Rheumatology Service report evidence (FOI)

​Request

As mentioned in the RCP Report into the rheumatology service. 

Royal College of Physicians Jersey Rheumatology report.pdf (gov.je)

Page 5

Timeline of concerns within the rheumatology service 

In January 2022 a junior doctor raised concerns regarding prescribing practices of a consultant physician (Dr Y) in general internal medicine (GIM). Due to the potential for these concerns to apply to other areas of their practice the healthcare organisation decided to suspend Dr Y from all areas of clinical practice, including rheumatology and rehabilitation, whilst they reviewed the concerns. 

Please provide evidence of the junior doctor raising concerns of Dr Y that started this process. 

The original suspension of Dr Y falls exceptionally close to, if not a days after this article; 

Senior medic speaks out over hospital staffing crisis (bailiwickexpress.com) 

Noted in the article is, “Due to the nature of their roles and concerns about repercussions from speaking out, Express has agreed to withhold the individuals' identities”

In addition to the above, please provide the a original suspension letter given to Dr Y that reflects the 'junior doctors' concerns. Obviously redacted, but highlighting the 'junior doctors' concerns that prompted the RCP Report.

Response

The junior doctor’s statements (provided in a meeting with the General Manager for the Medical Care Group and the Head of Medical Staffing, and via email to the General Manager), and the requested letter confirming Dr Y’s suspension from duty are attached. 

Letter to Dr Y_Redacted.pdf

Junior Doctor Statement_Redacted.pdf​

In consideration of Freedom of Information legislation, redactions have been applied to the contents of these documents. Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied to protect the privacy of individuals, and personal information and detail which could identify individuals, including patients and staff, is redacted in yellow.

Article Applied

Article 25 - Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.