Doctors to work outside normal practice in pandemic

GPs will be expected to treat patients with influenza should the UK face a pandemic, new guidelines have stated.

The guidance, Pandemic Influenza: Good Medical Practice – Responsibilities of doctors in a national pandemic, provides the basis of GP’s work should a crisis occur.

GPs should work outside their normal field of practice during a severe pandemic, according to the guidelines produced by GMC today. Such a pandemic would lead to some routine healthcare services being suspended, and retired GPs potentially being asked to return to work

The new guidelines have removed several elements from Good Medical Practice in a bid to reflect the practical challenges a GP would face. They concern a GP’s responsibility during a UK Level Three pandemic, involving a new virus outbreak sustained by human-to-human transmission.

Jane O'Brian, head of standards and ethics are the GMC, said: 'We will continue to keep doctors well-informed about their role in the event of a pandemic, and welcome their comments on the guidance in the meantime.'