A DOCTOR who repeatedly failed an English exam and worried fellow medics with her poor standards of performance has been allowed to return to work.
Dr Suma Mondal, 64, formerly a staff grade doctor in the child community health section at the former Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare Trust, applied to the General Medical Council (GMC) to restore her name to the medical register.
And while there were still some faults identified in the way she communicated with young patients and examined their medical histories, she was given a second chance by a GMC fitness-to-practise panel sitting in Manchester.
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Former colleagues at the trust became concerned at her progress and reported her to the GMC in January 2003.
She had been under professional review by her peers since October 2001 as senior staff attempted to improve her levels of performance.
In May 2006, her case was finally heard and the GMC decided she needed to undergo a five-month assessment period.
But her work had not improved and she was banned from practising for a year in September 2006.
John Williams, for the GMC, said: "The only appropriate sanction, in light of her continuing professional deficie-ncies, is for her to remain under disqualification from practi-sing."
But George Hugh-Jones, representing Dr Mondal, submitted that his client had made efforts to improve her abilities and her future performance could be controlled by the imposition of conditions on her work.
Dr Mondal's English skills had improved but her standards of comprehension were still lacking, the panel was told.
The GMC panel ruled that strict conditions on Dr Mondal's registration, lasting for two years, would be enough to ensure patients were adequately protected in future, and were in the doctor's own best interests.
She must keep the GMC informed of any posts she accepts, and be supervised by an approved senior medic at all times.
If Dr Mondal is made subject of any disciplinary proceedings, the council must be notified, and a personal development plan must be drafted to tackle her shortcomings.
Her progress will be monitored by a postgraduate-level medical dean, who will liaise with the GMC. She is barred from undertaking private work and out-of-hours, locum or on-call duties.
A further condition states Dr Mondal must pass an English language test within the next 12 months, as well as a GMC competency exam.
The conditions will be assessed at a review hearing before the two-year probation period has ended.
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