A SUSPENDED hospital consultant is no longer employed by the Health Department – despite having the ban on his practice lifted, the minister has confirmed.
Dr Michael Richardson, a long-standing medic, was suspended from work in 2022 and the reason for was not made public at the time.
He has been at the centre of a damning rheumatology review, which found that scores of patients had been wrongly prescribed strong drugs, and restrictions were imposed on his clinical practice by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in 2023.
But, in a hearing last month, Dr Richardson had these conditions revoked. He is now permitted to undertake clinical practice in general medicine and geriatrics, subject to revalidation.
The Health Minister confirmed that the former consultant is “not currently employed by Health and Care Jersey”.
Dr Richardson’s initial hearing with the interim orders tribunal took place on 20 September 2023.
The hearing was to determine any potential restrictions on his medical practice while investigations were carried out following a review of Jersey’s rheumatology department by the Royal College of Physicians which found the standard of care to be “well below what the review team would consider acceptable” for a contemporary rheumatological service.
The interim orders tribunal considered evidence from the Royal College of Physicians, from Jersey’s Health Department, and Dr Richardson – who was represented by a barrister.
The MTPS website now lists Dr Richardson as being “registered with a licence to practise”, but states that he is “subject to revalidation”.
Health Minister Tom Binet said: “As Health Minister, I acknowledge that, under a previous government, a former Chief Officer, set a precedent by commenting on an individual employment matter.
“However, this must be seen as an exception that is unlikely to be repeated.
“Accordingly, I will only confirm that the individual to whom the enquiry relates is not currently employed by Health and Care Jersey and that for any further particulars I would refer you to the GMC Register, which is available online.”
