I welcome the Medical Protection Society’s report calling for all NHS trust staff who deal with disciplinary procedures to have specialised training.12 As one of the people involved in setting up new guidelines for NHS trusts to follow in respect of human resources disciplinary procedures (outlined on page 3 of the report), I consider that three key things must happen.Firstly, as noted in the report, managers and healthcare staff in management roles need to be properly trained and properly accountable when they are involved in NHS disciplinary procedures. Managers should therefore be regulated just like doctors and nurses. Secondly, there should be a requirement that principles of fairness are imprinted into NHS disciplinary procedures. These are what I have termed PIE principles—plurality, independence, and expertise in panels. Thirdly, there should be an independent body—a “Staff Care Quality Commission”—that has the power to prosecute and fine trusts that abuse NHS disciplinary…
Source link
