Advice centre

When patients fail to attend an appointment, it can be hugely frustrating for a number of reasons. It is also very costly, according to recent NHS England data that suggests up to 15 million general practice appointments are being wasted each year – at an estimated cost to the NHS of £216 million.

Medical Protection actively supports public health initiatives involving the vaccination of susceptible groups in the community, including the flu vaccine.

Suzanne Creed, Clinical Risk Education Manager explains how to increase your understanding of conflict and provides some key strategies to deal with it more effectively.

Dr Rachel Birch, medicolegal consultant, provides practical tips to ensure you have systems in place to treat children and young people safely.

Is the patient’s son entitled to access his mother’s confidential information? Where a patient lacks capacity clinicians should consider what action is in the patient’s best interests.

Are we obliged to facilitate a request for CCTV footage of the practice car park? You need to consider the confidentiality of other patients. Dr Rachel Birch, medicolegal consultant, answers a member’s query.