Mr S was a 35-year-old taxi driver who was visiting his extended family abroad. While he was there he decided to have a routine health check in a private clinic. He told the doctor in the health clinic that he had noticed some rectal bleeding over the previous four months.
Read moreThe CQC has agreed not to use bandings for GP intelligent monitoring, following a thorough review of last year’s process and outcomes.
Read moreA clinical negligence claim is a demand for financial compensation for alleged harm caused by substandard clinical care. Common reasons for claims include failure or delay in diagnosis, or incorrect treatment. In fact, many claims arise out of poor communication.
Read moreA 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 moreA Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of more than 500 UK members, including GPs, consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors, revealed that two in three doctors (68%) believe there is a blame and shame culture in the NHS, and that it will be difficult to overcome this. This compares with 66% of respondents to the same survey conducted in 2011, indicating that there has not been a positive culture change in four years.
Read moreNHS authorities can now be forced by the Information Commissioner (ICO) to be audited for compliance with the Data Protection Act.
Read moreWe get a number of queries about indemnity requirements for practice staff. Here are answers to two of our most commonly asked questions.
Read moreMPS Complaints Adviser Sue Taylor explains how using the NHS Complaints Advocacy Service can help practices
Read moreCertain 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.
Read moreA new Order from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) came into force on 6 April 2015 following an investigation into the independent healthcare market.
Read moreThe Namibia desert between Luderwitz and Walvis Bay has the highest sand dunes and the lowest average precipitation in the world. There are no permanent inhabitants – it’s simply too hot.
Read moreMiss Francesca Th’ng and Mr Marios Patronis share the case of Mrs A, who sadly died following the insertion of a chest drain after surgery
Read moreJames Tomlinson, a simulation fellow in surgery, argues that we need to look outside the medical world to enhance our understanding and utilisation of simulation training
Read moreThe Medical Protection Society (MPS) is calling on the next government to prioritise reform of the legal system to drive down the cost of clinical negligence. MPS believes introducing fixed costs for small value claims and a reform of the rules relating to claimants’ expert reports will help make clinical negligence more affordable.
Read moreAs new doctors start their careers on hospital wards, a Medical Protection survey of over 500 doctors who have just completed their first year has revealed that 89% felt that they had some support. Of those, 91% said they received support from senior doctors, while 64% said they also received support from nurses.
Read moreConsulting on the telephone requires a different skill-set, relying on common sense and improvisation. Learning how to do this effectively is necessary to safeguard patients and your professional position, says GP and popular author Dr Tony Males
Read moreTop ten tips to survive those dreaded on calls
Read moreBy John Mullan, head of English at UCL and Guardian columnist.
Read moreAn important starting point is your written report on the circumstances of the incident. This factsheet gives more information about writing this report.
Read moreOne incident can be investigated in a number of different ways – as a complaint, a clinical negligence claim, a criminal case, a disciplinary matter by your employer, a Coroner’s inquest or a complaint to the GMC.
Read moreGood 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.
Read moreThe CQC has introduced a new regulation that makes it a statutory duty to have systems in place that capture patient safety incidents.
Read moreMPS medicolegal adviser Dr Pallavi Bradshaw joins a panel of experts at Pulse magazine, to share advice on common dilemmas encountered by newly-qualified GPs.
Read moreNHS England has launched a new digital platform designed for general practice staff to make it quick and easy to submit patient safety incident reports to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS), the NHS’s national patient safety incident database.
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