a moment before continuing. “It’s very hard to explain. But for someone who had a lot of vitality in life and charisma about him, it started to drain away.” His hair began to turn grey. He was constantly tired, surviving on just three or four hours of sleep each night and often working more than 14 hours a day. “He’d come and see mum and literally just pass out on the sofa,” recalls Amandip. He spoke less and less. Jagdip was also losing faith in the medical system whose values he once embodied, and confided to his brother that he thought the struggling NHS was “finished”. One day, Amandip got a call from his brother. “I saw his number flash up, and I knew something was wrong,” he recalls. Jagdip explained that he had been signed off work on medical leave after nurses he worked with noticed he was struggling to function. He was petrified. “He said: ‘I can’t ever go back to that hospital. They’ll crucify me. They’ll say ‘you made mistakes’, and I’ll be struck off’,” recalls Amandip. “Because he was signed off sick, he felt that he couldn’t be a doctor anymore. That was his identity as an adult human being forcibly stopped, outside of his control.” One afternoon, Amandip received an email from Jagdip. It was a confusing list of instructions, including how to access his financial accounts, life insurance policies, when to get the car MOT’d. There was no explanation. It ended with a short sign-off — he had gone to Beachy Head, a beauty spot atop the cliffs of the South Coast, with the car. As call after call went straight to voicemail, the panic started to set in. Jagdip called Jagdip’s wife — there was no sign of him at home. He had left without taking his wallet and house keys. Amandip raced across London to his brother’s house. When he arrived, it was already crawling with police. They had found the car by Beachy Head, but there was no sign of Jagdip. An agonising two hours later, he heard the crackle of the officers’ radio as they walked into the room and started to speak. “I remember them saying ‘This is the part of the job I really hate’,” Amandip recalls. They had found his brother’s body, identified by the car keys that were still in his pocket. Jagdip was 47 years old. There were a lot of questions in the blur of weeks and months afterwards. But above all, one thought haunts Amandip: did his brother’s job in the NHS play a role in his death? Read full story Source: The Londoner, 15 March 2025
  15. News Article
    Doctors must be on high alert for measles as vaccine rates among young children have dipped to a 10-year low, leaving some unprotected and risking outbreaks of the highly infectious and dangerous virus, experts say. It is the first time in decades the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has issued national guidance such as this. At least 95% of children should be double vaccinated by the age of five. But the UK is well below that target. Latest figures show only 84.5% had received a second shot of the protective measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab - the lowest level since 2010-11. Measles can make children very sick. The main symptoms are a fever and a rash but it can cause serious complications including meningitis. For some, it is fatal. The RCPCH is worried the UK is now seeing a "devastating resurgence" of virtually eliminated life-threatening diseases such as measles, because of low vaccine uptake. Read full story Source: BBC News, 22 November 2023
  16. News Article
    Panic buttons, security cameras and active-shooter drills: Those are some of the ways doctors who treat transgender children have armed themselves when facing violent threats over the years. Now, they’re warning the president’s actions could make things more dangerous. Even before President Donald Trump attempted to ban gender transition care nationwide for young people, protesters routinely demonstrated outside clinics that treat trans youths. Some carried signs with violent messages and the names of doctors who treat trans children. One entered a Seattle clinic with a weapon, according to court records. Now doctors say threats of violence are rising — along with fears of legal action — in the wake of Trump’s Jan. 28 executive order that labeled gender transition care for minors a “dangerous trend” and “a stain on our Nation’s history.” Dozens of providers gave sworn affidavits as part of a lawsuit four states filed challenging the legality of Trump’s executive order. Providers in those Democratic-led states remain so afraid, many agreed to file affidavits challenging the order only if they could do so anonymously. Washington’s state attorney general led the legal effort. “I am scared, not just for myself, but for my family,” one Seattle-based physician and professor wrote in court documents. “It is a terrifying time to be a doctor providing gender-affirming care.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: Washington Post, 9 March 2025
  17. Content Article
    When you go to see a doctor, it can be difficult to communicate your health concerns clearly, out of fear, embarrassment or a misunderstanding of medical jargon. How can you make the most of these appointments? From taking notes to bringing along a friend, and when to request a second opinion, doctors share their advice on how to access the best possible care.
  18. News Article
    A new snapshot survey by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) highlights the worsening crisis in NHS hospitals, where a lack of capacity is pushing vulnerable patients into undignified and unsafe conditions. The survey gathered responses from almost a thousand (961) physicians across the UK, spanning a wide range of specialties - including cardiology, respiratory medicine, and general internal medicine - who report firsthand the challenges of delivering care in temporary spaces. The findings show that 78% of respondents had provided care in a temporary environment in the past month. Of the 889 respondents who gave further details on where this care was delivered, locations included corridors (45%), additional beds or chairs in patient bays (27%), wards without dedicated bed space (13%), waiting rooms (9%), another location not designed for patient care e.g. bathroom (4.5%). The consequences of treating patients in unsuitable spaces are severe. 90% of doctors reported compromised patient privacy and dignity, while 81% faced physical difficulties delivering care. Additionally, 75% struggled with access to vital equipment or facilities, and 58% saw patient safety directly compromised. The impact on doctors themselves was also significant, with 61% reporting increased personal stress. Read full story Source: Royal College of Physicians, 26 February 2025 Further reading on the hub: The crisis of corridor care in the NHS: patient safety concerns and incident reporting Patient Safety Learning's response to RCN report: on the frontline of the UK’s corridor care crisis How corridor care in the NHS is affecting safety culture: A blog by Claire Cox A nurse's response to the NHSE guidance on their principles for providing safe and good quality care in temporary escalation spaces A silent safety scandal: A nurse’s first-hand account of a corridor nursing shift
  19. Content Article
    More information about "Speaking up for patient safety - Gordon Caldwell in conversation with Peter Duffy and Helen Hughes"
    In this podcast interview series, NHS whistleblower Peter Duffy and Patient Safety Learning’s Chief Executive Helen Hughes explore how the healthcare system responds when its staff raise concerns about patient safety. In each episode, Helen and Peter interview someone who has spoken up about patient safety issues in healthcare organisations, or who works to help staff raise concerns where they see unsafe care. In this episode, Peter and Helen speak to consultant endocrinologist Gordon Caldwell, who retired early from the NHS after speaking up about patient safety concerns in his hospital. Gordon shares his experience of raising concerns about unsafe staffing levels while working as a clinical lead and how this led to extreme stress and the decision to retire years before he had planned to. They discuss the importance of transparency, team work and clear record-keeping processes to ensure patients are kept safe and Gordon outlines how lack of accessible patient health records hinders decision-making and can lead to avoidable harm. They also look at how target-led approaches and financial incentives have led to cultural changes in healthcare organisations over the past few decades. Subscribe to our YouTube podcast to keep up to date with the latest episodes. View a transcript of this interview Read a blog from Peter and Helen about the interview series
  20. Content Article
    The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, has established an independent review of the physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) professions to consider the safety of the roles, their contribution to multidisciplinary healthcare teams and make recommendations to inform future government policy. This call for evidence seeking analysis and research to support this review. The deadline for responding is 11:59pm on 21 March 2025.
  21. Content Article
    This report was produced by retired judge Sir Anthony Hooper, who was invited to carry out an independent review of how the General Medical Council (GMC) engages with whistleblowers who have raised concerns in the public interest. The report examines: Patient safety, the duty to raise concerns and the duty of candour Reprisals against those who raise concerns Legal framework of the GMC Recommendations on the handling of referrals in circumstances where the doctor has raised concerns The handling of cases involving those who have reported concerns to the GMC Recommendations Organisations referring a doctor’s fitness to practise to the GMC should be encouraged to answer a written question the effect of which is to ascertain whether the doctor being referred has raised concerns about patient safety or the integrity of the system. Organisations referring a doctor’s fitness to practise to the GMC should be encouraged to have the document containing the allegation signed by a registered doctor and to contain a statement by the doctor to the effect that: “I believe that the facts stated in this document are true”. If the written document containing the allegation is not signed by a registered doctor and/or does not contain a statement to the effect that “I believe that the facts stated in this document are true”, organisations should be encouraged to explain why this has not been done. If a doctor being referred to the GMC has raised concerns about patient safety or the integrity of the system with the organisation making the referral, then the necessary steps should be taken to obtain from the organisation material which is relevant to an understanding of the context in which the referral is made. Investigators assessing the credibility of an allegation made by an organisation against a doctor who has raised a concern should take into account, in assessing the merits of the allegation, any failure on the part of an organisation to investigate the concern raised and/or have proper procedures in place to encourage and handle the raising of concerns. In those cases where an allegation is made by an organisation against a doctor who has raised concerns, the Registrar should, where it is appropriate to do so, exercise his powers under rule 4(4) to conduct an examination into that allegation, including taking the steps outlined in my earlier recommendations and asking the doctor for his or her comments on the allegation and the circumstances in which the allegation came to be made. Those who investigate allegations made against doctors who have raised concerns must be fully trained to understand “whistleblowing”, particularly in the context of the GMC and the NHS. The GMC, together with healthcare regulators, professional organisations, unions and defence bodies, set up a simple, confidential and voluntary online system, run by an organisation independent of the regulators. The system would enable healthcare professionals to record electronically the fact that they have raised a concern with their employers, what steps they have taken to deal with the concerns, including details of when and with whom the concerns were raised. The date and time at which the healthcare professional made the entries would be recorded. Access to the record would be restricted to the professional or another person with his or her consent.
  22. News Article
    Two of England’s leading doctors are to oversee a significant review into postgraduate training for newly qualified medics. National Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis and Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty will lead the review as part of work to address concerns raised by resident doctors (previously known as junior doctors). The review will be based on feedback from current resident doctors and students, locally employed doctors and medical educators, with a series of engagement events around the country starting from this month. The review will cover placement options, the flexibility of training, difficulties with rotas, control and autonomy in training, and the balance between developing specialist knowledge and gaining a broad range of skills. The national listening events in February and March will be followed by a call for evidence in the spring to ensure the widest possible range of views, experiences and ideas are captured. A report on the review’s findings is due to be published in the summer. Read full story Source: NHS England, 19 February 2025
  23. News Article
    Medical doctors face higher rates of burnout and depression than the general population and are twice as likely to die by suicide. The risks were magnified at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, but the problem existed long before that. More than 40% of physicians, medical school students and residents cite fear of disclosure requirements on licensure forms as a main reason they don’t seek mental health care, according to the American Medical Association (AMA), which has been pushing for legislative and regulatory changes. More states and health systems are amending licensure and credentialing forms to remove mental-health-related questions, such as asking about whether a doctor sought mental health care or treatment, or received a mental health diagnosis. Others have codified such changes into state law. The rationale for asking about mental health was to ensure patient safety. The AMA says safety can be addressed with general language that asks whether a physician is suffering from any impairment that could interfere with patient care. “Having any past diagnosis of a mental health need or a substance use problem is often not relevant,” said AMA President Jesse Ehrenfeld. “The key inquiry ought to be whether the impairment represents a current concern for safety and the physician’s ability to provide competent professional care.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Washington Post, 18 February 2025
  24. Content Article
    More information about "Speaking up for patient safety: Martyn Pitman in conversation with Peter Duffy and Helen Hughes"
    In this podcast interview series, NHS whistleblower Peter Duffy and Patient Safety Learning’s Chief Executive Helen Hughes explore how the healthcare system responds when its staff raise concerns about patient safety. In each episode, Helen and Peter interview someone who has spoken up about patient safety issues in healthcare organisations, or who works to help staff raise concerns where they see unsafe care. Peter and Helen speak to Martyn Pitman, who worked as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in the NHS for more than 20 years. Martyn describes how grievances were raised against him by colleagues after he shared concerns about the safety of maternity services at the trust he worked for. He believes these complaints were raised as a response to him speaking up about his patient safety concerns and they eventually resulted in Martyn losing his job and career. Martyn describes the impact of his experience over the last few years on his mental health and highlights the unrelenting support he received from individuals he had looked after throughout his career as an consultant. He talks about how the current legal and regulatory framework is ineffective in protecting whistleblowers from retaliatory action. He also shares why we need more effective ways to hold NHS leaders and managers to account and describes the role that regulation might play in this. Subscribe to our YouTube podcast to keep up to date with the latest episodes. View a transcript of this interview Read a blog from Peter and Helen about the interview series
  25. Content Article
    This document sets out details of the independent review of the physician associate and anaesthesia associate professions commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the 20 November 2024. Led by Professor Gillian Leng CBE, this review will help to inform the refreshed workforce plan that the UK Government has committed to publish in summer 2025.

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