- Dr. Keith Wolverson, previously suspended for asking a Muslim woman to remove her veil, can now return to work with 1-year sanctions.
- Sanctions involve oversight by a “responsible officer,” workplace reporter feedback, and a personal development plan on equality and cultural diversity.
Dr. Keith Wolverson, a GP who was suspended after requesting a Muslim woman to remove her veil during an appointment, has been permitted to resume work. The 54-year-old doctor faced suspension for nine months last year following 17 counts of misconduct in 2018 while working at urgent care centres in Derby and Stoke. Wolverson criticized patients’ English skills and those of their relatives in the notes of 15 patients, deeming it “unacceptable” and “not good enough.”
Although Wolverson is now allowed to return to work, a misconduct panel has imposed new sanctions for a year. The panel found him lacking sufficient “insight” into his actions and lacking education in “cultural diversity.” These sanctions include a “responsible officer” overseeing Wolverson’s adherence to medical standards and a “workplace reporter” offering feedback on his conduct.
The General Medical Council defines a “responsible officer” as a senior doctor who ensures a doctor’s compliance with GMC standards and the upkeep of their skills. A workplace reporter provides regular feedback to the responsible officer on compliance, progress, and any complaints.
Wolverson is also required to devise a personal development plan focused on equality, diversity, and cultural diversity. The 17 charges of misconduct took place between January and May 2018. One incident involved Wolverson asking a Muslim woman, referred to as Mrs Q, to remove her niqab during a consultation, citing difficulty in hearing her describe her daughter’s symptoms. He repeated the request 3 times. After she declined, a complaint from her husband was put forth. Mrs Q. said she felt racially discriminated against.
The tribunal found Wolverson’s comments in response to the complaint dishonest. Wolverson refused to speak to Mrs. Q’s husband, later stating it was due to his perceived aggression. Wolverson’s legal representative acknowledged his insensitivity.
The GMC brought the case to the tribunal. The tribunal found Wolverson’s actions “deplorable.” Duncan Toole, the tribunal chair, stated that Wolverson had been dishonest in responding to patient complaints, requesting veil removal, and making offensive remarks in medical records.
During the review hearing, Wolverson claimed he hadn’t repeated his misconduct and had reflected on his actions since his suspension in October 2022. He emphasized the NHS’s staffing shortages and his commitment to patients. The tribunal ruled that while Wolverson underwent insight training, his practice changes were unclear. His suspension wasn’t extended, but conditions were placed on his registration for 12 more months.
