Dr Karol Sikora`s comments to the BMJ go to the heart of the shameful
scapegoating of Dr Barton over the last decade of enquiries,
investigations and inquests. He could also have added that she was
employed as a clinical assistant for just 5 hours a week but had to
provide medical cover for two wards with almost 50 elderly sick patients
whose theoretical status (were they for rehabilitation, slow or very
slow rehabilitation or palliative care?) was unknown and whose relatives
had often been given unjustifiably optimistic progress reports to get them
to agree to their being transferred to these Gosport wards. Although she
was also working as a local full-time GP she in fact devoted far more
time than she was contracted to. The consultant in charge was said to
have visited fortnightly. Obviously she should never have agreed in the
first place to work on this basis. It would be interesting to learn how
those now pontificating on her professional conduct would themselves
have behaved in similar circumstances. After all the circumstances at
Gosport were very similar to those in innumerable nursing homes where the
medical input is even less and the residents just as sick and what there
is, is also provided by GPs.
Rapid Response:
The GP as scapegoat
Dr Karol Sikora`s comments to the BMJ go to the heart of the shameful
scapegoating of Dr Barton over the last decade of enquiries,
investigations and inquests. He could also have added that she was
employed as a clinical assistant for just 5 hours a week but had to
provide medical cover for two wards with almost 50 elderly sick patients
whose theoretical status (were they for rehabilitation, slow or very
slow rehabilitation or palliative care?) was unknown and whose relatives
had often been given unjustifiably optimistic progress reports to get them
to agree to their being transferred to these Gosport wards. Although she
was also working as a local full-time GP she in fact devoted far more
time than she was contracted to. The consultant in charge was said to
have visited fortnightly. Obviously she should never have agreed in the
first place to work on this basis. It would be interesting to learn how
those now pontificating on her professional conduct would themselves
have behaved in similar circumstances. After all the circumstances at
Gosport were very similar to those in innumerable nursing homes where the
medical input is even less and the residents just as sick and what there
is, is also provided by GPs.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests