Elderly patients reluctant to complain
PEOPLE over the age of 65 are often reluctant to complain about the quality of their healthcare out of worry that it might impact future treatment, according to a new report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
New appeal powers for GMC
NEW powers to appeal medical tribunal decisions have been awarded to the General Medical Council after a long campaign by the regulator.
Proposed new standards for cosmetic surgery
PRIVATE cosmetic surgeons will need to meet new standards of training to be certified and included on an approved register, under new proposals made by the Royal College of Surgeons.
Call to end trainees’ automatic pay rises
TRAINEE doctors’ pay rises should be based on their level of responsibility rather than time served in the job, NHS Employers has said.
Government responds to proposed legal reform of health regulation
THE Government has published a response to draft legislation from the Law Commissions of the UK that would create a single legal framework for regulating health and social care professions across the UK.
Data explosion leading to more “worried well”
A SURVEY of GPs has found that over eight out of 10 agreed that the mass of data available to patients from the internet and "home readings" will lead to an increase in the "worried well" seeking appointments.
'Which' magazine claims dental prices “muddled”
A Which magazine undercover investigation of 25 dental practices has rated a significant proportion as either "poor" or "very poor" at explaining prices and treatment options.
GPs to be audited on sepsis
EVERY GP practice in England is to be audited by March as part of a new campaign to reduce sepsis.
Persistent heartburn patients urged to see GP
ONLY 55 per cent of patients have said they would visit their GP with persistent heartburn over three weeks – a potential sign of stomach or oesophageal cancer.
Call for pause in medical training reforms
FIFTEEN organisations representing trainee doctors are calling for a pause in a major programme of reforms to medical training.