The island’s most senior doctor writes a report every year, outlining any activity around the regulation and revalidation of doctors working in the Bailiwick.
Often it passes by with little fanfare, but in 2022, it sparked a long running dispute between a politician and a doctor.
A fresh call to debate the most recent report is likely to be controversial too.
The 2025 Annual Report for the Bailiwick of Guernsey aims to outline the regulation and revalidation of medical practitioners during last year.
It was authored by the retiring Dr Peter Rabey who will stand down as the island’s most senior doctor later this year. His retirement announcement came just weeks after he had agreed to act as the Responsible Officer for another five years.
The report he has authored will be presented to the States for approval next week.
This annual document usually passes by without debate – but on this occasion, a motion to debate the report has been lodged by Deputies Gavin St Pier and Chris Blin.
It is not yet clear why they have chosen to try and force a debate on this report.
But it is not the first time that Deputy St Pier has done this.
In 2022 he tried to force a debate on the 2021 Annual Report – triggering three code of conduct complaints against himself at the time.
There have been well documented ongoing repercussions since.
He also tried to debate the 2022 Annual Report in 2023, supported by then-Deputy Lester Queripel.
The attempt next week to debate the 2025 Annual Report will be the first time that current HSC President, Doctor George Oswald, has been involved politically. Whether he will support or contest the proposed debate remains to be seen.
The report itself is readily available for reading now, so it isn’t confidential.
It contains information outlining some of the island’s key statistics when it comes to the world of health.
It states that there’s been a decrease of doctors, down 19 from 2024 to 345 in total.
182 of those are ‘local practitioners’, whilst 163 are ‘UK-connected practitioners’.
Of the 345, 110 are GPs, 105 are a part of the MSG, 88 are employed by Health and Social Care, and the remaining 42 operate out of private clinics.
So the two deputies could be interested in these statistics, and the prevalence of medical professionals on the island.
They could also be interested in some of the figures when it comes to the report’s notes on performance and compliance.
Almost all appraisals have been completed for 2025, with a 98.9% completion rate (176 of 178).
There were nine positive recommendations made to and accepted by the GMC, and no local doctors received GMC warnings or sanctions in 2025.
There were five new investigations into doctor-related concerns started last year, with one local doctor referred to the GMC, with a decision still pending.
This is believed to be Dr Dean Patterson – who was recently sacked by the MSG in circumstances linked with a mystery review into the covid vaccination programme.
He is currently suspended by the GMC but is appealing that decision.
In terms of other current cases, the report states that just one doctor remains under a GMC investigation originating from April 2023, though they currently practice without restrictions.
Where the report refers to tribunals, an appeal regarding a previous case was heard in December 2025.
We’re still awaiting the judgement on whether or not Dr Ali Shokouh-Amiri can continue to practise medicine.
Dr Shokouh-Amiri was a given a formal warning by the MPTS in February last year, after he admitted and was found guilty of a number of serious failings.
Those included removing the ovaries of two women without their consent, carrying out intimate examinations without a chaperone on multiple women, and failing to arrange treatment for another patient.
Express asked the GMC for an update on this case last week and was told the matter is yet to be concluded.
The report confirms that robust background checks, including GMC registration, DBS, and indemnity insurance remain mandatory for all doctors joining the local register.
Overall Dr Rabey used his report to conclude that revalidation standards remain high and existing processes for managing concerns are effective.
“This annual report has presented details of the discharge of the Responsible Officer’s functions in the year 2025. Standards around revalidation remain high, and processes for identifying and acting on concerns are in place and working effectively.
“The RO would like to thank all those involved in helping to deliver high quality regulation of doctors in the Bailiwick in 2025.”
The motion to debate the report will be brought before the States next week.
