Communicating with patients by text message - Wales
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Text messaging allows practices to target and contact hundreds of patients within minutes. Patients can respond by text with replies automatically forwarded to a specified email address. Many practices are signing up to using a text messaging service to inform patients of appointments, flu vaccinations, etc.
Good medical records – whether electronic or handwritten – are essential for the continuity of care of your patients. Adequate medical records enable you or somebody else to reconstruct the essential parts of each patient contact without reference to memory. They should therefore be comprehensive enough to allow a colleague to carry on where you left off.
Certain circumstances can mean you are obliged to disclose information about a patient, even if you do not have their consent; under other circumstances, disclosure may be justifiable. This factsheet gives you further information about these circumstances.
Disclosures relating to patients unable to consent - Scotland
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You owe a duty of confidentiality to all your patients, past or present, even if they are adults who lack capacity. You may be asked to provide information from the medical records of patients who are incapable of giving consent, are aged under 16, or have died. This factsheet gives you further information about dealing with these circumstances.
The Procurator Fiscal and Fatal Accident Inquiries - Scotland
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If a death occurs in a violent or unnatural manner, in custody, or suddenly but without certain cause, the Procurator Fiscal has a duty to inquire into the death. This factsheet sets out the role of the Procurator Fiscal, the reporting process and what will happen once you have reported a death to the Procurator Fiscal.
Respect for patients’ autonomy is expressed in consent law; to impose care or treatment on people without respecting their wishes and right to self-determination is not only unethical, but illegal.
Respect for patients autonomy is expressed in consent law; to impose care or treatment on people without respecting their wishes and right to self-determination is not only unethical, but illegal.
GMC introduces statutory indemnity requirement for UK doctors
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Throughout September the GMC will be contacting doctors to inform them of a new statutory requirement to maintain adequate and appropriate indemnity when practising medicine in the UK.
NHS England has mandated that from 1 October 2015 secure fax will no longer be permitted for sending discharge summaries to GPs from NHS hospitals or independent sector providers of acute services.
MPS appoints new Professional Services Executive Director
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MPS, the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals, has appointed Dr Pardeep Sandhu as the new Professional Services Executive Director.
Confidentiality - Disclosures relating to patients unable to consent
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You owe a duty of confidentiality to all your patients, past or present, even if they are adults who lack capacity. You may be asked to provide information from the medical records of patients who are incapable of giving consent, are aged under 18, or have died. This factsheet gives you further information about dealing with these circumstances.
The Care Act (2014) sets out the framework for local authorities to use (alongside health and social services)to protect adults considered at risk from abuse or neglect.
A number of MPS members have contacted us as they have received letters from a firm of solicitors, Messrs BLM, in relation to expert work carried out on behalf of the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA).
NHS LA triennial report: Action needed to drive down cost of clinical negligence, says MPS
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NHS LA triennial report: Action needed to drive down cost of clinical negligence, says MPS In response to the Department of Health’s triennial review of the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA), the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is pleased that the cost of clinical negligence is recognised as an issue but wants to see a debate on the merits of a limit on future earnings and future care costs
NHS liabilities of £28.3bn are unaffordable, reform needed says MPS
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In response to the NHS LA’s estimates that £28.3bn will be needed to cover known and future claims for clinical negligence for past patient care – up by 10% on last year – the Medical Protection Society (MPS) urges the government to prioritise reform of the legal system.
85% of doctors have experienced mental health issues, reveals Medical Protection survey
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A Medical Protection survey of more than 600 UK members reveals that 85% have experienced mental health issues, with common issues being stress (75%), anxiety (49%) and low self-esteem (36%).
Making and using audio and visual recordings of patients can benefit medical training, research and treatment. However, it poses risks for doctors regarding consent and confidentiality. In addition, all recordings from which living individuals can be identified constitute personal data and are subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
Reporting deaths to the Coroner - Northern Ireland
Time to read article: 6 mins
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If a death occurs in a violent or unnatural manner, in custody, or suddenly but without certain cause, a coroner has a duty to enquire into the death. This factsheet sets out the role of a coroner, the reporting process and what will happen once you have reported a death to the coroner.
Confidentiality – Disclosures relating to patients unable to consent - Northern Ireland
Time to read article: 4 mins
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You owe a duty of confidentiality to all your patients, past or present, even if they are adults who lack capacity. You may be asked to provide information from the medical records of patients who are incapable of giving consent, are aged under 18, or have died. This factsheet gives you further information about dealing with these circumstances.
MPS supports the Government’s plans to cap excessive legal fees
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Responding to the Department of Health’s announcement that it plans to cap excessive legal fees for clinical negligence claims, Emma Hallinan, Director of Claims and Litigation, Medical Protection Society said...
In April, the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 came into force in England and Wales. It sets out some additional factors that a court must consider when assessing a negligence claim or alleged breach of duty.
Being subject to a complaint or investigation can be distressing and stressful. Our video series shows how Medical Protection will continue to provide you with personal support, advice and representation for a whole range of medicolegal concerns, protecting your career and reputation.
Our professional development courses are available when and where it suits you. From short online courses to face to-face-workshops, discover a range of CPD courses included in your membership.
Read real-life cases of complaints, claims and clinical negligence taken from our archives.
Chosen to give you clear learning points to help you avoid similar situations and reduce your risk, the cases also feature advice from medicolegal experts.
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