FEATURE
Why? The Royal College of OcTObER
Paediatrics and Child Health What? NPSA advice on
(RCPCH) and the Royal College Significant Event Audits
of Radiologists (RCR) jointly Why? An MPS study that
published advice on working featured in Your Practice (issue
with children with suspected 3, Winter 07/08), identified that
non-accidental injury. 56% of participating practices
n Links: www.rcpch.ac.uk, had no formal system for
www.rcr.ac.uk dealing with significant events.
The guidance details how to
JUnE hold a successful significant
What? Consent: doctors and event audit meeting, so that
patients making decisions lessons can be learned from
together errors.
Why? This GMC guidance took n Links: www.npsa.nhs.uk
into account changes in the A lOOk AhEAD in 2009 – issUEs sET TO RAnk highly
law, in particular about making On ThE AgEnDA DURing ThE nExT yEAR nOvEmbER
decisions when patients lacked What? Mental Health Act 2007
capacity. It also reflected shifts Watch out for the results of the GP Patient Survey 2009, which – key documents
in professional and public will summarise the views of more than five million patients in Why? Since November the
attitudes towards more patient- England. This year the DH is investigating whether practices get remaining provisions of the
centred care. the basics right, eg, are receptionists helpful, do patients want Mental Health Act 2007 have
n Links: www.gmc-uk.org more telephone consultations, etc. The results will be used to come into force, with the
drive changes to general practice in the future. exception of deprivation of
JUly liberty safeguards, advocacy
What? GMC guidance on MPS is hosting its second annual GP conference in Manchester and age-appropriate
Expert witnesses on 21 May. The extensive programme will bring experts environments for those under
Why? This advice was to discuss ethical dilemmas from the MPS caseload, child 18, which come into effect in
published following a series of protection issues and much more. Email: gp@mps.org.uk. April 09.
high-profile cases, involving n Links: www.dh.gov.uk
criticism of medical experts This year will also see the introduction of Responsible Officers
with the consequent reluctance (ROs), following the approval of the Health and Social Care Act DEcEmbER
of doctors to undertake this 2008. ROs will be senior doctors with responsibility for clinical What? Healthcare Commission
work. It covered the roles and governance, who will provide a link to the GMC by monitoring report on State of Healthcare
responsibilities of witnesses the conduct of doctors and oversee the processes that support 2008
in giving expert opinion and medical revalidation. MPS envisages that ROs will be in place Why? This was the fifth and
evidence, keeping up-to- by late 2009. final report by the Healthcare
date, information security and Commission on the progress
disclosure, and conflicts of Finally, 2009 will see the introduction of the new two-stage made in healthcare since
interest. unified NHS complaints system, which commences in April 2004. The report recognised
n Links: www.gmc-uk.org 2009 to coincide with the introduction of the Care Quality the growth in GP services
Commission. Unresolved complaints will be referred to the and the high level of trust
AUgUsT Health Services Ombudsman, the Healthcare Commission’s patients placed in their GP.
What? Good Medical Practice current role will be abolished. But it also said that GPs
for General Practitioners were not engaging enough
Why? It was deemed with commissioning, more
necessary by the RCGP and on appraisals and taking Why? The BMA ethics team systematic reporting by
the BMA’s GPs Committee account of increased web email published this guidance to GPs was needed, patients
(GPC) to publish this document, communication. summarise the legal situation, wanted more flexible access
to take account of changes in n Links: www.rcgp.org.uk/ it included information about to their GP and GPs were
the profession, such as out- PDF/GMP_web.pdf healthcare for asylum seekers, not receiving adequate
of-hours arrangements, and to registering with general information on patients’
support revalidation. Changes sEpTEmbER practitioners, registering at medicines on discharge from
included replacing the term What? Access to healthcare hospitals, prescription charges a hospital.
“excellent GP” with “exemplary for asylum seekers and refused and confidentiality. n Links: www.
GP”, introducing a new section asylum seekers n Links: www.bma.org.uk healthcarecommission.org.uk
www.mps.org.uk YOUR PRACTICE VOL. 3 NO. 1, 2009 11
YP07 pp10-11 08 highlights .indd 11 3/2/09 13:42:33
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