Doc’s sympathy after medical exam error

Aug 21 2009 by Madeleine Brindley, South Wales Echo

A LEADING medic today expressed sympathy for a junior doctor wrongly told that she had passed her exams.

The young woman, who has not been named, had been working at Llandough Hospital when it emerged that she was not qualified as a doctor.

Cardiff University had wrongly told her and three other junior doctors, who were working in Swansea, Llanelli and Haverfordwest, that they had passed their final exams.

But when a fifth student appealed after he failed the module, the blunder came to light.

Dr Ian Lane, medical director of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, said a review into patient care has been launched.

The General Medical Council has ordered Cardiff University to investigate the mistake.

The university has blamed a clerical error and said it “recognises and regrets the resulting circumstances”.

Dr Lane said: “Cardiff University recently informed us of an administrative error in the exam results of foundation year one junior doctor appointed to the University Hospital, Llandough.

“As a result, unfortunately we had no choice but to relieve her of her duties.

“While the doctor was working in the trust she was supervised by senior members of staff.

“Clinical decisions and any prescribing would have been under the direction of the supervising consultant.

“We are reviewing the cases of appropriate patients but have no reason to express any concerns. I offer her my sympathy and encouragement to continue with her medical career.”

It is understood that the quartet can appeal, but if their results stand they must re-sit their final year of medical school before they can qualify as doctors.

No decision has yet been made on who will meet the costs of this.

Conservative shadow health minister Andrew RT Davies said: “Every effort must be made to discover how this error occurred and to reassure patients that their care and safety was not put at risk.

“We need to have confidence in the system and assurances that similar mistakes will not be repeated.”

And Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, said: “This really is an awful situation that these four young people are currently faced with and it’s very difficult to imagine how they must be feeling right now.

“We will be seeking answers as to how such a fundamental error occurred and what changes will be made to make sure such serious mistakes are not repeated.

“However, at this moment in time, the key focus of our efforts is to ensure that those involved receive all the support we can provide.”

A spokeswoman for the General Medical Council said: “We will be asking [Cardiff Medical School] to investigate the incident and to demonstrate to the GMC that they will take appropriate action to prevent a reoccurrence. We have spoken to each of the students affected to explain that we will have to remove their names from the medical register, we will refund their registration fee in full.”

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Nothing new I guess- it's been blunders one after another eversince we sat for our first exams. And the various mismanagements.. the list goes on so long!