Dr Ishani Patel at Network Locum discusses how to mitigate the everyday risks that locum GPs face.

For a busy GP, any tool that can save time and labour is valuable. Charlotte Hudson chats with Dr Darach Ó Ciardha about the launch of GPBuddy.co.uk and its benefits for GPs and patients

Doctors face a number of challenges when prescribing: Sara Dawson explores some risk strategies and looks at a classic case of a drug name mix-up

Dr Dan Cohen, an international medical director based in the US, looks at the biggest challenge to healthcare safety: complacency

Victoria Armitage, from the Royal National Institute of Blind People, shares her experience of general practice as someone with sight loss.

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.

The path of a clinical negligence claim is often long and complex. The eventual outcome is affected by a number of key factors; MPS claims manager and solicitor Antoinette Coltsmann takes an in-depth look at a recent MPS case.

Following a number of practice meetings I had some real corkers to tell from the “field” about dilemmas in discretion and confidentiality.

The words CQC and inspection can strike fear into the hearts of practices; what can your practice do to get through this daunting time? Charlotte Hudson investigates.

Cross Hills is a semi-rural practice on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, located between Keighley and Skipton. Part of the Airedale Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group, it is a training practice with just over 12,000 patients, ten GPs, one Registrar, two advanced nurse practitioners and a full practice nursing team, as well as dedicated admin support staff.

Fred had been my patient for a few years but died in November 2011. Fiona, who is the eldest daughter of Fred, is also my patient and was her father’s main carer. Fred was due to take a holiday over Christmas in 2011, so Fiona wanted to cancel the holiday and make a claim on the holiday insurance policy that Fred took out in December 2009.

In this series Charlotte Hudson explores the key risk areas in general practice

Dr Euan Lawson, portfolio GP in Cumbria, explains how a little bit of apathy goes a long way

All GPs will be expected to provide patients with online access to their medical records by 2015, but not everyone believes it is a good idea. Dr Amir Hannan shares how Haughton Thornley Medical Centre approached online access to records and how their patients responded.

Roslynne O’Connor relocated to the beautiful Isle of Skye to work as a practice manager; she describes her typical day

In the second part of his four-part series exploring elements of the new Good Medical Practice, Professor Sir Peter Rubin, chair of the GMC, looks at conflicts of interest

How does a nurse practitioner run a successful GP practice? Charlotte Hudson chats to Carol Sears who is the clinical director of The Cuckoo Lane Practice in Hanwell, London

New GP Dr Laura Davison took a career break to become a jungle GP in Mexico. Here’s what happened

Julie Price, Clinical Risk Programme Manager, shares a repeat prescribing journey to safeguard your practice.

Dr Stephanie Bowm, MPS Director of Policy and Communications, provides a reminder of the importance of following GMC guidance when prescribing medication.

Apart from certain treatments carried out under the Mental Health Act and some forms of fertility treatment, there is no legal requirement to obtain written consent, but most health organisations have policies stipulating when written consent should be obtained. Employees are expected to be familiar with these and adhere to them.

Dr Stephanie Bown, MPS Director of Policy and Communications, examines why keeping accurate, detailed records is so important when it comes to continuity of care.