One of the doctors at the centre of a damning rheumatology review has had restrictions on his clinical practice lifted – but is no longer employed by the Health Department, it has been confirmed.
Dr Michael Richardson, a longstanding hospital medic, was suspended from work in January 2022, and the reason for his suspension was not made public at the time.
Following the publication of the rheumatology review, which found that scores of patients had been wrongly prescribed strong drugs, it emerged in 2023 that restrictions had been imposed on his clinical practice by an independent tribunal.
But, in a hearing last month, Dr Richardson had the conditions imposed on him revoked. He is now permitted to undertake clinical practice in general medicine and geriatrics, subject to revalidation.
Following queries from Express, the Health Minister confirmed that the former consultant is “not currently employed by Health and Care Jersey”.
Dr Richardson’s initial hearing with the interim orders tribunal took place on 20 September 2023.
The hearing was to determine any potential restrictions on his medical practice whilst investigations were carried out following a review of Jersey’s rheumatology department by the Royal College of Physicians which found the standard of care to be “well below what the review team would consider acceptable” for a contemporary rheumatological service.
The interim orders tribunal considered evidence from the Royal College of Physicians, from Jersey’s Health Department, and Dr Richardson – who was represented by a barrister.
Following the hearing, the tribunal – which may suspend or impose conditions on a doctor’s registration for up to 18 months – imposed conditions on Dr Richardson, including:
- He must get the approval of the GMC before starting work in a non-NHS post or setting
- He must only work in a service that does not include rheumatology
- He must only prescribe, administer, and have primary responsibility for drugs under arrangements that have been agreed by his responsible officer (or their nominated deputy)
- He must be supervised in all of his posts by a clinical supervisor, who must be appointed by his responsible officer (or their nominated deputy).
But it has now emerged that these conditions were revoked in a hearing on 10 July 2025.
The review last month was “on the papers”, which means it occurred without the attendance of the doctor and the GMC.
Both the doctor and the GMC must agree on a proposed outcome for this to happen.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service website now lists Dr Richardson as being “registered with a licence to practise”, but states that he is “subject to revalidation”.
The organisation listed as responsible for his revalidation is States of Jersey Health and Community Services, with the island’s medical director Simon West named as the responsible officer.
But Health Minister Tom Binet told Express that Dr Richardson is not currently employed by Jersey’s Health Department.
He said: “As Health Minister, I acknowledge that, under a previous government, a former Chief Officer, set a precedent by commenting on an individual employment matter.
“However, this must be seen as an exception that is unlikely to be repeated.
“Accordingly, I will only confirm that the individual to whom the enquiry relates is not currently employed by Health and Care Jersey and that for any further particulars I would refer you to the GMC Register, which is available online.”
Following the results of the Royal College of Physicians review of Jersey’s rheumatology department – which claimed that more than 170 rheumatology patients were wrongly given powerful drugs – it was confirmed in 2023 that the two doctors at the centre of the review were “no longer undertaking clinical work”.
At the time, Government officials declined to confirm whether the doctors were still officially employed or not.
But later that year, then-Health Chief Officer Chris Bown was forced to publicly correct information circulating on social media which claimed that Dr Richardson had been reinstated.
In a statement issued on 6 October 2023, Mr Bown said: “Whilst Dr Richardson continues to be an employee, his clinical practice remains restricted as a result of a recent General Medical Council (GMC) hearing, which is a matter of public record.
“This means he is not engaged in any clinical work.”