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2.2 The Deputy of St. Martin of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding locum doctors:
Given that a hospital consultant and 2 middle-grade doctors have performed no clinical work since October 2006, December 2008 and August 2009 respectively and a fourth middle-grade doctor is undertaking restricted duties only, will the Minister state how many different locum doctors have been employed to the work of the 4 affected doctors and what is the cost of these locums to date?
Deputy A.E. Pryke of Trinity (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
Health and Social Services have engaged 32 locums to cover these 4 doctors while they have been on restricted duties or unable to undertake clinical work. I have been advised that the cost of this locum cover since 2006 has been approximately £1.77 million.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
Is the Minister aware of the impact on patient safety as a result of the use of so many locums?
Deputy A.E. Pryke:
Patient safety is always paramount in a hospital which is busy and provides many services and now, with locums, they go through a set recruitment process which has been since one of the recommendations of Verita. So, yes; I do rate patient safety very highly.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
Bearing in mind the difficulties one had with a locum way back in 2006, what responsibility or who has responsibility for assessing the work of these locums to ensure that they are fully briefed as to their role and carrying out their role in an efficient manner?
Deputy A.E. Pryke:
I would think it is joint with the Human Resources Department and the area that the locums are going into.
- Senator S.C. Ferguson:
Would the Minister have a note of how many serious untoward incidents have occurred with the locums since 2006 and, if she has not got it with her, will she circulate it to Members?
Deputy A.E. Pryke:
No, I have not got that list. Serious untoward incidents range over different areas. If I can get that list, I will kindly give it to the Senator.
- The Deputy of St. John :
Within that list of suspended doctors, et cetera, are any of these Pain Clinic doctors or consultants?
Deputy A.E. Pryke:
They are restricted doctors and I think it would be totally inappropriate to give which area they work in.
The Deputy Bailiff :
Is there a final supplementary, Deputy of St. Martin ?
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
I am particularly interested about the doctor or the consultant who has not been employed since, or not doing his clinic work since October 2006 and I think the Minister knows who that person is. Can the Minister inform Members why this person is not performing his full clinical duties?
Deputy A.E. Pryke:
It would be totally inappropriate to go down the route of one specific doctor, but just to generalise; if they are restricted they can do other work like office-based work, rota management, education. They can do some clinics or some training at another hospital. But as I said, at the end of the day, patient safety is the most important thing.
The Deputy Bailiff :
We come on to question 4 which the Deputy of St. John will ask of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services.