Blackout sufferers may be going undiagnosed, says NICE
27 August 2010
DOCTORS could be missing serious conditions like heart disease and epilepsy by failing to properly diagnose patients suffering blackouts, NICE has warned.
One in ten juniors ‘make prescription mistakes’
27 August 2010
A STANDARD system for prescriptions must be introduced to cut mistakes and improve patient safety, senior medics have warned.
Juniors snub specialty training
27 August 2010
A LOWER than expected number of junior doctors are applying for core or specialty training, according to early figures given to the Medical Programme Board.
Shortage of trainees threatening patient safety
27 August 2010
A DOCTORS’ union has warned that the ongoing shortage of junior doctors is threatening patient care and safety.
Doctors’ beliefs influence end of life care
26 August 2010
DOCTORS who have no strong religious beliefs are almost twice as likely to help speed up the death of a very sick patient, according to new research.
NICE urges aspirin to reduce hypertension risks in pregnancy
26 August 2010
Pregnant women at high risk of developing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy should be encouraged to take small doses of aspirin to help prevent complications, according to newly published NICE guidelines.
Telemedicine needs greater regulation
26 August 2010
Concerns over the provision of telemedicine by practitioners based outside the UK has prompted calls for greater regulation by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
Malaria risk not primarily in tourists
26 August 2010
Statistics show that more than eight out of ten cases of malaria in UK residents last year were in people returning from visits to friends and family abroad according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
25 August 2010
A 40 % rise in the GDC’s fitness to practise (FtP) case load has prompted the regulator to consult on a rule change that will allow the employment of 50 more council members.
GPs urged to ask patients about use of complementary medicines
25 August 2010
GPs should check which complementary medicines their patients are using to reduce the risk of adverse drug interactions.
Call for evidence on role of doctors in child protection
09 August 2010
DOCTORS are being asked to take part in a GMC consultation to develop new child protection guidance.
Rules limiting doctors’ hours ‘failing patients’
03 August 2010
RULES introduced last year to protect patient safety by limiting doctors’ working hours have “failed spectacularly” a new study has found.
GPs warned over flu vaccine risk
03 August 2010
GPs have been warned of a possible increased risk of febrile convulsions in under-fives associated with the use of Pfizer influenza vaccines.
GMC warnings will only be public for five years
28 July 2010
WARNINGS issued to doctors over their behaviour or performance will only be kept in the public domain for five years, the GMC has confirmed.
Make specialist training more flexible, study says
20 July 2010
MEDICAL training in the UK should be more flexible to help doctors choose the right specialty, a study suggests.
20 July 2010
A NUMBER of changes will be made to the MRCGP exam from September.
Junior doctors still work 56 hours a week, BMA says
20 July 2010
MORE than half of trainee doctors questioned in a survey regularly work more than 56 hours over a seven day period, the BMA says.
20 July 2010
EXAMS passed by doctors who are in specialty training - or about to start - will count towards qualification even if they are taken in non-approved training posts.
‘Forgivable loan’ plan for trainees
20 July 2010
DOCTORS could commit to working for the NHS in return for having some of their debt paid off.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme launch
16 July 2010
HEALTHCARE professionals in Scotland will have to conform to new rules protecting vulnerable people from November 30, the government has announced.
New GMC to provide new guidance on child protection
15 July 2010
A WORKING group has been set up to produce new guidance for doctors involved in child protection.
UK tops world in 'quality of death'
15 July 2010
The UK has been rated top in the world for 'quality of death' according to an index devised by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
15 July 2010
The GDC is looking for views on its new guidance on ethical advertising.
GMC pledge to 'streamline' revalidation proposals
15 July 2010
THE GMC has promised to “simplify and streamline” its revalidation proposals following a wide-ranging consultation into the issue.
Emphasis on prompt diagnosis in new meningitis guidelines
28 June 2010
RECOGNITION of the signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia is key in preventing death in children and young people contracting the diseases, says new clinical guidelines released by NICE.
Poor progress in allergy services
25 June 2010
IMPROVEMENT in the poor state of allergy services in the UK has been slow or non-existent according to a new report from a working party of the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Pathologists, supported by the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Call for ban on misleading private medical screening adverts
25 June 2010
MISLEADING adverts for private medical screenings should be banned, say doctors’ leaders.
Local anaesthetic prescribing changes
25 June 2010
DENTAL hygienists and therapists can now administer local anaesthetics following changes in the law.
GMC reassures trainees on exams
25 June 2010
EXAMS taken by trainee doctors outside approved training programmes can still count towards their certificate of completion of training.
Irregular shifts affect juniors’ health
25 June 2010
SHIFT patterns must be improved to protect the health of junior doctors, a BMA report argues.
“No compulsory redundancies” in NHS, Sturgeon says
25 June 2010
THERE will be no compulsory job cuts in the NHS in Scotland, the health secretary has confirmed.
Juniors missing out on time with consultants
25 June 2010
WORK demands are leaving consultants with less time to carry out tasks such as training junior doctors, the BMA has said.
Number of lecturers “nearly halved”, say academics
25 June 2010
THE number of clinical professors and lecturers has nearly halved as medical students have doubled in 10 years, medical academic leaders have claimed.
Juniors’ training can be saved by consultants, report says
24 June 2010
A GREATER input from consultants is the key to saving junior doctors’ training under the European Working Time Directive, a Government report has concluded.
17 June 2010
THE vetting and barring scheme for people who work with children and vulnerable people has been put on hold.
14 June 2010
PLANS to delay the rollout of revalidation have been welcomed by doctors’ groups.
GPs need more training to help cut 'sickies'
14 June 2010
GPs should be given better occupational health training to help cut the number of people taking sick days, UK employers have said.
Government offers protection for whistleblowers
14 June 2010
NHS whistleblowers will be given greater protection from the government, it has been announced.
25 May 2010
Nearly a third more fitness to practice panels hearings were conducted by the GMC in the year 2009 compared to 2008, according to statistics published last week on the GMC website.
Half of doctors abused by patients, report shows
25 May 2010
DOCTORS are facing a rising tide of violence and abuse from patients, a survey from the British Medical Association has revealed.
ARF reminder for dental professionals
25 May 2010
DENTAL professionals are being reminded they must pay their Annual Retention Fee by the end of July.
Cuts hit specialist trainee posts
24 May 2010
CUTS are being made to as many as a third of specialist trainee posts across the country.
Struggle at medical school increases risk of GMC trouble
24 May 2010
MALE doctors from poorer backgrounds who struggle at medical school are more likely to get in trouble with the GMC later in their career.
Cash-strapped new doctors struggle to buy into practices
24 May 2010
DEBT-laden new doctors are struggling to buy into practices because banks won’t lend them more money.
Juniors’ job fears over exam confusion
24 May 2010
JUNIOR doctors must not miss out on consultant jobs because of confusion over exam rules, the BMA has said.
Pregnant junior doctors could cause staff shortage
24 May 2010
HOSPITALS must prepare for staff shortages as many junior doctors become pregnant after getting their first secure job.
24 May 2010
AN accident and emergency unit has been forced to close at night due to a shortage of junior doctors.
24 May 2010
JUNIOR doctors have hit out at the rising cost of physician training fees – with some considering a boycott.
GMC has ‘no immediate plans’ to register medical students
24 May 2010
THE General Medical Council has ruled out any immediate moves to start registering student doctors or to introduce a national exam.
New GMC guidance on end-of-life care
21 May 2010
DOCTORS must discuss treatment options with patients who are likely to die within 12 months, the GMC has announced.
Whistleblowing doctors ‘need more protection’
14 May 2010
HOSPITAL doctors are too scared to raise concerns over patient care or staff behaviour in case it harms their career, a BMA survey has found.
GPSIs can continue minor skin cancer surgery
11 May 2010
GPs with a special interest (GPSIs) will be allowed to continue minor surgery for a range of skin cancers under updated NICE guidance due out on May 25.
11 May 2010
THE GDC is encouraging registrants to pay their annual retention fee by direct debit.
Doctors caring for up to 400 patients at night
21 April 2010
SOME doctors are responsible for as many as 400 hospital patients at night, a new report has claimed.
Ensure correct address for GDC
20 April 2010
The GDC is asking all dental professionals to double-check that their registered address is up to date.
Safety checklists cut patient deaths
19 April 2010
PATIENT deaths at three trouble-hit hospitals have been cut by 15 per cent thanks to a new system of treatment checklists.
19 April 2010
RULES restricting junior doctors’ working hours have increased sickness rates, a new study claims.
19 April 2010
JUNIOR doctor numbers have increased by two-thirds in the past 10 years, new figures reveal.
Parents pay £15,000 for medical student children
19 April 2010
SOME families are being forced to pay as much as £15,000 to put their children through medical school, the BMA has claimed.
Battling inequalities top priority for juniors
19 April 2010
TACKLING health inequalities should be a top priority, according to a group of trainee doctors.
A&E services threatened by trainee shortages
19 April 2010
HOSPITAL emergency departments are struggling to cope with new problems over junior doctor recruitment.
Practices risk hefty fine for data breaches
19 April 2010
GPs and practices face hefty fines under new powers to curb personal data security breaches.
Stroke often unrecognised by patients
19 April 2010
A majority of patients suffering TIAs or strokes do not recognise the symptoms and delay seeking medical attention according to new research.
16 April 2010
DOCTORS involved in research can access new guidance from the GMC.
New guidelines on acute chest pain
31 March 2010
New guidelines aimed at improving the assessment and diagnosis of patients with recent onset chest pain/discomfort of suspected cardiac origin are expected to reduce premature deaths.
Updated dental appliance standards
31 March 2010
An updated version of GDC standards on the commissioning and manufacture of dental appliances has been published.
31 March 2010
A MULTI-MILLION pound computer system that aims to improve communication between hospitals and GPs has been launched in Scotland.
GDC issues student fitness to practise guide
30 March 2010
New guidance developed to promote professional behaviour among dental students and to help educational providers deal with issues which may call into question a student's fitness to practise has been published by the GDC.
Dozens of children’s wards face closure, says RCP
19 March 2010
BUDGET cuts and the impact of the 48-hour working week mean some children’s in-patient wards will have to close, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has said.
GMC consultation on revalidation
19 March 2010
A MAJOR consultation on GMC plans for revalidation was launched in March and will run for three months.
Junior doctors get different pay rises
19 March 2010
JUNIOR doctors in Scotland are to receive a bigger pay rise than those in England.
Understaffing crisis sparked by EWTD
19 March 2010
ALMOST half of UK junior doctors work in understaffed teams because of the European Working Time Directive, according to a new BMA survey.
Junior doctors' training appeal
19 March 2010
JUNIOR doctors should not be penalised if poor training opportunities affect their competency level.
19 March 2010
HOSPITAL emergency departments may have to restrict their hours due to a shortage of junior doctors.
NICE reconsiders hypertension guidance
18 March 2010
New research suggesting that people with fluctuating blood pressure readings could be at greater risk of suffering a stroke than those with consistently high readings is to accessed by NICE with a view to possibly revising it own hypertension guidance.
18 March 2010
Over 30 dental practices across England are soon to begin piloting recommendations made by Department of Health’s Steele review into NHS dental services in England.
Patient handovers under scrutiny
18 March 2010
DOCTORS are being asked to report their experiences of the patient handover process as part of a new investigation by the Royal College of Physicians.
Hospital patients fail to get medicines
18 March 2010
HOSPITAL patients are not getting all the medication they need, a new report has revealed.
GPs ‘overrun by coughs and sneezes’
17 March 2010
GPs are spending nearly a fifth of their time treating minor ailments, according to a new report.
15 March 2010
DENTISTS have until the end of March to fill in their continuing professional development returns.
New ‘red flags’ for meningitis
02 March 2010
LEG pain and cold hands and feet have emerged as leading ‘red flag’ symptoms in diagnosing children presenting with meningococcal disease in a new study.
Don't dismiss 'cyberchondriacs'
24 February 2010
MDDUS medical law expert Dr Anthea Martin warns doctors against dismissing all web-wise patients as 'cyberchondriacs'.
GMC announces major consultation on revalidation
17 February 2010
A major consultation on GMC plans for revalidation will be launched on 1 March and will run from three months.
Urgent action needed on widening dental health gap in children
17 February 2010
Prevention of dental decay in under-fives living in deprived areas should be an urgent priority, says the British Dental Health Foundation in response to a new report into children’s health.
Dentists urged to give SDR close study
16 February 2010
Scots dentists must pay careful attention to the terms of the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR) in order to avoid inaccurate claims which could lead to fees being withheld or disciplinary action.
16 February 2010
Three quarters of trusts in England have failed to comply with at least one National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) alert since 2004 according to a report published by the charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA).
SIGN guidelines on Parkinson’s disease
16 February 2010
A new guideline on the diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease has been published by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).
Virtual tool for GMC hearing participants
16 February 2010
A new initiative has been launched to provide more support for those attending a GMC hearing into a doctor’s fitness to practise.
GP compliance with Disability Discrimination Act
16 February 2010
Updated guidance on the physical adjustments necessary for GP premises to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) have been published by the British Medical Association’s General Practitioners Committee (GPC).
Public interest disclosure in anthrax outbreak
16 February 2010
Doctors in Scotland are being urged to share information with police and the Crown Office in regard to investigations connected with the anthrax outbreak among injecting drug users.
Trainees ignoring EWTD due to staff shortages
15 February 2010
Junior doctors at a major UK hospital are working longer hours because stricter immigration laws have sparked a recruitment crisis.
University acts to avoid exam mistakes
15 February 2010
MEDICAL students will sit their final exams six weeks early at Cardiff University after four people were wrongly told last year they had qualified.
Training needs tighter regulation
15 February 2010
A clear regulatory framework must be put in place for the education and training of doctors in career posts, according to a draft report from the General Medical Council.
Five-year GP training to be re-examined
15 February 2010
A more convincing argument needs to be made about the need for five-year GP training.
Rethink on deaneries employment status
15 February 2010
The government has been forced to rethink plans to exempt deaneries from employment agency legislation and to re-consult on the issue.
Trainee shortage causes hospital cutbacks
15 February 2010
HOSPITAL services in some parts of the UK are stretched due to a shortage of junior doctors.
New controls on GP out-of-hours care follows coroner’s verdict
4 February 2010
The Department of Health has announced tighter controls and more robust skills and knowledge testing for GPs offering out-of-hours services.
1 February 2010
New regulations replacing medical sick notes with new ‘fit notes’ are due to be implemented from 6 April.
VTE assessment for all hospital admissions
27 January 2010
All patients should be assessed for risk of developing blood clots on admission to hospital and given tailored preventative treatment, according to new NICE guidelines developed jointly with the National Clinical Guideline Centre for Acute and Chronic Conditions.
Anti-obesity drug licence suspended amid safety fears
22 January 2010
GPs should stop prescribing anti-obesity drug sibutramine after its licence was suspended.
High rate of child drug errors
21 January 2010
A LARGE number of mistakes are being made in drug treatments given to children in hospital, according to a new report.
New survey highlights risks of EWTD in restricting juniors’ hours
15 January 2010
New laws restricting junior doctors’ working hours are benefiting nurses but endangering patients, according to a new survey.
Fair deal for juniors’ travel expenses
15 January 2010
A new deal has been struck over travel and relocation expenses for junior doctors in Scotland.
Early details emerge of EWTD review
15 January 2010
Early details are emerging of a review into the impact of the European Working Time Directive on doctors’ training.
Still no equal access to medicine
15 January 2010
Efforts to open up the medical profession to people from poorer backgrounds have failed despite years of investment, a new report claims.
Junior doctors' training threat
15 January 2010
Calls have been made for an end to the Department of Health review of training funding amid fears junior doctors could lose out on millions of pounds.
RCGP pilots Revalidation ePortfolio
14 January 2010
The RCGP has launched a pilot of its new ePortfolio for GPs to log progress towards revalidation.
14 January 2010
Dentists are being given timely advice at the start of a New Year that they must comply with guidelines on clinical audit activity in order to avoid sanctions from the General Dental Council.
Trends in elderly dentition suggest growing dento-legal risk
16 February 2010
An increasing number of elderly retaining their teeth poses a growing risk to dentists in providing adequate care.
Updated version of 'Spotting the Sick Child'
13 January 2010
An updated version of an online educational tool to help healthcare professionals in the assessment of the acutely sick child has been launched.
13 January 2010
Tube feeding of patients near the end of life should be a 'last resort' according to a Working Party report published by the Royal College of Physicians and the British Society of Gastroenterology.
Emergency review ordered into care home prescribing
8 January 2010
AN emergency review has been ordered by the Department of Health into the safety of drug use in care homes.
30 December 2009
THE shortlist for the BMJ Group Awards 2010 has been announced.
Focus on primary care necessary in C. difficile reduction
22 December 2009
Efforts to further reduce Clostridium difficile infection rates should also be focused on primary and community care settings.
Patients okay with test results via email
22 December 2009
A majority of patients would be happy to be informed of blood test results via email according to a recent study.
Anti-depressant prescribing in Scotland still on increase
16 December 2009
Anti-depressant prescribing in Scotland is still increasing despite a Scottish Government’s target to reduce the rate of increase to zero, according to the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).
New GMC tutorial on reporting knife crime
16 December 2009
The GMC has added a new series of tutorials to its online learning tool – Good Medical Practice (GMP) in Action.
Push for eGDC as ARF deadline looms
16 December 2009
Over 25 thousand dental professionals have requested logins for the GDC’s new online administrative tool since its launch in 2008.
Funding threat to medical training
14 December 2009
A FUNDING shake-up is threatening many junior doctors’ posts and academic positions.
Some SAS doctors under pressure to cover EWTD rota gaps
14 December 2009
SOME staff and associate specialist doctors are being pressured to work more hours to cover rota gaps as a condition of moving to their new contracts, it has been claimed.
Junior doctors in Wales complain of intimidation
14 December 2009
INCREASING numbers of complaints are being made by junior doctors in Wales about understaffing and intimidation, the BMA has reported.
Trainee surgeon’s visa victory
14 December 2009
A DOCTOR has won his fight with the Home Office after they refused to extend his visa when his bank account was changed.
GPs need more training in writing sick notes
08 December 2009
THE length of time GPs sign sick patients off work for the same condition varies considerably, new research suggests.
Hospital prescription errors revealed
03 December 2009
ALMOST one in 10 hospital prescriptions contain mistakes which could put patients at risk, according to new research commissioned by the General Medical Council.
New guidelines focus on oral health in diabetics
03 December 2009
NEW guidance has been published highlighting the importance of healthy gums for people with diabetes.
Trusts admit patient safety reporting failures
03 December 2009
ONE in 10 hospital trusts have admitted not regularly reporting patient safety and outcomes at board level, despite repeated calls for a greater focus on care quality.
GDC must report concerns under new Vetting and Barring Scheme
25 November 2009
DENTAL professionals suspected of posing a threat to children or vulnerable adults will be reported by the General Dental Council.
Deadline looms for dentists to pay Annual Retention Fee
25 November 2009
DENTISTS have only five weeks to pay their Annual Retention Fee to the General Dental Council.
Antibiotic guidance too complex for some doctors
19 November 2009
GUIDANCE on prescribing antibiotics is often too specialist for doctors to absorb quickly, the Royal College of Physicians has said.
Unwell doctors link to poor patient care
19 November 2009
DOCTORS who are in poor health offer poor patient care, according to a new study.
GMC licence to practice now in force
17 November 2009
Doctors in the UK must now be both registered with the GMC and hold a licence in order to practise medicine.
Antipsychotics cause 1800 deaths a year
16 November 2009
GPs in England will have to limit their use of antipsychotics in dementia patients after a report linked the drugs to 1800 deaths a year.
Medical student debt ignored by government strategy, BMA says
12 November 2009
THE government’s new higher education strategy has “airbrushed out” the potentially crippling debts faced by medical students, the BMA has said.
Pass rates drop for nMRCGP exam
12 November 2009
THE number of trainee GPs passing the new MRCGP exam has fallen sharply between its first and second years in operation, a new report has revealed.
Medical graduates “poorly prepared”
12 November 2009
MEDICAL graduates are poorly prepared for working on hospital wards, according to new research.
4 November 2009
A resource pack designed to encourage wider testing for HIV by doctors and healthcare workers has been launched by the Medical Foundation for AIDS & Sexual Health (MedFASH).
Direct debit advised for dental ARF
4 November 2009
The GDC is encouraging dentists to set up a direct debit mandate to pay their annual retention fee in advance of the 31 December payment deadline.
Alert on bisphosphonate treatment
4 November 2009
Doctors and dentists should be particularly alert to the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonates for cancer indications, according to advice published in this month’s MHRA Drug Safety Update.
Revised GMC flu pandemic guidance allows for "difficult circumstances"
2 November 2009
The GMC has updated its guidance for doctors working in a pandemic making allowances for doctors working outside their normal field of practice "so long as they are able to do so safely".
New guidance on treating depression
28 October 2009
PATIENTS with chronic diseases should be screened for depression, according to new guidance from NICE.
Patients at risk under new 48-hour working rules, report claims
15 October 2009
PATIENTS are “much less safe” since new 48-hour working rules came into force, the Royal College of Surgeons of England has reported.
Patient safety incidents in NHS up 12 per cent
09 October 2009
MORE than 5700 patients died or suffered serious harm due to accidents, mistakes and drug errors in a six-month period, the National Patient Safety Agency has reported.
Appraisal system for junior doctors “not fully used”
09 October 2009
SENIOR doctors are not fully using the new portfolio-based performance appraisal system for junior doctors and med students, research has shown.
Future funding for medical students
09 October 2009
A CONSULTATION has been launched on the future funding of medical students.
Junior doctors staffing shortage, new figures show
09 October 2009
HOSPITAL staffing rotas were short of more than 3000 junior doctors at the end of 2008, according to new figures.
Trusts asking doctors to opt-out of 48-hour week
09 October 2009
JUNIOR doctors are already being asked to opt-out of the 48-hour week by trusts, according to the BMA and the Association of Surgeons in Training.
Take care with new confidentiality guidance on genetic risk
8 October 2009
New GMC guidance on sharing confidential genetics information is not an open licence to disclose patient information without consent, warns MDDUS.
Ethical guidance on dementia for doctors
1 October 2009
DOCTORS have been offered ethical guidance on diagnosing and treating patients with dementia.
GMC publishes new guidance on patient confidentiality
29 September 2009
DOCTORS must tell the police or social services whenever they treat a victim of knife or gun crime, according to new GMC guidance on confidentiality.
GDC urges special care dentists to join list
25 September 2009
Trained specialists in special care dentistry are being encouraged by the GDC to make their applications to the specialist list as soon as possible.
Doctors reported to GMC up 30 per cent
25 September 2009
The number doctors reported monthly to the GMC is up 30% on last year.
Older doctors and dentists more likely to have performance questioned
24 September 2009
GPs over 60 are seven times more likely to be referred for investigation into their performance than those under 40, according to a UK study of doctors and dentists.
Quarter of dental patients "want to complain but don’t"
23 September 2009
Over 25 per cent of dental patients have wanted to complain about their dental care but didn’t, according to a survey by the Dental Complaints Service (DCS).
Assisted suicide law 'clarified'
New guidance has been issued to clarify the law on assisted suicide in England and Wales - but it offers no guarantees against prosecution.
Dental teams to vote for dentistry research
21 September 2009
DENTAL teams can now cast their vote online for the questions they would like answered by dentistry researchers that could help improve their practice.
Drug side-effects common among readmissions
11 September 2009
One in five emergency readmissions to hospital within a year of inpatient treatment are the result of often avoidable drug side-effects.
New systems could harm junior doctors’ training
9 September 2009
NEW systems for assessing and reviewing patients could harm junior doctors' training, a new study warns.
GP training should be five years, says RCGP
9 September 2009
PLANS to extend GP training to five years could take until 2013 to implement, the RCGP has said.
Patient safety focus in new vision for doctors' training
9 September 2009
DOCTORS in training should be given graded responsibility for patients, the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board has said.
Clearer warnings on addictive OTC analgesics
8 September 2009
New advice to minimise the risk of overuse and addiction of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines containing codeine and dihydrocodeine has announced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Future medical students to be more 'hands on'
2 September 2009
Medical students in future will be given more ‘hands on’ experience in basic medical procedures before graduating
1 September 2009
A document setting out the roles and responsibilities of GPs in the statutory review process after a child death has been published by the BMA.
GMC to open Manchester assessment centre
28 August 2009
A new assessment centre for international medical graduates wishing to work in the UK is to be opened in Manchester in March 2010.
Approval for severe hand eczema treatment – but with caution
26 August 2009
Use of the drug alitretinoin as a treatment option for adults with severe chronic hand eczema has been approved by NICE.
Keep vigilant for dental neglect
21 August 2009
Dentists treating children with dental neglect must follow local procedures and make a child protection referral when concerned about possible significant harm from abuse or neglect, according to a new policy document published by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry.
GPs missing ‘red flag’ symptoms
19 August 2009
A significant percentage of patients presenting to their GP with certain ‘red flag’ symptoms such as haemoptysis or rectal bleeding remain undiagnosed after three years according to research published by the BMJ.
Dentists crucial in fight against oral cancer
19 August 2009
Commenting on the ‘alarming’ rise in oral cancer rates among people in their forties, the BDA has stressed again the crucial role dentists play in detecting the disease among patients.
Doctors fear mental health stigma
07 August 2009
ONLY a fifth of doctors would confide in their colleagues if they started suffering mental health problems, according to a new survey.
EWTD comes into force amid continued concern from doctors
05 August 2009
NEW rules restricting junior doctors’ hours came into force across the UK on Saturday, August 1.
GMC licensing deadline for doctors
05 August 2009
DOCTORS are being reminded to inform the GMC of their licensing decision by August 14.
Dentists can manage CPD online
03 August 2009
DENTAL professionals registered with the GDC can now track and manage their continuing professional development returns online.
GPs failing to correctly diagnose depression
31 July 2009
GPs wrongly diagnose depression among patients more often than they diagnose it correctly, a new study has found.
Solo GPs face more GMC hearings
24 July 2009
Figures obtained from the General Medical Council raise more questions over the future of GPs who work alone. (BBC News)
e-Prescription service goes live
22 July 2009
THE UK’s first e-prescription service has gone live in Scotland, with 90 per cent of prescriptions now delivered electronically.
22 July 2009
DENTAL care professionals have until July 31 to pay their annual retention fee or face being removed from the GDC register.
NICE issues guidance on spotting child maltreatment
22 July 2009
A summary of "alerting features" that should prompt healthcare professionals to consider child abuse has been published by NICE in a new guidance document launched today.
GMC reviews guidance on involving patients in research
14 July 2009
THE GMC is appealing for people’s views on the guidance doctors must follow when filming or taping patients and carrying out research.
NICE agrees skin cancer review
14 July 2009
A review of recommendations on the diagnosis and removal of 'low-risk' basal cell carcinomas in primary care settings is to be undertaken by NICE.
Licensing decision due 14 August
02 July 2009
DOCTORS who have not yet told the GMC whether they will require a licence when licensing begins in November are being asked to make their decision by 14 August 2009.
Guidance for health professionals on forced marriage
02 July 2009
NEW guidelines have been published providing help for medics in identifying and dealing with forced marriage in patients.
GPs urged to do better in spotting gynaecological cancers
02 July 2009
GPs are routinely failing to spot the signs of ovarian cancer according to a new study published this week by the charity Target Ovarian Cancer.
Emergency prescribing powers for UK dentists
26 June 2009
DENTISTS registered in the UK can now request emergency supplies of prescription-only medicine for patients.
22 June 2009
DENTISTS should be made “more explicitly accountable” for providing high quality and long-lasting treatments, according to an independent review into services in England.
GP indemnity and H1N1 virus pandemic
16 June 2009
GP members of MDDUS should be reassured that their continuing membership and present subscription will give them full indemnity protection throughout this period of viral pandemic.
GDC issues flu pandemic guidance
15 June 2009
Dental professionals can now access new guidance on their obligations to patients in the wake of the swine flu pandemic.
10 June 2009
The GMC has announced that from 16 November all doctors will need a licence in order to practise medicine in the UK.
GMC seeks views on end of life care
4 June 2009
New draft guidance to support doctors making difficult decisions on end of life care has been launched by the GMC.
Female medics 'to outnumber male'
4 June 2009
The majority of all doctors after 2017 will be women, which will have huge implications for NHS workforce planning, a report warns. (BBC News)
Revised guidelines on early management of head injury
2 June 2009
Debate about the management of patients with apparently minor head injuries who can still suffer life threatening or disabling consequences has in part prompted new guidelines from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).
2 June 2009
Guidance on for both patients and doctors on maintaining sexual boundaries has been issued by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE).
GMC consults on fitness to practise procedures and 'consensual disposal'
2 June 2009
The GMC has launched a 3-month consultation into the management of fitness to practise hearings.
Scotland to consider no fault patient compensation
2 June 2009
An expert steering group will consider the implications of introducing a no-fault medical compensation scheme in Scotland.
Reminder on CPD for dental care professionals
2 June 2009
Dental care professionals registering with the GDC before 30 July 2008 will be asked this August to provide evidence of completed CPD in the first year of their CPD cycle.
EU work directive review for NHS
22 May 2009
The government has agreed to a review of how the EU working time directive will impact on junior doctor training (BBC News).
Consensus on doctors saying sorry
20 May 2009
Apologies by doctors to patients for shortcomings in treatment do not constitute an admission of liability, according to a new circular issued by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) and endorsed by MDDUS and other relevant organisations.
Preventing hospital deaths from thrombosis
12 May 2009
Over 22,000 lives could be saved per year if hospitals promoted greater awareness, assessment and simple procedures to avoid thrombosis in patients.
Act urgently with children at risk
8 May 2009
It's important that doctors do not delay taking action when dealing with children at risk, says the BMA.
Teen care in Scottish hospitals
7 May 2009
All hospitals in Scotland should provide separate care for teenagers according to new government guidance.
RCP rushes out pandemic guidance for hospitals
1 May 2009
New draft guidance for frontline secondary care staff on management during flu pandemic has been released by the Royal College of Physicians of London.
RCGP offers reassurance on swine flu
28 April 2009
RCGP Honorary Secretary Dr Maureen Baker has moved to reassure patients over the outbreak of swine flu.
Decision time on GMC licensing
24 April 2009
Doctors will soon be requested to inform the GMC if they wish to hold registration with a licence to practice.
Stroke treatment – room for improvement
23 April 2009
A quarter of all patients suffering a stroke are not provided with optimal treatment according to a recent audit.
Early bird discount rate for RCGP conference
23 April 2009
Delegates registering now for the RCGP Annual National Primary Care Conference 2009 may be eligible from an ‘early bird’ discount rate until 27 July 2009.
Warning on oral salicylate gels in children
23 April 2009
Topical oral pain relief gels containing salicylate salts should not be used in children under the age of 16 according to precautionary advice issued by The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Anaphylaxis treatment guidelines
22 April 2009
Guidance on treating life-threatening allergic reactions has been launched by the Royal College of Physicians.
GP quality of care to be assessed
20 April 2009
The quality of services provided by family doctors and other staff in general practice in England will be the subject of a 18-month inquiry from The King’s Fund.
RCGP revalidation guide launched
3 April 2009
The RCGP has published a guide detailing everything that GPs will need to know and do in order to prepare for revalidation.
New "lock up" safeguards for patients lacking capacity
1 April 2009
New legal safeguards for people who lack capacity and are resident in hospitals or care homes have come into effect.
New super-regulator to register GPs and GDPs
1 April 2009
All primary medical and dental care providers in England will have to register with the new Care Quality Commission. The requirement comes as part of a published consultation on the framework that will inform the work of the super-regulator which comes into effect on 1 April 2009.
Failed asylum seekers denied NHS
31 March 2009
Failed asylum seekers cannot receive free treatment on the NHS, three judges have ruled at the Court of Appeal. (BBC News)
31 March 2009
Guidance dealing with the provision of often complex private and NHS healthcare combinations has been published by NHS Scotland.
End of life care, not ending life
30 March 2009
New draft guidance from the GMC on end-of-life care makes it clear that decisions concerning life-prolonging treatment must not be motivated by a desire to bring about a patient's death but start from a presumption in favour of prolonging life.
GDC considers specialist list in implant dentistry
30 March 2009
The GDC had launched a consultation to consider how best to regulate the practice of implant dentistry including the possibility of a specialist list.
Double jeopardy fears on proposed fitness to practise changes
24 March 2009
The GMC has proposed extending the grounds under which it may review fitness to practise decisions allowing for a time limit of two years except in "exceptional circumstances".
Ensure dental appliances are compliant
24 March 2009
Dentists in the UK must ensure that any dental appliance made in the UK is sourced from a UK-registered dental technician or they will be liable to face a GDC fitness to practise inquiry.
'Make hospitals admit error' call
20 March 2009
The system for hospitals to report errors in the care of patients should be mandatory, a patients' group says. (BBC News)
GDC consults on student fitness to practice
18 March 2009
A new consultation on draft guidance for student fitness to practise has been launched by the GDC.
Mixed progress in meeting needs of children
18 March 2009
NHS hospitals in England still have a way to go in providing good quality care for children in emergency and day case settings.
13 March 2009
The GMC is calling on medical schools to develop consistent procedures for dealing with students when their fitness to practise has been called into question.
GMC produces pandemic guidance
3 March 2009
Guidance on doctors’ responsibilities in the event of flu pandemic has been published by the GMC.
Data plans 'medical records risk'
3 March 2009
Doctors have warned that plans to relax data sharing rules could damage patient confidentiality. (BBC News)
26 February 2009
Novartis is recalling thousands of batches of meningitis C vaccine over fears of contamination.
GPs NOT failing patients with eating disorders
26 February 2009
The RCGP has countered reports that GPs in England are failing to help people with conditions such as anorexia and bulimia.
No 'cure-all' for ear infections
23 February 2009
Children with ear infections are being prescribed antibiotics as a quick fix and may be at risk of long-term developmental problems as a result of improper treatment, according to the charity Deafness Research UK.
23 February 2009
Doctors have been named the profession most trusted by the general public for the 25th year running.
23 February 2009
A dentist in Cheshire has lost an appeal to the Advertising Standards Authority to refer to himself as ‘Dr’ in magazine adverts.
Growing number of inflight healthcare incidents
23 February 2009
Inflight medical emergencies are becoming increasingly frequent due to a growing number of older passengers with existing health problems, according to a review published in the Lancet.
Study considers difficult CPR decisions
12 February 2009
An objective scoring system is needed to assist physicians in making decisions on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to a new study.
Efficacy alert on complementary therapies for RA
11 February 2009
A new clinical research summary suggests that most complementary and alternative therapies used to ease the effects of rheumatoid arthritis do not work.
Hospital drug reactions 'common'
11 February 2009
One in seven hospital patients experience adverse drug reactions, half of which are completely avoidable, a study found. (BBC News)
Thyroxine only for primary hypothyroidism
11 February 2009
Thyroxine is the only treatment that should be given for primary hypothyroidism according to new guidelines published by The Royal College of Physicians of London.
Who can do what in dental practice
29 January 2009
The GDC has finally published its new guidance on the scope of dental practice setting out "who can do what in the dental team".
Improving patient decisions about medicines
28 January 2009
New guidance outlining how healthcare professionals can involve and support patients in decisions about taking prescribed medicines has been issued by NICE.
Legal guide to religion and beliefs
28 January 2009
New guidance to assist NHS staff in complying with new legislation on religion or belief has been issued by the Department of Health.
Updated interactive GMC guidance tool
28 January 2009
The GMC has produced a new set of interactive case studies to bring its ethical guidance to life.
Safety risk with reduced hours
23 January 2009
Patients will be placed at risk and quality of care will suffer with full implementation of EU regulation to reduce surgeon’s hours, according to the The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Consultation on licence to practise
23 January 2009
The GMC has launched a three-month consultation on its draft Licence to Practise Regulations and supporting guidance for doctors.
Surgical checklist to reduce fatal errors
15 January 2009
A patient safety alert issued by the NPSA is requiring all healthcare organisations in England and Wales to implement a WHO safety checklist for every patient undergoing a surgical procedure.
Vigilance plea for Hepatitis C
12 January 2009
GPs in Scotland have been reminded of the "good clinical reasons and the need for considering and testing for Hepatitis C in primary care".
Majority say herbal medicines should be regulated
12 January 2009
An MHRA report shows that 77% of adults agree that it is important that herbal medicines are regulated.
One in ten youth feel life not worth living
7 January 2009
A recent survey by The Prince’s Trust has revealed that almost half (47%) of 16 – 25-year-olds in Britain are constantly feeling stressed and under-pressure, with a further 10% of them feeling that life is not worth living. These statistics are significantly higher among those who are unemployed or not currently involved in further education or training.
Wider use of mobile phones in hospitals encouraged
6 January 2009
Patients and staff should be allowed wider use of mobile phones in hospitals according to updated guidance from the Department of Health in England.
NHS to get quicker drug approval
26 December 2008
Drugs could be available from the NHS sooner after an advisory body said it would give guidance more quickly on which medicines should be provided. (BBC News)
Staff face sack for dirty hands
22 December 2008
Doctors and nurses who do not wash their hands could be sacked under new rules to prevent the spread of hospital superbugs. (BBC News)
NICE consultation on suspected child maltreatment
19 December 2008
Guidance on clinical features that should prompt healthcare professionals who are not specialists in child protection to think about the possibility of maltreatment is being developed by NICE.
16 December 2008
The GMC has launched a consultation into the review of it’s guidance for undergraduate medical education in the UK.
16 December 2008
A new guideline on stroke emphasising the importance of getting patients quickly to specialist stroke services has been launched by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). [News]
Staff pose flu risk to patients
16 December 2008
Medical staff who do not get their flu jab are putting their patients in danger, say experts. (BBC News)
8 December 2008
A campaign to promote public awareness around stroke has been announced by Health Minister for England Ann Keen.
Specialist training essential for extra-oral bone harvesting
5 December 2008
Extra-oral bone harvesting should only be carried out by dentists with appropriate training says the GDC.
News articles are archived in the online searchable MDDUS Resource Library.