News and updates 17/02/2015 Forced data audits for NHS Preview Article Forced data audits for NHS Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview NHS authorities can now be forced by the Information Commissioner (ICO) to be audited for compliance with the Data Protection Act. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine Data Protection
Factsheet 02/02/2015 Access to health records - Scotland Preview Article Access to health records - Scotland Time to read article: 4 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... Confidentiality Scotland Ethics Data Protection Managing clinical risk Generic Medicine
02/02/2015 Managing challenging interactions Preview Article Managing challenging interactions Close Preview Every GP will experience challenging patients, says GP and Head of Member Education for MPS Dr Mark Dinwoodie, the key is how to manage those interactions in the best way. Read more Article contains Audio Tagged in... Communication General practice Issues & conflict management General Practice members
02/02/2015 Using NHS Choices Preview Article Using NHS Choices Close Preview John Robinson is responsible for all the user generated content on NHS Choices, here he argues that by adopting a constructive approach to social media, rather than a defensive one, doctors can use online patient feedback to their advantage. Read more Article contains Audio Tagged in... Communication General Practice members General practice Reputation management
Factsheet 02/02/2015 Report writing - Scotland Preview Article Report writing - Scotland Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview One 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 Procurator Fiscal’s FAI or a complaint to the GMC. An important starting point is your written report on the circumstances of the incident. This factsheet gives more information about writing this report. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Medical Records Scotland Practice management Communication GP locum Record keeping
Factsheet 01/02/2015 Medical records - England Preview Article Medical records - England Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Good 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 more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Medical Records England
30/01/2015 Needlestick injuries - England Preview Article Needlestick injuries - England Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Infection control Generic Medicine Equipment
Factsheet 30/01/2015 Access to health records - Northern Ireland Preview Article Access to health records - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 4 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 Generic Medicine Consent Data Protection Ethics Northern Ireland
Factsheet 30/01/2015 Mental Capacity Act 2005 – Court of Protection and deputies Preview Article Mental Capacity Act 2005 – Court of Protection and deputies Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview The Mental Capacity Act (the Act) established the Court of Protection, whose role it is to protect individuals who lack capacity and make rulings on difficult decisions about their care and welfare. This factsheet gives you more information about the role of the Court of Protection. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... England Wales Scotland Issues & conflict management Generic Medicine Northern Ireland
Factsheet 30/01/2015 Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Advance decisions - England Preview Article Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Advance decisions - England Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview An advance decision (“living will”) to refuse future medical treatment – should the patient then lack capacity – can be made by a person who is over 18 and who has capacity. This factsheet gives further information about advance decisions. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Communication England Ethics Compliance Generic Medicine
Factsheet 22/01/2015 Safe prescribing - Northern Ireland Preview Article Safe prescribing - Northern Ireland 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 have been estimated at more than £750 million per year. This factsheet gives advice about avoiding prescribing errors. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Claims Data Protection Negligence Record keeping Managing clinical risk Northern Ireland
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Statement of fitness for work - Northern Ireland Preview Article Statement of fitness for work - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Fit note is an informal name for the Statement of Fitness for Work. The Statement intends to advise patients who are on sick leave for more than seven days on whether, with extra support from their employer, they could return to work. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Northern Ireland General practice Competence GP locum Patients
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Statement of fitness for work - Scotland Preview Article Statement of fitness for work - Scotland Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Fit note is an informal name for the Statement of Fitness for Work. The Statement intends to advise patients who are on sick leave for more than seven days on whether, with extra support from their employer, they could return to work. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Patients Managing clinical risk General practice GP locum Scotland
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Statement of fitness for work Preview Article Statement of fitness for work Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Fit note is an informal name for the Statement of Fitness for Work. The Statement intends to advise patients who are on sick leave for more than seven days on whether, with extra support from their employer, they could return to work. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... General practice Generic Medicine GP locum Patients Competence Managing clinical risk
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Confidentiality – General principles - Wales Preview Article Confidentiality – General principles - Wales Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Confidentiality is at the centre of maintaining trust between patients and doctors. As a doctor, you have access to sensitive personal information about patients and you have a legal and ethical duty to keep this information confidential, unless the patient consents to the disclosure, disclosure is required by law or is necessary in the public interest. This factsheet sets out the basic principles of confidentiality. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Use Guidelines General practice Consent Managing clinical risk Data Protection Wales
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Confidentiality – General principles - Scotland Preview Article Confidentiality – General principles - Scotland Time to read article: 6 mins Close Preview Confidentiality is at the centre of maintaining trust between patients and doctors. As a doctor, you have access to sensitive personal information about patients and you have a legal and ethical duty to keep this information confidential, unless the patient consents to the disclosure; disclosure is required by law or is necessary in the public interest. This factsheet sets out the basic principles of confidentiality. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Scotland Data Protection Use Guidelines Consent Issues & conflict management General practice
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Statement of fitness for work Preview Article Statement of fitness for work Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Fit note is an informal name for the Statement of Fitness for Work. The Statement intends to advise patients who are on sick leave for more than seven days on whether, with extra support from their employer, they could return to work. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk General practice GP locum England Patients
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Confidentiality – General principles - Northern Ireland Preview Article Confidentiality – General principles - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 6 mins Close Preview Confidentiality is at the centre of maintaining trust between patients and doctors. As a doctor, you have access to sensitive personal information about patients and you have a legal and ethical duty to keep this information confidential, unless the patient consents to the disclosure; disclosure is required by law or is necessary in the public interest. This factsheet sets out the basic principles of confidentiality. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Data Protection Use Guidelines GP locum Issues & conflict management General practice Managing clinical risk
Factsheet 05/01/2015 Clinical negligence claims – What to expect - Scotland Preview Article Clinical negligence claims – What to expect - Scotland Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview A 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. This factsheet outlines the main stages in the legal process of a claim and what it means for you. If you receive a complaint, and this is not being dealt with by your NHS or other employer, you should contact MPS immediately. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Scotland Negligence Managing clinical risk Generic Medicine
Factsheet 01/12/2014 Giving evidence - Northern Ireland Preview Article Giving evidence - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview As a doctor, you may be asked to give evidence in many different types of tribunals, including criminal or civil courts, the coroner’s court 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... Professionalism Investigations
17/11/2014 Life in the locum lane Preview Article Life in the locum lane Time to read article: 6 mins Close Preview Dr Robin Chesters had been a partner in a practice for six years before he bit the bullet and decided to launch his career as a locum GP. Sara Williams asks: What’s so great about locuming? Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... GP locum Career planning General practice
14/11/2014 Help the aged Preview Article Help the aged Time to read article: 8 mins Close Preview Elderly people are the fastest growing demographic in the UK. But are care levels rising to meet their needs? Sara Williams meets a surgery in Northampton who have improved their continuity of care, and changed the face of practice Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... General practice Professionalism
14/11/2014 Lost in translation Preview Article Lost in translation Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Jonathan Haslam looks at the difficulties created for general practice by the increasing numbers of non-English speakers in the UK. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... General practice Professionalism
14/11/2014 Dos and don'ts of telephone consultations Preview Article Dos and don'ts of telephone consultations Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Document telephone consultations contemporaneously. Obtain and document a thorough history. Telephone consultations do not give a GP the opportunity to assess clinical signs. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk GP locum General practice Communication