Private services
A RANGE of private providers are now offering telephone or online consultation services to help GP practices deliver improvements in patient access. But what are the risks to both practices and doctors providing these services?
Treating transgender patients
RECENT GMC guidance addresses a general lack of understanding among healthcare professionals on how to provide effective care and support for transgender patients.
Safety netting
SAFETY netting is now considered a core component of GP consultations but should not just be a means of passing diagnostic uncertainty onto the patient.
Prepare now for changes in data protection
DATA protection laws in the UK are to be tightened up under new regulations and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is advising organisations to start considering the implications now.
Saying sorry
A recent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report highlights reluctance among some healthcare professionals to offer a sincere apology to patients when something goes wrong.
Relational continuity of care
THE benefits of a patient being consistently managed by the same clinician are undoubted - but is true continuity of care still possible in a hard-pressed NHS?
Filling service gaps
Employing a locum or agency clinician to fill service gaps can cost more than you realise without some preparation to reduce potential risks
Abuse in prescribing
Easy access to prescriptions and medicinal products can prove tempting for some clinicians looking to "self medicate" – but be in no doubt that abuse of prescribing is taken very seriously by the GMC
Deviating from clinical guidelines
Clinical guidelines are not statutory codes - clinicians must use professional judgment in applying the principles to each unique situation they encounter.
Complaints from grieving relatives
SENSITIVITY and tact are key when responding to complaints from grieving relatives, and clinicians must resist the urge to react defensively.