The NHS is wasting millions of pounds each year because of its failure to resolve the cases of doctors who have been suspended from their jobs.

Unofficial figures suggest that as many as 100 doctors may be currently suspended from the health service.

The figure is based on estimates from medical defence bodies and is three times the government's official number.

The average doctor is suspended for between one and a half and two years. We project the total bill is between �20m and �25m each year

Dr Peter Tomlin

It suggests the NHS could be wasting as much as �25m each year on doctors who are prevented from taking up their jobs.

According to the Medical Defence Union (MDU), up to 60 of its members are currently suspended from their jobs or are on so-called 'gardening leave'.

A further 40 doctors, who are signed up with another defence body the Medical Protection Society (MPS), are also suspended.

Concerns

Many of these doctors have been suspended from their posts following concerns over the performance.

However, historically many are suspended unfairly and subsequent inquiries show that they have done nothing wrong.

In the meantime, they are suspended on full pay from the NHS. Most doctors are suspended for an average of 18 months.

The cost of each suspension is estimated at �250,000, which includes the doctor's salary, NHS legal fees and the costs of employing replacement medical personnel.

Dr Peter Schutte of the MDU said: "In over half of all suspensions, the eventual outcome is that the doctor is reinstated without any facing any disciplinary procedures."

He said the number of doctors being suspended was a cause for concern.

Speaking to BBC News Online, Dr Schutte said: "It is far too common. It shouldn't be happening at all."

According to the Department of Health, just 29 doctors were suspended for more than six months at the end of March.

But Dr Gerard Panting of the MPS said government figures on suspended doctors were unreliable.

"There is no central means of recording the number of doctors suspended," he told BBC News Online.

"The Department of Health figures only include those who have been suspended for more than three months and do not include those on special measures such as forced gardening leave or sabbaticals."

High costs

Dr Peter Tomlin who runs a support group for suspended doctors said the costs to the NHS are high.

The NHS must be far less trigger happy

Dr Evan Harris, Lib Dem health spokesman

"The average doctor is suspended for between one and a half and two years. We project the total bill is between �20m and �25m each year.

"This includes the doctor's salary, pension costs, legal and administration costs and the cost of paying for locum doctors.

"We believe the costs per case are in the region of �250,000."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said it had taken steps to reduce the number of doctors being suspended from their jobs and was working on new guidelines for NHS managers.

He added: "All trusts are encouraged to tackle problems with a doctor's performance at an early stage before patients are harmed."

He said trusts were also urged to refer cases to the National Clinical Assessment Authority, which provides an independent assessment of doctors' performance.

"In some cases this may avoid the need for suspension," the spokesman said.

But Liberal Democrat health spokesman Dr Evan Harris criticised the amount of money wasted by the NHS.

"It represents a real loss, because the majority of these doctors are reinstated. It's a waste of doctors' talent and commitment. The NHS must be far less trigger happy."