Suspension during investigation
Paterson Inquiry · Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Issues raised by Paterson · Issued 4 February 2020 · Addressed to: Department of Health and Social Care
Government responseDepartment of Health and Social Care: Not accepted (Dec 2021)
DeliveryDHSC and NHS England say not accepted (Feb 2026)DHSC states no delivery position (May 2024)Department of Health and Social Care says not accepted (Dec 2022)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
We recommend that if, when a hospital investigates a healthcare professional's behaviour, including the use of an HR process, any perceived risk to patient safety should result in the suspension of that healthcare professional.
Paterson Inquiry, Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Issues raised by Paterson · 4 Feb 2020 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
In commentary from September 2024 published in February 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England maintained that the recommendation was not accepted, stating that its underlying goals could be met through clear guidance and robust investigations (DHSC and NHS England, Feb 2026). The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team recorded in its February 2026 review that the recommendation had not been accepted by the government (The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team, Feb 2026). In their September 2024 update, the bodies noted that policy frameworks for raising concerns were being developed, alongside national people policy frameworks for providers to adopt locally, which will include a resolution framework (DHSC and NHS England, Feb 2026).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026.
About this summary
Government response
●Department of Health and Social Care · Not accepted · 16 Dec 2021
Do not accept
We agree that exclusions and restriction of practice can be necessary and, in some cases, immediate exclusion is an appropriate response while an investigation is ongoing. However, we do not believe it would be fair or proportionate to impose a blanket rule to exclude practitioners in such cases.
Such a step may inadvertently cause a chilling effect, dissuading healthcare professionals from raising concerns, and negatively impacting patient safety. It is vital that investigations are robust and conducted in a timely manner.
Guidance has been put in place to ensure that concerns are taken seriously, appropriate action taken and that robust investigation processes are implemented, and that clarity on when to exclude a healthcare professional is provided.
We agree that there are circumstances where exclusion and restriction of practice are necessary. However, accepting this recommendation would lead to the potential for many professionals to have their practice restricted in circumstances where it would not be reasonably warranted.
Extract from: Government response to the independent inquiry report into the issues raised by former surgeon Ian Paterson
Delivery
●DHSC and NHS England say not accepted · 27 Feb 2026
This recommendation was not accepted by Government. The Government set out that the underlying goal of this recommendation could be met through:
• Ensuring concerns are taken seriously
• Implementing robust investigation processes • Providing clear guidance on decisions to suspend or exclude a healthcare professional
NHS England is developing a number of policy frameworks for raising concerns. For example, a sexual misconduct policy framework.
NHS England has concluded its review of how best practice guidance has been implemented, which will be factored into its work to develop the Human Resources & Organisational Development profession in the NHS. Part of this work will include producing a number of national people policy frameworks for providers to adopt locally, which will include a resolution policy framework. In the light of this work, it will not be introducing a common management framework.
In April 2022, NHS Resolution (NHSR) published a suite of resources to support decisions relating to the exclusion of professionals.
●DHSC states no delivery position · 15 May 2024
Action 9.1.a
The government set out that the underlying goal of this recommendation could be met.
From: The Thirlwall Inquiry: Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version of 15 May 2024), The Department of Health and Social Care
●Department of Health and Social Care says not accepted · 15 Dec 2022
This element of recommendation 12 was not accepted by the government.
What other bodies have found
●Thirlwall Inquiry legal team · 27 Feb 2026
Action 9.1: Not accepted by the government. “We agree that exclusions and restriction of practice can be necessary and, in some cases, immediate exclusion is an appropriate response while an investigation is ongoing. However, we do not believe it would be fair or proportionate to impose a blanket rule to exclude practitioners in such cases.
Such a step may inadvertently cause a chilling effect, dissuading healthcare professionals from raising concerns, and negatively impacting patient safety. It is vital that investigations are robust and conducted in a timely manner.
Guidance has been put in place to ensure that concerns are taken seriously, appropriate action taken and that robust investigation processes are implemented, and that clarity on when to exclude a healthcare professional is provided.” – Government response document, 16 December 2021.
Earlier findings (1)
●Thirlwall Inquiry legal team · 15 May 2024
Action 9.1:
Not accepted by the government.
“We agree that exclusions and restriction of practice can be necessary and, in some cases, immediate exclusion is an appropriate response while an investigation is ongoing. However, we do not believe it would be fair or proportionate to impose a blanket rule to exclude practitioners in such cases.
Such a step may inadvertently cause a chilling effect, dissuading healthcare professionals from raising concerns, and negatively impacting patient safety. It is vital that investigations are robust and conducted in a timely manner.
Guidance has been put in place to ensure that concerns are taken seriously, appropriate action taken and that robust investigation processes are implemented, and that clarity on when to exclude a healthcare professional is provided.” – Government response document, 16 December 2021.
How this page is built
The recommendation and the government responses are verbatim from primary documents. Delivery statements and other bodies' findings are shown in their own words, each with its source. The summary is written by this site and labelled as such. The Index does not paraphrase sources or characterise intent; it records what has been published.