Press release 20/07/2015 NHS liabilities of £28.3bn are unaffordable, reform needed says MPS Preview Article NHS liabilities of £28.3bn are unaffordable, reform needed says MPS Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text
Press release 16/07/2015 85% of doctors have experienced mental health issues, reveals Medical... Preview Article 85% of doctors have experienced mental health issues, reveals Medical Protection survey Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview 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%). Read more Article contains Text
Factsheet 16/07/2015 Making audio and visual recordings of patients Preview Article Making audio and visual recordings of patients Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Patients Consent Generic Medicine
Factsheet 14/07/2015 Reporting deaths to the Coroner - Northern Ireland Preview Article Reporting deaths to the Coroner - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 6 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Compliance Generic Medicine Inquests Investigations Northern Ireland
Factsheet 01/07/2015 Confidentiality – Disclosures relating to patients unable to consent... Preview Article Confidentiality – Disclosures relating to patients unable to consent - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Consent Northern Ireland Ethics Generic Medicine
Press release 28/06/2015 MPS supports the Government’s plans to cap excessive legal fees Preview Article MPS supports the Government’s plans to cap excessive legal fees Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview 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... Read more Article contains Text
News and updates 18/06/2015 New legal test for good Samaritan acts Preview Article New legal test for good Samaritan acts Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Compliance Generic Medicine
Press release 17/06/2015 MPS response to NAO report - use complaints to create long-lasting so... Preview Article MPS response to NAO report - use complaints to create long-lasting solutions Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Senior Medicolegal Adviser at the Medical Protection Society said: Read more Article contains Text
Press release 16/06/2015 Half of GPs face challenging patients on a weekly basis, says MPS survey Preview Article Half of GPs face challenging patients on a weekly basis, says MPS survey Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Read more Article contains Text
Factsheet 12/06/2015 Health charges for visitors and migrants - England Preview Article Health charges for visitors and migrants - England Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview The Immigration Act 2014 and recently updated regulations on charging overseas visitors for NHS care have led to changes in the way overseas visitors and migrants are charged for NHS care. Although mainly an administrative issue, there are key points that need to be understood by clinicians to ensure that patients are treated appropriately and their information is safeguarded. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Financial management Generic Medicine England
Factsheet 05/06/2015 Controlled drugs - England Preview Article Controlled drugs - England Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (2001), GPs have a responsibility for controlled drugs (CDs) within their practice. This factsheet highlights what you should be aware of when carrying, storing and recording controlled drugs. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Prescribing England Managing clinical risk Professionalism
Articles and features 04/06/2015 Flexible working: Your questions answered Preview Article Flexible working: Your questions answered Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Flexible working was introduced to help employees achieve a better 'work-life' balance. Croner frequently answer questions on their advice line from practices about flexible working Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... General practice Practice Matters
Articles and features 04/06/2015 The light: Group practice Preview Article The light: Group practice Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Charlotte Hudson, deputy editor of Practice Matters, interviews Nick Giles, area operations manager for the One Medical group - The Light, Leeds, about the secret to the practice's success. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Practice Matters Practice management Professionalism General practice
Articles and features 01/06/2015 Poor complaints handling Preview Article Poor complaints handling Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview The key to resolving many complaints is handling them early on at a local level. Terri Bonnici, MPS medical complaints adviser, presents a case study showing what could happen if you don’t get to grips with a complaint in the early stages. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Practice Matters
Press release 27/05/2015 Queen’s Speech: MPS disappointed cost of clinical negligence not raised Preview Article Queen’s Speech: MPS disappointed cost of clinical negligence not raised Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Read more Article contains Text
Factsheet 20/05/2015 Access to medical reports - England Preview Article Access to medical reports - England Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Doctors may, on occasion, receive a request from a patient’s employer for a medical report to be delivered directly to the HR department, without the patient seeing it. However, before any medical report can be provided, you must be satisfied that the patient has given valid consent to the release of the information. This factsheet looks at the issues surrounding medical reports for employers and other organisations, and offers advice to doctors who are asked to write reports. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Data Protection Managing clinical risk England GP locum Practice management Medical Records
Factsheet 19/05/2015 Dealing with non-compliant patients - Northern Ireland Preview Article Dealing with non-compliant patients - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine Compliance
Factsheet 19/05/2015 Safeguarding children - Wales Preview Article Safeguarding children - Wales Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview The GMC states that “Whether or not you have vulnerable children or young people as patients, you should consider their needs and welfare and offer them help if you think their rights have been abused or denied.” Surgery consultations, home visits, accident and emergency admissions and contact with other professionals who work with children help to build up a picture of a child’s situation. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine Patients Wales Managing clinical risk Ethics Listen
Factsheet 19/05/2015 Safe prescribing - Wales Preview Article Safe prescribing - Wales Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Medication errors account for approximately 20% of all clinical negligence claims against doctors in both primary and secondary care. The costs associated with adverse events and inappropriate prescribing in the UK has been estimated at more than £750 million per year. This factsheet gives advice about avoiding prescribing errors. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Generic Medicine Prescribing Wales Consent
Factsheet 19/05/2015 Safeguarding children - England Preview Article Safeguarding children - England Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview The GMC states that “Whether or not you have vulnerable children or young people as patients, you should consider their needs and welfare and offer them help if you think their rights have been abused or denied.” Surgery consultations, home visits, accident and emergency admissions and contact with other professionals who work with children help to build up a picture of a child’s situation. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine Managing clinical risk Patients Ethics Confidentiality England
News and updates 18/05/2015 Priorities for the new Government Preview Article Priorities for the new Government Close Preview With the new government in place, and Jeremy Hunt MP reappointed as the Secretary of State for Health, it is crucial that they focus on addressing some key concerns of stakeholders. Read more Article contains Text
15/05/2015 Communicating with patients by text message - England Preview Article Communicating with patients by text message - England Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Data Protection Northern Ireland Managing clinical risk England General practice Medical Records
Factsheet 15/05/2015 Consent - The basics - England Preview Article Consent - The basics - England Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Consent Medicine student Generic Medicine
Factsheet 15/05/2015 Making audio and visual recordings of patients - England Preview Article Making audio and visual recordings of patients - England Time to read article: 6 mins Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine Consent England Patients Managing clinical risk