Maintaining high professional standards and appeal panels

Maintaining high professional standards 

Maintaining high professional standards (MHPS) is a framework aimed to address concerns about doctors and dentists in the NHS. The framework originates from Maintaining High Professional Standards in the Modern NHS published by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2003. 

The Practitioner Performance Advice Service (part of NHS Resolution) is an advisory body that provides impartial advice, interventions and training to healthcare organisations to help manage and resolve concerns raised about the practice of an individual doctor or dentist or pharmacist. There is no minimum threshold for seeking advice and employers are actively encouraged to contact NHS Resolution as early as possible when concerns are raised.

Further information on how NHS Resolution can support an organisation can be found on its website.

Appeal panels 

Requests for capability appeal panel chairs and job planning appeal panel third members is currently managed by NHS Employers. Please email doctors and dentists with your request.  

Capability appeal panel chairs (MHPS)

When emailing, please include the date, time, and location of the capability appeal panel hearing. We will then contact a suitable chair to confirm availability before putting you in contact with them.

Job planning appeal panel third members

Consultant contract appeals guidance.

Understand the process for consultant contract and job planning appeals, including how panels are formed, roles of panel members, and what to expect at each stage. This guidance supports those involved in appeals, including prospective third panel members. 

Further reading

The General Medical Practice (GMC) sets out the standards of care and behaviour expected of all medical professionals in its Good Medical Practice publication.

NHS England provides guidance for responsible officers to help address concerns about a doctors practice, in its guide - A practical guide for responding to concerns about medical practice (PDF).