General Medical Council & Black and Ethnic Minority Forum

1. General Medical Council & Black and Ethnic Minority Forum Mr Abiodun Fakokunde FWACS MRCOG Cons. Obs. and Gynae. & Clinical Lead Women’s Health North Middlesex University Hospital, London MANSAG Rep at the GMC/BME Forum

2. Contents • Why involve BME • Who are the BME forum members • What can we do • What have we done • Conclusion

3. Why involve BME • BME doctors are disproportionately represented at the GMC good medical practice issues • Raised fundamental issues: • Are we poorly trained or clinically less competent? • Are we not conversant with the law and custom? • Is it Institutional racism or ethnic biased? • Can we improve ourselves by working with the system? • Is the system ready to engage with us to address the issue?

4. Place of Medical Qualification and outcome of Fitness to Practice - BMJ 2011: Humphrey, Hickman, Guilford

5. Solution ! • Slowther et al in the Royal Society of Med Publication 2012 105(4) – concluded from their survey on Experience of non UK qualified doctors within the UK registration framework – a qualitative study: “Provision of information and education resources before registration, together with in-practice support would help to develop a more effective understanding of the GMC good medical practice code and its implication for medical practice in the UK”

6. Allegations categories by ethnicity (BME cases)

7. GMC /BME Forum • Need to find a common front on why and how to reduce the discrepancy • Need to engage the BME on finding solutions to current issues with regards to medical practice in the UK • Need to tailor training to needs of each ethnic group with regards to FtP and GMP issues • Regular meetings for the last 3years • 2x a year between GMC and BME representatives

8. Who are the Members • BMA Equality and Diversity Committee • British International Doctors Association • British association of Physicians of Indian Origin • African-Caribbean Medical Society • All British Pakistani and Physician association • British Asian Medical association • British International Doctors’ Association • Egyptian Medical Society • MANSAG • Indian Medical association • Medical Institute of Tamils • Sri-Lankan Medical and Dental Association in the UK • Muslim Doctors and Dentist Association • Christian Medical Fellowship • British Arab Medical Association • BMA – Equality and Diversity Committee and SAS Committee

9. What is required of us? • Engaging our membership with GMC rules and Consultation process • Appraisal • Revalidation • Fitness to Practice panels • Formation of Opinion leaders resource base • Organising seminar and conferences on current issues within the GMC Good Medical Practice • Inductions programme following passing PLAB or gaining GMC registration

10. What have we done • MANSAG has been represented at the forum since inception – A Fakokunde, E Okirie and D Anumba • Suggestions and Consultation facilitated by MANSAG on current issues • Consultation on recruitment into Fitness to Practice panels • Consultation on the future of adjudication and setting up of Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service • Reform of the FtP procedures at the GMC • Good management Practice – guidance for doctors • Reviewing the PLAB test • Seminar on current issues in GMC as in the programme today

11. Conclusion • Practicing outside one’s country of qualification is associated with a lot of challenges • Culture and Perception are different • Adaptation to local custom is important to achieve success • Working within the frame work of the GMC needs continuous update for our members • MANSAG needs to form a core base of Opinion leaders among our members to support the GMC work- • names can be submitted to Andrea Callendar Head of Diversity division of the GMC • Continuous dialogue and participation in consultation exercise should be encouraged by MANSAG executives