Up to 20 doctors a year 'in need of help'

Underperforming doctors could be carrying out up to 200,000 consultations with patients annually, a conference organised by the Medical Council heard yesterday.

The chairman of the Irish Patients Association, Stephen McMahon, said it was generally believed that about 15 to 20 doctors a year needed help and support in their practice.

He said that while it was recognised that this was a small number - perhaps 1 or 1.5 per cent - it still meant the public were left exposed.

The chief executive of the Health Service Executive told the conference that the medical profession saw itself as being under siege.

Prof Brendan Drumm said more leadership from the profession was required to move doctors on from this mentality and to accept new competence assurance measures.

There were a number of challenges that had to be faced including difficulties for doctors in stepping outside of the bounds of collegiality and a tendency to isolate those who did go outside these boundaries.

"The idea that at the age of 33, 34 or 35 you go out on your own, take all the decisions and have an independent practice . . . is fraught with danger for the young people themselves and for the system in terms of competence," he said.

Dr John Hillery, president of the Medical Council said the current system for the regulation of doctors was an "archaic, dysfunctional and legally confrontational one" that did not work.