So how do I f ind out if my doctor is ‘dodgy’?

Odds on f inding tagged GPs on medical site: one in 1,200...

SEVENTEEN doctors here have certain conditions attached to their registration – but patients may have difficulty finding out if their own doctor is on the list.

While, technically, the doctors’ names are in the public domain the list is not published.

Therefore, a concerned patient must type a doctor’s name into the Medical Council’s search engine to find out if he or she is tagged.

Using this method, the odds of coming up with a physician with conditions attached are one in 1,200.

Conditions on a doctor’s registration generally require professional development plans, mentoring relationships approved by the council and/or fulfilment of certain courses, with practice restrictions imposed on some doctors.

‘Currently there are 13 doctors on the general division (non-specialists) of the register with conditions attached, and four on the specialist division of the register.

‘Therefore, there are 17 doctors on the register with conditions attached to their registration,’ a spokeswoman said.

Two of the doctors were registered in the speciality of general practice, one was in obstetrics/gynaecology, one was jointly registered in respiratory medicine and general internal medicine, and one in anaesthesia.

Two of the doctors with conditions attached were in recognised training posts – one was registered as a trainee in child and adolescent psychiatry and the other was an intern. Both had health-related conditions only.

In total, health-related conditions applied to the registration of seven doctors, either solely or with further conditions.

A doctor in Co. Kildare was required to formulate a professional development plan to address, among other issues, their practice in prescribing benzodiazepines.

Another doctor, with a Dublin address, was required to develop a professional development plan and not carry out childhood immunisations unless supervised by an appropriate person.

A Cork-registered doctor was not allowed to prescribe drugs, with one facet of practice exempted, and his medical practice is confined to two service areas.

Conditions attached to the registration of a doctor in Co. Louth, include undertaking alcohol awareness and medical ethics programmes.

The Medical Council’s conditions are generally imposed for between one and four years, with no timelines disclosed for health-related conditions. There were 20,473 doctors registered with the council at the end of last year.

‘Cannot immunise without supervision’