Most doctors provide a high standard of care to their patients. In addition to expertise in their specialty, they must also demonstrate important generic professional capabilities which are essential to providing safe and effective patient care. These broader human qualities – such as being able to communicate effectively, to work as part of or lead a team, to teach or educate and to apply a range of other professional skills or judgements in complex or difficult circumstances – are in combination the foundation of professional practice. In the UK, the General Medical Council working jointly with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has been helping medical royal colleges and faculties embed generic professional capabilities into all postgraduate medical curricula from 2017 onwards.
United Kingdom General Medical Council data over many years show that most doctors who get into trouble do not do so because of a lack of medical knowledge or technical competence. Most commonly it is because of a failure of professional skills – poor team working or communication, unprofessional behaviour or lack of insight into personal difficulties.
Good doctors make the care of their patients their first concern: they are competent, keep their knowledge and skills up to date but also establish and maintain good relationships with patients and colleagues, are honest and trustworthy, and act with integrity and within the law. Good doctors work in partnership with patients and respect their rights to privacy and dignity. They treat each patient as an individual. They do their best to make sure all patients receive good care and treatment that will support them to live as well as possible, whatever their illness or disability.
I will explore these concepts and there will be an opportunity for questions.
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