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News, Policy and Media Updates
Press release 31/03/2014

MPS opposes new criminal sanctions and urges government rethink

MPS opposes new criminal sanctions and urges government rethink

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The Medical Protection Society is calling on the government to rethink plans to introduce a new criminal offence for healthcare professionals for wilful neglect or ill-treatment.

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Press release 07/03/2014

MPS comments on duty of candour review

MPS comments on duty of candour review

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The Medical Protection Society (MPS) welcomes the importance placed on a culture of openness in the review of the threshold for the statutory duty of candour; but is concerned about when the duty will apply.

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Press release 19/02/2014

'Opportunity to address concerns' - MPS responds to decision to delay...

'Opportunity to address concerns' - MPS responds to decision to delay care.data

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Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, medicolegal adviser at the Medical Protection Society (MPS) said, 'MPS is pleased to see that the launch of care.data is being postponed by six months, which will give NHS England the opportunity to address the concerns that have been raised.

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Press release 18/02/2014

MPS highlights prescribing as one of the top risks in general practice

MPS highlights prescribing as one of the top risks in general practice

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Prescribing continues to be one of the top five risks in general practice based on Clinical Risk Self Assessments (CRSAs) conducted by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) at more than 150 practices across the UK and Ireland in 2013.

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Press release 17/02/2014

MPS surveys of GPs and public reveal lack of information around care...

MPS surveys of GPs and public reveal lack of information around care data

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A YouGov survey commissioned by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) has revealed that 67% of over 1400 respondents from England say they have not received the leaflet from NHS England explaining the new care.data system.1 Furthermore, 45% do not understand care.data from what they have read or heard.

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Press release 06/02/2014

A year since Francis - MPS warns current policy at risk of sustaining...

A year since Francis - MPS warns current policy at risk of sustaining culture of fear

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A year since the publication of the Francis Inquiry into Mid Staffs, the Medical Protection Society warns that the current policy direction may sustain a culture of fear in hospital wards instead of improving it.

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Articles and features 01/02/2014

Case study - an unfortunate prescription

Case study - an unfortunate prescription

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Mrs H was a 35-year-old teaching assistant who also had two school-aged children. She was obese with a BMI of 40. In 2006, she had seen Dr G with left knee pain. Dr G recorded that on examination her knee was tender over her medial joint line but was otherwise stable. He initially prescribed diclofenac and advised her to lose weight.

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Press release 07/01/2014

Wilful neglect criminal offences threaten clinical judgment, says MPS

Wilful neglect criminal offences threaten clinical judgment, says MPS

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Following a debate in the House of Lords yesterday, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) warns that the new wilful neglect criminal offences could threaten doctors’ clinical judgment. Whilst MPS agrees that doctors should face tough sanctions for causing deliberate harm to patients, it opposes the new criminal offences because they will have unintended and damaging consequences.

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Press release 27/11/2013

MPS survey on post-Francis culture reveals doctors remain fearful

MPS survey on post-Francis culture reveals doctors remain fearful

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A week after the government responded to the Francis Inquiry, a survey of hospital doctors conducted by the Medical Protection Society has highlighted the enormous task facing the government in their bid to create the open culture the Berwick Review considered missing and needed in the NHS.

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Press release 26/11/2013

Online records survey: embrace digital innovation but keep data secure

Online records survey: embrace digital innovation but keep data secure

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As MPs discuss online medical records in the Commons Chamber today (26 November), the Medical Protection Society reiterates its concerns that without appropriate safeguards, what could be a revolutionary innovation could lead to patients unable to benefit from the new online system.1

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Press release 19/11/2013

'Criminal offence will create culture of fear in NHS', MPS responds t...

'Criminal offence will create culture of fear in NHS', MPS responds to government’s response to Francis Inquiry

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Following the government’s announcement that there will be a new criminal offence for wilful neglect, Dr Stephanie Bown, Director of Policy and Communications at the Medical Protection Society, said, 'The Medical Protection Society has long argued that better care for patients in the NHS would come through creating the right culture, which cannot be achieved through legislation. We welcome the explicit recognition by government that nothing can be achieved without a cultural change; in our view everything else must support this objective.

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Press release 16/10/2013

MPS responds to the GMC’s third report – ‘State of Medical Education...

MPS responds to the GMC’s third report – ‘State of Medical Education and Practice in the UK’

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MPS welcomes the insights which can be drawn from the findings of the GMC’s third report – ‘State of Medical Education and Practice in the UK’. Of note is the finding that 46% of complaints investigated were against GPs – more than any other speciality but only accounted for 35% of sanctions or warnings. Communication with patients was a feature in 29% of allegations against GPs.

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Factsheet 01/10/2013

HSC complaints procedure – Hospital setting

HSC complaints procedure – Hospital setting

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Complaints in health and social care: standards and guidelines for resolution and learning (2009) aims to provide a simple, consistent approach for staff who handle complaints, and for patients who raise complaints across all health and social care services.

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Factsheet 01/10/2013

Report writing - Northern Ireland

Report writing - Northern Ireland

Time to read article: 3 mins
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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 Coroner’s inquest 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.

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