Press release 22/03/2013 Prostate cancer is the sixth most common cancer claim, says MPS Preview Article Prostate cancer is the sixth most common cancer claim, says MPS Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview As March is Prostate Cancer Awareness month, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is reminding GPs to keep the disease front of mind, especially as there is no national screening for prostate cancer, which is predicted to become UK’s most common cancer by 2030. Read more Article contains Text
Factsheet 01/03/2013 Controlled drugs - Wales Preview Article Controlled drugs - Wales 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... GP locum Managing clinical risk General practice CQC compliance Use Guidelines Health & safety
Press release 19/02/2013 Technology highlighted as a key factor across risks in general practices Preview Article Technology highlighted as a key factor across risks in general practices Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Technology highlighted as a key factor across risks in general practices The top risks in general practice have been identified based on data collected by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) from more than 120 general practices in the UK. Read more Article contains Text
Press release 15/02/2013 Online medical records a ‘Pandora’s Box’ – MPS survey reveals securit... Preview Article Online medical records a ‘Pandora’s Box’ – MPS survey reveals security fears Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Following a survey of doctors and the public, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) compares the plans for online medical records to opening a ‘Pandora’s Box’, unless there are proper safeguards in place to protect patient confidentiality. The organisation is concerned that when access is granted, it could have unintended and severe consequences, such as sensitive information being accessed by a patient’s family members. Read more Article contains Text
Articles and features 13/01/2013 Think that only incompetent doctors get referred to the GMC? Think ag... Preview Article Think that only incompetent doctors get referred to the GMC? Think again… Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Dr Richard Stacey looks at a wide range of factors that could lead to a GMC hearing... Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Professionalism Reputation management Patients Generic Medicine
Factsheet 09/01/2013 Access to medical reports - Scotland Preview Article Access to medical reports - Scotland 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... Generic Medicine Consent Medical Records Scotland Ethics Human resources
06/01/2013 NHS complaints procedure – Second Stage Complaints Preview Article NHS complaints procedure – Second Stage Complaints Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview The second stage is where the complaint is not resolved in the practice and the complainant asks for an Independent Review by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine CQC compliance Complaints Scotland Negligence
Press release 04/01/2013 Parents at war over child’s medical records – MPS reveals figures on... Preview Article Parents at war over child’s medical records – MPS reveals figures on ‘Divorce Day’ Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview The Medical Protection Society (MPS) reveals the rising number of calls on parents warring over a child’s medical records – a record 179 calls last year – on ‘Divorce Day’ (4 January). The figures work out at one phone call every other day from GPs seeking advice from MPS. Read more Article contains Text
Factsheet 04/01/2013 Safeguarding children FAQs - Northern Ireland Preview Article Safeguarding children FAQs - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview The GMC states that “doctors play a crucial role in protecting children from abuse and neglect”. Child maltreatment includes neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The following frequently asked questions are designed to advise MPS members what to do and who to contact, should they suspect children are at risk of, or are experiencing, harm. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Issues & conflict management Consent Northern Ireland Use Guidelines Patients Generic Medicine
Factsheet 04/01/2013 Giving evidence - Scotland Preview Article Giving evidence - Scotland Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview As a doctor, you may be asked to give evidence in many different types of forums including criminal or civil courts, Fatal Accident Inquiries and employment or mental health tribunals. This factsheet gives further information about what to expect and how to prepare. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Scotland Generic Medicine Compliance Patients CQC compliance Investigations
Factsheet 01/01/2013 Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Independent Mental Capacity Advocates Preview Article Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Independent Mental Capacity Advocates Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview The role of Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) is to support and represent a person who lacks capacity in making a specific decision, and who has no-one (other than paid carers) to support them. This factsheet sets out further information about IMCAs and the role they play. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Northern Ireland Managing clinical risk Scotland Consent Ethics Generic Medicine
Factsheet 01/01/2013 Access to health records - Wales Preview Article Access to health records - Wales Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Providing access to medical records is essentially a confidentiality issue; therefore, the starting point is whether or not the patient has consented to disclosure. If not, access should be denied, unless there is some other clear justification for allowing access. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Medical Records Wales Confidentiality Generic Medicine Consent
Press release 20/12/2012 MPS reveals 'Melanoma blackspot' – 94% of claims lie with GPs Preview Article MPS reveals 'Melanoma blackspot' – 94% of claims lie with GPs Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview More than 9 in 10 claims over delayed diagnosis of melanoma involve GPs, according to figures released by the Medical Protection Society (MPS)* today in its Your Practice magazine. Read more Article contains Text
Press release 21/11/2012 Patient experience is the smoke detector of patient safety Preview Article Patient experience is the smoke detector of patient safety Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Modern day healthcare has taken on a patient-led agenda; with the NHS ‘friends and family test’ to be introduced from April 2013, patient feedback being an integral part of the revalidation of doctors and the NHS mandate’s focus on ensuring patients have a positive experience of care. Read more Article contains Text
Press release 24/10/2012 One in ten cancer claims relate to breast cancer - MPS reminder for d... Preview Article One in ten cancer claims relate to breast cancer - MPS reminder for doctors to be vigilant Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer-related clinical negligence claim against GPs – making up one in ten cancer claims – according to the Medical Protection Society (MPS). Read more Article contains Text
Press release 15/10/2012 Cosmetic interventions review highlights importance of managing patie... Preview Article Cosmetic interventions review highlights importance of managing patient expectations, say MPS Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Identifying whether a patient’s expectations are realistic and ensuring they give valid consent to the intended surgery are essential steps prior to a cosmetic procedure, says the Medical Protection Society (MPS) in response to the Department of Health’s Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions Read more Article contains Text
Press release 12/10/2012 Recall of typhoid vaccine highlights the importance of documentation Preview Article Recall of typhoid vaccine highlights the importance of documentation Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview The recent recall of a typhoid vaccine because it may not offer full protection, highlights the importance of health professionals accurately recording details of vaccines and batch numbers, says the Medical Protection Society (MPS). Read more Article contains Text
Press release 01/10/2012 Conference helps surgical trainees get to grips with ethical issues Preview Article Conference helps surgical trainees get to grips with ethical issues Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview More than 100 surgeons in training attended the joint Medical Protection Society (MPS) and Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) conference – Getting to grips with law and ethics – on Friday. The conference gave an insight into the challenges of complex ethical and medicolegal issues, and ways to aid safer practice within surgical specialties. Read more Article contains Text
Press release 16/09/2012 Convenience shouldn’t compromise confidentiality, says MPS on GPs usi... Preview Article Convenience shouldn’t compromise confidentiality, says MPS on GPs using tablet devices Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview While using tablet devices might give GPs greater flexibility with accessing information on the go, such as patient records, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is reminding GPs and practices that patient confidentiality needs to be carefully guarded. Read more Article contains Text
Press release 14/09/2012 Think twice before disclosing full patient records to insurance compa... Preview Article Think twice before disclosing full patient records to insurance companies Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Following a change to how some insurance companies are assessing patients’ medical history from GPs, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is advising GP practices to ensure the patient has given valid consent before their information is disclosed. Read more Article contains Text
Press release 07/09/2012 The importance of transparency in healthcare Preview Article The importance of transparency in healthcare Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview MPS has long campaigned for a culture of openness and has seen from its members’ experience, the importance of being open and honest when something goes wrong. Read more Article contains Text
Factsheet 01/09/2012 Communicating with patients by fax and email - Northern Ireland Preview Article Communicating with patients by fax and email - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should make sure that, if sensitive information needs to be sent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Generic Medicine General practice Consent Data Protection Practice management
Casebook 01/09/2012 Fairness to all: A look at Membership Governance Preview Article Fairness to all: A look at Membership Governance Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Many members of MPS will have very few medicolegal cases in the course of their career. But what happens to those who need assistance rather more frequently? Sarah Whitehouse finds out more. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Claims Negligence Managing clinical risk Generic Medicine Issues & conflict management
Factsheet 01/09/2012 Communicating with patients by fax and email - Wales Preview Article Communicating with patients by fax and email - Wales Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should make sure that if sensitive information needs to besent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Wales Managing clinical risk Confidentiality Data Protection Generic Medicine Practice management