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ANNEX 2B - ROLE OF THE CLINICAL ADVISER AT CONVENING STAGE

1. Advice from the Ombudsman's office indicates that the most common mistake made by conveners is failing to obtain appropriate clinical advice. Other weaknesses included failure to:

· take clinical advice of any kind;

· take advice from clinicians or others unrelated to the events subject to complaint;

· take advice from clinicians or others able to advise on the speciality concerned;

· understand the purpose of clinical advice at this stage.

2. Conveners are reminded that clinical advice should relate to whether the response already made to the clinical aspects of the complaint has been thorough, correct and fair and in terms the complainant can understand; and if not, whether further local resolution or a panel would be an appropriate next step.

3. At the convening stage, the clinical adviser is being asked for their opinion on whether the clinical aspects of the complaint have been fully and fairly addressed at local resolution. They are not being asked to give an opinion on, or a report on the clinical aspects of the care. This is the clinical assessor's task should a panel be convened.

4. There will be cases where the clinical adviser needs to form an opinion on the clinical care given, but this should only be used to give advice on whether the clinical aspects of the case have been fully and fairly addressed at local resolution. Any opinion on the clinical care received should NOT be passed to the convener.

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