Just shy of 100 health care professionals lost their right to professional practice last year, according to the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, Valvira. The majority were doctors, but nurses and other health care workers also claimed a share of the statistic.
According to the authority, substance abuse and drug problems are a clear risk to patient safety and, in the majority of cases, such issues were the main reason for action on the part of the authority. The figures represent how seriously these things are treated, claims Valvira.
Number of cases doubled in five years
Last year the regulatory board tasked with overseeing the secure operation of health care professionals made 209 decisions restricting or ceasing the operations of 194 people. This number has more than doubled in five years.
In total, 97 practitioners were stripped of their professional title or banned from professional practice in 2013. Professional practice was curtailed for 67 health care workers and a written warning was issued to 31 people. Over half of the cases were related to medical personnel and 80 related specifically to doctors.
Valvira estimates that the rise in the amount of cases of professional misconduct is largely down to better self-monitoring within health care organisations. Employers will no longer turn a blind eye to problems and are more likely to inform supervisory authorities if they suspect a problem.