NEW government proposals to protect patients against poorly-performing doctors have been branded "too harsh" by a Blackpool GP.

Tough new measures which would give the General Medical Council the ability to deliver swift and lasting action against doctors who are considered a risk to patients' safety were proposed this week.

The most radical change proposed is that once a doctor is struck off the medical register he could be banned from practising medicine for life.

And suspensions and bans can be imposed immediately, before a full investigation has taken place.

But local GP Dr Aruna Singh, from the Harrowside Surgery in South Shore, says if a doctor is suspended until the investigation took place it could mean he could lose touch with patients and modern medicines despite his potential innocence.

These proposals have been brought up in the light of such high profile cases as Harold Shipman who was convicted of murdering 15 of his patients. "As the Health Minister has pointed out, it is only a tiny number of doctors who are not fit to practise and these measures mean that many doctors could be unfairly punished," said Dr Singh.

"Once a doctor is suspended after an accusation it can often take two or three years for the enquiry to be completed.

"During that time the doctor can easily lose touch with the practice and new medicines coming on to the market.

"There are much simpler measures which could protect the patient, such as a nurse or health visitor who would stay with the doctor while they attend patients.

"In some parts of the country doctors and surgeons are regularly audited and the figures from these investigations are publicly available.

"The proposals are far too tough as they do not allow for the fact that a person is innocent until proven guilty, not the other way round."

Hugh Lamont from the NHS Executive said that the proposals were to allay public fears and were still very much at the consultation phase.

"We are in discussion with the GMC and we should have results by the beginning of May.

"These are the kinds of issues that would have to be discussed before a decision was made."

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