Performance Assessment
Public Consultation on draft further rules for the maintenance of professional competence
The Medical Council has developed draft further rules for the maintenance of professional competence to support the establishment of performance procedures under the Medical Practitioners Act, 2007.
Part 11 rules and associated standards (S.I. Number 171 of 2011 Medical Council - Rules for the Maintenance of Professional Competence (No. 1)) were made by the Medical Council on 18th of January 2011 under Section 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 to give effect to arrangements for schemes for the maintenance of professional competence.
The Medical Council will now make further rules for the maintenance of professional competence to support the establishment of performance procedures under the Medical Practitioners Act, 2007.
The further rules set out the procedures and activities to be followed by the Medical Council and the doctor to handle concerns about maintenance of professional competence.
The Medical Council is inviting you to submit your views on these draft further rules. Following this consultation process and consideration of submissions received, the draft further rules will be reviewed and finalised. Please note that all submissions are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997-2003.
Deadline for submissions on the draft rules has now passed.
To view the consultation on further rules for the maintenance of Professional Competence please click here.
Development of performance assessment systems for the Medical Council
From May 2011, all doctors are legally obliged to maintain their professional competence. As part of the development of the professional competence schemes, the Medical Council is currently developing mechanisms that will be used to assess a registered medical practitioner where concerns have been raised regarding performance.
Poor professional performance (as defined in the Medical Practitioners Act 2007) means a failure by the practitioner to meet the standards of competence (whether in knowledge and skills or the application of knowledge and skills or both) that can be reasonably be expected of medical practitioners practicing medicine of the kind practiced by the practitioner.
From late 2011, medical and non-medical assessors will conduct on-site, independent assessments within a doctor's practice, observing interactions with patients and reviewing performance in practice. The Medical Council will train assessors who will support new procedures to work with doctors who are the subject of concerns regarding performance. Until now, the Medical Council has handled such concerns by utilising health or disciplinary processes. Arising from commencement of Part 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act, the Medical Council is establishing new procedures which will allow for an assessment of a doctor's performance where concerns have been raised and will also provide a basis to address these concerns.
Evaluation Process
Performance Assessment will provide valuable insight into many factors that could affect a medical practitioners performance and will enable :
- Evaluation of medical practitioners in the context of their practice
- Evaluation of clinical capability in the context of broader personal factors such as health
- Evaluation of environmental factors such as personal or family concerns
- Evaluation of organisational factors such as weak or absent local clinical governance systems
Pilot Process
The Medical Council conducted a pilot project to evaluate the procedures involved in carrying out a performance assessment. The aim of the project was to develop and trial the Performance Assessment process and to use the results as the basis for implementing a performance assessment system as part of the Council's commitment to ensuring the maintenance of professional competence within the profession. The project involved:
- recruiting and training assessors
- recruiting and briefing volunteers
- undertaking a number of "mock" assessments
- preparing reports based on the assessments
Please click here for the findings and recommendations from the pilot project that were presented in a report to the Medical Council.
Click here for more information on research studies relating to professional competence