The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7291 p343
20 March 2004

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Related websites
Scottish Executive: consultation (more)

New public protection measures for Scotland

New rules governing the inclusion of all health professionals on health board lists of primary care practitioners have been proposed for Scotland. The effect will be to widen the checks currently carried out on community pharmacists, GPs, dentists, optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners.

Practitioners will be required to make enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosures when asked to do so by health boards and to declare any gifts from patients or relevant financial interests.

Changes to the workings of the NHS disciplinary tribunal will mean that anyone disqualified from practising in primary care in one local health board area cannot practise anywhere else in Scotland. The NHS Tribunal will also be able to disqualify practitioners on grounds of unsuitability by reason of professional or personal conduct and health boards will be able to suspend practitioners locally to protect patients or when it is in the public interest.

People convicted of murder, whether in the UK or overseas, will be automatically disqualified from practising in the NHS.