Recommendation BRIS-96: Establish minimum clinical practice levels for clinicians in part-time managerial roles
From Bristol Heart Inquiry — Final Report, published 18 July 2001.
Recommendation
To protect patients, in the case of clinicians who take on managerial roles but wish to continue to practise as clinicians, experts together with managers from the NHS should issue advice as to the minimum level of regular clinical practice necessary to enable a clinician to provide care of a good quality. Clinicians not maintaining this level of practice should not be entitled to offer clinical care. This rule should also apply to all other clinicians who, for whatever reason, are not in full-time practice, and not only to those in part-time managerial roles.
Government response
No government response to this recommendation is on the record yet.
Delivery
DHSC and NHS England say not accepted (27 February 2026)
This recommendation was not accepted by the Government.
Site note: DHSC and NHS England's own account of progress, supplied to the Thirlwall Inquiry in September 2024 and printed in the Inquiry legal team's Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version dated April 2025, published 27 February 2026). It is not a finding of the Inquiry. Their reviewed extent of implementation reads “Not accepted”. Table row: section 6.2 No. 96, PDF page 113-114.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
Thirlwall Inquiry legal team (15 May 2024)
The Government rejected this recommendation.
In its January 2002 response, the Department of Health said it did not believe it possible to prescribe a minimum level of regular clinical practice to suit all specialties.
Site note: The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team's own notes on implementation, from its Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version of 15 May 2024). The review does not colour its Extent of Implementation cell for this recommendation green; it leaves the cell uncoloured where a recommendation was rejected, where evidence of implementation was insufficient, or where steps had been taken but implementation was not yet complete. Table row: section 6.2 No. 96, PDF page 103.
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- DHSC and NHS England
Delivery statement - Thirlwall Inquiry legal team
Finding