MEDICAL staff at Warrington Community Heath Care Trust are to be quizzed about their qualifications after a dental anaesthistist's abilities were thrown into doubt.

A dental assistant reported an anaesthetist to managers after concerns about his work. After discussions with the Medical Director, the doctor, who has not been named, decided to cease working for the Trust and has been reported to the General Medical Council.

A Trust spokesman said: "Dr Ben John, the Trust's medical director, informed the board of an incident where one of the newer members of the team had the appropriate paper qualification for carrying out his role, but his clinical practice since qualifying did not reflect the developments which had taken place within the speciality.

"Other members of the team became aware of the differences in practice and possible dangers to patients, however, no patient was ever actually put in danger at any time. This individual worked for us for a few months and does not work for the organisation now.

"Dr John has instructed his colleagues that he will be meeting with them to discuss their professional development. All new employees to the organisation have to present their qualifications which are checked to ensure they are valid and staff are also expected to update their skills regularly."

Dr John added that the Trust is actively working towards a new Government initiative called Clinical Governance which comes into effect next year.

"Clinical Governance is partly about checking our practice is up to date," he said, "and that all our staff are informed about new innovations in practice as a whole.

"This helps to ensure the most effective quality of care is achieved. I believe to this end we are ahead of the game and have incorporated the ideals of Clinical Governance into the organisation prior to it becoming a statutory requirement."

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