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The British Medical Association (BMA) community in Guernsey has published a letter, after a doctor - who had been subject to an investigation, now concluded - was named in the States Chamber. The local BMA Executive Community said the incident threatens recruitment of medical professionals in Guernsey:
"The local BMA committee have serious concerns about the recent naming of a doctor in the States Chamber and the implications for the individual and the profession as a whole. In this instance the doctor named had been subject to investigation and found to have acted appropriately in accordance with published guidelines. Doctors in Guernsey, like many professionals in any close-knit community need to deal regularly and effectively with highly sensitive issues in a timely manner. Credibility and trust are key factors in allowing them to perform their complex roles.
"The BMA recognises the importance of having robust clinical governance structures that patients can trust to investigate complaints. Both patients and medical professionals need to be confident that these structures will support all parties to provide the highest standard of care.
"With this in mind the local executive committee of the BMA was extremely disappointed that despite having their actions validated by investigation in the local governance structure the doctor was named and had their professional credibility questioned in the States Chamber.
"The Committee feel that the precedent this sets is a material threat to the recruitment and retention of doctors in Guernsey. We are already in a competitive market for medical professionals and, in order to continue to consistently attract doctors to live and work here, we must be able to demonstrate that we work in a supportive, professional environment.
"The recent sequence of events threaten the morale of the whole profession and are not, we believe, proportionate, appropriate or acceptable in a supportive accountable environment."
