DOCTORS do not need to prove they are fit to practice.

That is the view of local GPs who have criticised plans announced by the Government’s chief medical officer, Liam Donaldson.

Prof Donaldson recommends consultants, GPs and private doctors are assessed every year.

They will also have to apply to renew their licences every five years.

The measures are designed to ensure they are up-to-date with medical advances and are not putting patients at risk.

Doctors falling below standard face the risk of being struck off the medical register, unless they can show improvements.

Patient feedback will also be taken into account.

It is hoped the new measures will prevent another case like that of Harold Shipman, the family doctor who murdered more than 200 elderly people over a 23 year period.

But Dr Jamie Nichols, of the Jones Family Practice, in Hockley, doubts the measures would have stopped Shipman.

“There is a need to be seen to do something to stop another Shipman but he would have slipped through all the things they are proposing,” he said.

“He would have passed every test that you gave him as far as his knowledge was concerned.”

Dr Nichols, who has been practicing as a GP for 30 years, says he has seen similar proposals before and is cynical about how effective it will be at improving patient care.

He added: “It’s just another hoop to jump through and is going to keep people away from doing their jobs “It’s going to take the average GP out of the surgery for another week every year.”

Dr Shah-naz Whitear of the Hollies Surgery in Hadleigh, is also apprehensive about the plans.

She said: “The majority of GPs are very hard working and very up to date. There is just not time in the day to take time out to go on courses.

“Even if you did go on lots of courses that doesn’t necessarily make you a good GP.

“I don’t think it will improve patient care.

“We already have appraisals and I’m not sure how the new system would work.

“In theory its a good thing but it could create a lot of stress.”