The legal importance of good medical records
Dr Stephanie Bown, MPS Director of Policy and Communications, examines why keeping accurate, detailed records is so important when it comes to continuity of care.
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MPS survey on Chief Inspector of Hospitals reveals doctors’ concerns
Social Media Black Hole
The GMC’s latest advice around social media has caused much debate. Here chair of the GMC, Professor Sir Peter Rubin responds to the criticism, and new GP Dr Laura Davison comments on the guidance
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A day in the life of... Dr Richard Vautrey
Deputy chair of the BMA Dr Richard Vautrey gives an insight into his busy life
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The power is in your hands
In April the clinical landscape of the NHS will undertake the biggest change since its inception in 1948. In his analysis of the changes, Dr Simon Abrams raises concerns over potential conflicts of interest.
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Preparing for CQC inspections
MPS clinical risk manager Diane Baylis shares risk advice for practices in how to prepare for a CQC inspection.
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Dealing with non-compliant patients
A doctor’s primary concern is to do their best for their patients; this includes giving advice and treatment, and arranging investigations in accordance with the current evidence base and the patient’s best interests.
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'Patients at risk if out-of-hours review ignores GPs’ concerns', warns MPS
Commenting on the news that Jeremy Hunt wants to place responsibility for round-the-clock care back in the hands of GPs, Nick Clements, Head of Medical Services for the Medical Protection Society said, 'The fictional world of Doc Martin is a long way from the reality of modern practice. The village doctor working all hours is simply unsustainable in many surgeries, which are struggling to cope under huge pressures, exacerbated by increasingly bureaucratic processes that divert resources away from patient care.
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87% of doctors think online medical records will raise patient expectations, MPS report reveals
The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has launched a report on the views of doctors and the public on online medical records. One of the issues highlighted is the disparity between the services that patients expect they will receive through online access to their records and what doctors think is realistic in the immediate term.
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Confidentiality – Disclosures without consent - Northern Ireland
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.
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The apprentice
Dr Laura Davison, a GP registrar from Milton Keynes, shares her thoughts on topical issues facing GP trainees. Here she explores how to break the ice in general practice
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Risk alert: Infection control
Kate Taylor, MPS Clinical Risk Manager, highlights the importance of infection control in general practice
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Advanced care plans in dementia
Dr Paula–Jane Marrett, Dr Fiona Boyd and Beverley Chapman recently won the poster competition at the annual Patient Safety Congress. They share their research and findings
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Skin Lesion Photography
MPS statistics suggest that a case relating to the delayed diagnosis of melanoma is opened every two weeks. Dr Pawan Randev argues that skin lesion photography is a way of improving feedback on dermatology referrals
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Eight in ten doctors are concerned online medical records will increase workload, MPS survey reveals
A survey by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) reveals that 84% of doctors think that online records will mean spending more time explaining the contents of records to patients. Although doctors and the public agree the most important use of medical records is to give the doctor an overview of all the medical treatments a patient has received, there is a mismatch in expectations about how records should be written.
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Removing patients
More than half of UK practices have removed patients from their practice list in the last three years. Medicolegal adviser Dr Jayne Molodynski investigates
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Avoiding a ‘near hit’
Clinical Risk Manager Julie Price shares simple tips for handling test results
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Through the eyes of a locum
In the world of NHS reform, there’s little room for anything else but doublethink. Dr Euan Lawson, a locum GP from Cumbria, shares his views
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Soapbox: The Francis Report
MPS Director of Policy and Communications, Dr Stephanie Bown, fears that a duty of candour proposed for GPs will not inspire the cultural change the NHS requires
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How to... Set up a Patient Participation Group
Stephanie Varah, Chief Executive of the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP) shares the benefits of building a partnership with your patients
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In the Hot Seat: Dr Ben Brown
Would you like to have some say in shaping future GP training? The AiT Committee can help you do just that. Charlotte Hudson finds out more
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MPS survey on CCGs reveals 59% of GPs and Practice Managers see conflicts of interest as the main concern
Healthcare assistants
In this alert Julie Price, MPS’s Clinical Risk Programme Manager, highlights the risk of healthcare assistants performing immunisations
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