Dr Richard Scott: NHS settles case at last minute over his Christian prayer for patients

Dr Richard Scott, 62, is a GP at the Bethesda Medical Centre in Margate, Kent, and has received a number of complaints in the last two decades relating to offering spiritual care to some patients.

This tribunal was due as a result of complaints relating to a telephone interview Dr Scott took part in on BBC Radio 4 in 2019 discussing his use of prayer in his practice.

He said he offered spiritual care to around one in 40 patients, and around 80% of people offered prayer or religious support took him up on the offer.

The tribunal between Dr Scott and NHS England was set to begin in Ashford on Monday to determine whether he could still be allowed to work as an NHS doctor.

He had been asked to attend a three-day course costing £1,800 aimed at people who had been accused of sexual impropriety, which he refused, and also to undertake a psychiatric assessment.

But the tribunal has been called off following last-ditch talks between both parties.

Dr Scott will now take part in a one-day training course costing £500 relating to “professional boundaries”.

Dr Scott told the Press Association news agency: “I do try to follow the General Medical Council guidelines and if you read them correctly, they allow you and encourage you to speak to patients about religion where it’s relevant to their care.

“Full well-being is physical, mental and spiritual and it’s more than appropriate, it’s necessary for some patients to look into those existential issues in a way that standard western medicine doesn’t provide.

“Some people are desperate for help and I can give any number of examples of people I’ve helped through spiritual care – which is done on my own time and fully consented.”

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which backed Dr Scott’s case, said she was delighted that Richard Scott has “again been vindicated”.

She added: “Dr Scott is a highly experienced doctor whose life and career has been committed to serving his patients and community.

“He is loved and respected by his community which he has served for decades. His love for Jesus and dedication to his faith is also well known where he works and within the community.

“There is no evidence that Dr Scott’s practice of praying with his patients has in any way interfered with his delivery of excellent medicine – in fact, quite the opposite.

“At a time when there is widespread recognition that emotional and spiritual support play a significant role in physical healing, it has been particularly distasteful to see NHS England picking on a Christian doctor who is appropriately offering that support.

“It is now a relief to Richard and his family that this case is finally settled.”

She said Dr Scott had been set to contest disciplinary measures and mandatory conditions imposed against him by NHS England.

She added that after previous complaints, the General Medical Council (GMC) ruled twice in 2019 and 2020 that he had not breached any of its guidelines and that: ‘discussion of faith in consultations is not prohibited’.

Ms Williams said NHS England lawyers have now agreed that Dr Scott is free to offer to pray and to pray with patients if he does so within agreed General Medical Council guidance.

In return, Dr Scott agreed, out of good will, and with no admittance of wrong-doing, that he would attend a one-day course related to professional boundaries, she added.

A spokesperson for NHS England in the South East responded: “NHS England has reached an agreement with Dr Scott for his appeal to be withdrawn without an admission of liability.

“Any spiritual care in Dr Scott’s consultations must be in accordance with the clear GMC guidance and Dr Scott has agreed to attend a one-day Professional Boundaries course within three months.”

“We accept that Dr Scott may introduce spiritual care into his consultations, as long as this is in accordance with GMC guidance: Personal beliefs and medical practice.”