In this issue we bring you two interesting cases; the first encourages GPs to exercise caution when diagnosing haematuria, and the second highlights how various poor communication channels can have a negative impact on patient care.

With the ever-changing legislation surrounding the management of controlled drugs, clinical risk manager Kate Taylor asks, is your practice is up-to-date?

MPS clinical risk programme manager Julie Price discusses how to build a patient safety culture in primary care.

What happens on tour stays on tour, but what happens on Twitter stays on Google forever. Practices should be cautious when posting on social media sites, says web editor Jack Kellett and MPS medicolegal adviser Dr Rachel Birch

Dr Paul Heslin, a GP and occasional locum based in Dublin, looks at the misunderstood life of a GP locum.

MPS advisers answer real dilemmas from the advice line.

GPs are the most discussed group on NHS Choices; here are some tips to use patients’ comments to your advantage.

In her last column, our columnist Laura Davison, talks about her experiences of being a new GP.

The Scottish Government is exploring the possibility of a no-fault compensation scheme – here Gareth Gillespie looks at how it works in Sweden

Following your feedback, Medical Protection has launched a new way of supporting you if you receive a clinical negligence claim. MPS medicolegal adviser Dr Sam Godwin explains what the changes mean

This workshop will help you to gain a greater understanding of the patient safety culture that exists in your practice, allowing you to identify and target areas for improvement.

Handover is a critical time when things can go wrong. Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, MPS medicolegal adviser, shares advice on what information should be handed over to the team coming on, while highlighting the importance of good communication.

In 2007 Clare Bowen’s five-year-old daughter Beth died during surgery at a hospital in the UK. Here she tells her story to Sara Dawson – and relays her hopes that it will reduce the likelihood of such an incident happening again

The Commission safeguards the interests of people with mental illness and learning disabilities, and earlier this year issued detailed guidance on the administration of covert medicine. Here Lynn McBean, communications manager, describes the work of the organisation.

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.

Access to NHS care for migrants and visitors will change as a result of the Immigration Act 2014. MPS senior medicolegal adviser Dr Bryony Hooper outlines the current position and likely changes.

Sir Robert Francis QC is heading up an independent review into creating the open and honest reporting culture in the NHS.

Medicolegal expert and MPS spokesperson, Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, questions the new approach to end of life care outlined by the government.