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PSA statement on appealing the outcome of the MPTS decision in the case of James Gilbert

08 Oct 2024

The PSA has confirmed that it intends to join the General Medical Council (GMC) in appealing the outcome of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) decision to suspend James Gilbert for eight months. We have now notified the Court and asked to be added as an appellant party to the GMC’s appeal.

We believe that the decision by the MPTS was insufficient to protect the public. There is no place for sexual or racial harassment in our healthcare system and it is wholly unacceptable that patients or colleagues should be subjected to this or to any form of sexually inappropriate or racist conduct.

Section 40B of the Medical Act 1983 gives the PSA the discretion to join an appeal initiated by the GMC.

You can find out more about our power to appeal regulators’ final fitness to practise decisions here.

ENDS

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care

Contact: media@professionalstandards.org.uk

Notes to the Editor

  1. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
  2. We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
  3. We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
  4. We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
  5. We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
  6. Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
  7. More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk