Conditions of practice order imposed for repeated failure to inform patient about test results

Ms M appeared before the fitness to practise panel of a healthcare regulator. A patient had attended regularly for appointments with the registrant at her practice between 1983 and 2010. The allegations were that, from 1991, Ms M had found results of tests that should have led her to undertake further investigation or refer her patient to a specialist.

Not only did she fail to do so but she also failed to inform the patient of her findings and to request that she return for repeat tests at a date in the near future. These failures were alleged to have been repeated in 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

In 2010, the registrant finally referred the patient but there were allegations in relation to the nature of the referral. There were also numerous allegations regarding Ms M’s record-keeping.

The panel found that the registrant’s fitness to practise was impaired and imposed a conditions of practice order.

Katrina Wingfield acted as advocate for the regulator. 

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