We all know that doctors love inflicting pain on patients and that the lump on your toe is just delaying their tea break. But they may have to change their tune - or at least develop their acting skills.

Empathy is just one criterion by which patients may be asked to assess hospital consultants, reports Health Service Journal (June 12). Their assessment of consultants' personalities could also include trustworthiness and whether they look patients in the eye, says Bernard Ribeiro, the president of the Royal College of Surgeons. “Surgery is about total quality of care, not just how well an operation went,” he says. “Commissioners have to look at results and value for money. We can have an abrasive doctor who has the most fantastic results. It should be seen as a 360-degree appraisal from patients.”

That said, most patients would probably put up with a bit of rudeness on a doctor's bad day, provided he or she removes the correct kidney.

Nevertheless, the so-called 360-degree feedback, which requires patients and colleagues to assess a doctor's skills, could also enter GP land. GP (June 13) says young doctors outscored older colleagues in a £200,000 study funded by the General Medical Council (GMC) on the subject, which could become a part of doctors' revalidation. The research, by John Campbell, a professor at Peninsula Medical School, also showed that patients and colleagues rated “different and complementary” aspects of doctors' performance, so both sources of feedback are needed.

ONS can bridge credibility gap

Official figures were blighted by ‘spin’ but Karen Dunnell, the National Statistician, believes that independence for the Office for National Statistics can change that

BACKGROUND

• Fire risk from flats recycling

• Public opinion: Alastair Dale of Capita Symonds

• Smiles enhance quality of care

• What worked for us

Related Internet Links

• Public sector jobs

• Snakes & Ladders

Billy-no-mates could be in trouble. Pulse (June 11) reports that GPs who fail to come up with enough colleagues to vouch for their performance could face investigation by the GMC. Professor Campbell's research found that GPs might be reluctant to air their fears about fellow GPs.

Joking aside

Failing to see the funny side of illness is forgivable because often there isn’t one. But Nursing Standard (June 11) suggests that while patients with stroke, diabetes and even cancer are prepared to use humour in their interactions with nurses, the nurses themselves tend to stay buttoned-up and serious. A study presented at a conference called Joking Aside found that while some patient groups were happy to laugh, others, including drug users, were not. So no gags about “feeling a little prick”, then?

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive