As a primary care manager in the UK, ensuring a safe and compliant practice environment is paramount. A crucial element of this responsibility is understanding and managing the NHS Performers List.

This list plays a vital role in verifying the qualifications and fitness to practice of healthcare professionals working within primary care services. NHS England recently updated their Performers List Policy so it is a good time to review what it is and why it is important. 

What is the NHS Performers List?

The NHS Performers List is a central register of healthcare professionals authorised to practice within the NHS. This includes doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and optometrists. Being included on the list verifies a practitioner's:

• Qualifications: Confirming they have the required academic and professional qualifications to practice.
• Skills: Evaluating their competence and clinical skills to provide safe patient care.
• Fitness to practice: Their suitability to practice in a primary care setting.

Why is the Performers List Important for GP Practices?

Maintaining a compliant and efficient practice hinges on the Performers List:

• Patient safety: It guarantees patients are treated by qualified and fit-to-practice professionals.
• Regulatory compliance: Ensures your practice adheres to NHS regulations regarding staff qualifications.
• Risk management: Mitigates risks associated with employing unregistered practitioners.
• Maintaining professional indemnity insurance coverage: Improper practice by unregistered professionals could affect your insurance coverage.

Responsibilities of GP Practices

• Verifying registration: Confirm all GPs on your staff are registered on the Performers List before employment.
• Maintaining accurate records: Keep up-to-date records of GPs' registration details, including changes in names, roles, or contact information.
• Managing changes: Update registration details for changes in roles, departures, or retirements.
• Understanding policies: Be familiar with the relevant NHS England policies for managing the Performers List.

How to Check a GP's Registration Status

Verifying a GP's registration status is a straightforward process:

1. Go to the NHS Performers List website: https://secure.pcse.england.nhs.uk/PerformersLists
2. Search by the GP's name or the practice name.
3. The website will display the GP's registration status, qualifications, and any relevant information.

CQC Inspections and the Performers List

The Performers List directly relates to the "Is the service safe?" question. By ensuring that all GPs are registered on the list, practices can show that they are employing qualified and fit-to-practice professionals.

The CQC may indirectly reference the Performers List when inspecting a practice's governance and staffing arrangements. They could expect to see evidence that the practice has systems in place to verify the qualifications and fitness to practice of all staff, including GPs.

Therefore, while the Performers List may not be explicitly mentioned, it is a fundamental aspect of a GP practice's compliance with CQC standards by ensuring that all GPs are registered on the list.

Reporting Concerns About a GP: A Guide for Primary Care Managers

A GP's fitness to practice refers to their ability to provide safe and effective care to patients. Issues that can potentially impact a GP's fitness to practice include:

• Professional misconduct: This covers a broad range of behaviours, such as:
• Ethical breaches: Violating professional codes of conduct or engaging in unethical practices.
• Clinical incompetence: Demonstrating a lack of skill or knowledge in providing appropriate care.
• Discrimination: Engaging in discriminatory behaviour towards patients or colleagues.
• Sexual misconduct: Engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour with patients or colleagues.
• Impairment: This includes factors that may compromise a GP's ability to practice, such as:
• Substance abuse: Misusing drugs or alcohol that could affect their judgment or performance.
• Mental health conditions: Experiencing mental health problems that could impair their ability to practice.
• Physical health conditions: Suffering from physical health problems that could affect their clinical practice.
• Criminal convictions: Having a criminal conviction that could be relevant to their fitness to practice.
• Complaints from patients or colleagues: Receiving multiple complaints about their professional conduct or clinical performance.

How To Report Concerns

If you have concerns about a GP's fitness to practice, it is important to report the issue promptly:

1. Internal investigation: If the concern is within your practice, initiate an internal investigation to gather information and assess the situation.
2. Consult with HR or legal department: Seek advice from your practice's human resources or legal department on how to handle the situation.
3. Report to NHS England: If the concern is serious or cannot be resolved internally, report it to NHS England's Professional Standards Directorate. You can do this online or by contacting them directly.
4. Protect patients: If you believe the GP poses an immediate risk to patient safety, take steps to protect patients, such as temporarily suspending their clinical duties.

Key considerations when reporting concerns

• Evidence: Gather evidence to support your concerns, such as witness statements, documentation, or patient complaints.
• Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of the information you share with NHS England.
• Wellbeing of the GP: Consider the GP's wellbeing and any potential impact of the investigation on them.

If you are unsure about whether to report a concern, it is always better to seek advice from a trusted colleague or professional body.

By understanding and managing the NHS Performers List effectively, Practice Managers can create a safe and compliant working environment for staff and ensure patients receive high-quality care from qualified professionals.