INVESTIGATION: Why are doctors banned abroad working in the NHS?

In this episode of "The Story," Manveen Rana and George Greenwood, an investigations reporter at The Times, delve into a disturbing investigation revealing that numerous doctors banned or sanctioned in other countries for malpractice, sexual abuse, or incompetence are practicing within the UK's NHS. The investigation uncovered 22 such cases, highlighting failures in the General Medical Council's (GMC) register and a lack of international information sharing. The podcast details specific cases, including a psychiatrist struck off in New Mexico for sexual misconduct now working in an NHS mental health trust, and a radiologist fired by an NHS contractor after having licenses revoked in Sweden and Norway for clinical incompetence. The episode also shares the tragic story of Denise Barnes, who died after being discharged by a doctor with a restricted practice history, and the account of John, a victim of sexual abuse by a doctor later struck off in the UK but now practicing in Romania. The discussion emphasizes the need for a transparent international database of banned doctors and stronger due diligence by the GMC to protect patients from harm.