155 press ad A4 s3 17/9/08 14:21 Page 1
practice80
practice50
WELCOME
practice01
Introducing the new MPS
welcome
Practice Reward Packages
In the last edition, enforced underperformance that
Your Practice is putting patients at risk.
reported on The relationship between
independent locums and practices is explored
research in more depth by Dr Judith
conducted Harvey on pages 6–8. She
MPS has restructured its Practice Reward Packages
by the National Association of explores the many dimensions
Sessional GPs (NASGP), which that encompass the locum’s role,
for GPs and now offers improved benefits and a new
showed that there are no official from the management consultant
three-tier membership system to bring each individual
statistics on the number of to the archaeologist.
Locum GP Dr Judith Harvey battles with a messy consultation room
locums in the UK. Comparing Another factor that is crucial
practice the level of professional support it needs.
statistics indicates that more to the success of the practice
�
than 15,000 locum GPs are machine is staying on top of
practice80 – if at least 80% of GPs
unaccounted for. the latest guidance. Check that
in your practice are MPS members
What’s inside...
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP your practice is up-to-date on
�
chairman, has campaigned for all of last year’s guidance, by
practice50 – if at least 50% of GPs
Update 4–5 locums’ rights for more than reading our review of the medical
(min. Two full-time GPs) are MPS members
a decade. He argues that the highlights of 2008, on pages
�
Read through the latest developments and keep
government cannot educate 10–11. There is also a section on
practice01 – for sole practices where the
up-to-speed on what will impact your practice practices about the needs of what to look out for in 2009, from
GP is an MPS member.
locums because it does not the results of the GP survey to
“I want to see a real doctor” 6–8
have sufficient data on them. In the next MPS GP conference – it
Practice reward package benefits
his article on page 9, he argues looks set to be another busy year.
Dr Judith Harvey explores the hurdles faced by locums
that this is part of a system of Dr Richard Stacey, Editor-in-chief
Depending on the level of package, you could receive:
as they go about their daily practice, and urges readers
to put themselves in a locum’s shoes
MEDICAL PROTECTION SOCIETY
YOUR PRACTICE, VOL. 3, NO. 1 2009 eDitor-in-chief Dr Richard Stacey eDitor Sara
UNITED KINGDOM
� FREE indemnity to all practice nurses, nurse practitioners,*
Your Practice
Williams writers Julie Wilson, Terri Bonnici
phlebotomists and managers employed by the practice
Locums are marginalised 9Design Manager Neil Benton
More inside:
Are NHS locums marginalised?
Medical highlights 2008 Design Cambridge Publishers
Praise for Scottish GPs
� FREE business support from the Croner consulting helpline
NASGP chairman Dr Richard Fieldhouse explains why he proDuction Manager Philip Walker
feels the medical profession ignores the needs of locums
Ever feel like
MarKeting Jo Naylor, Bev Hampshaw, Kay Christey
�
a spare part?
Regular staff training provided by the MPS GP support team
Locums do eDitoriaL BoarD Dr Richard Stacey, Dr Stephanie
Medical highlights of 2008 10–11
Bown, Jon Golding, Dr Nick Clements
� One FREE Clinical Risk Self Assessment (worth over £1,750) in each fiveyear period
Your Practice, Medical Protection Society, Granary
Don’t miss out – read a review of some of the core
Wharf House, Leeds LS11 5PY
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND EXPERT ADVICE
www.mps.org.uk
� Additional training resources for GP registrars
Tel – 0113 241 0377 Fax – 0113 241 0500
guidance from the last year
Cover photo: Tom Kinsbergen/Science Photo Library.
� £200 discount on each .7’s subscription (pro rata rates for parttime .7Z)
� Access to the Croner-i website – worth over £300. Your corner
year may not be effective during Consider who will lock up the and help maintain each other’s
the winter months. Dangers practice each evening and emotional wellbeing. Consider
*Limited to one per full-time GP.
Keeping Your include icy entrances and car ensure that a staff member does booking a practice social event.
practice safe parks. It is vital that patients and not leave the practice alone at 4) stay healthy – If practice
this winter staff can access the practice night. Staff should be provided staff get sick, what will happen
safely. Buy some sand/salt for with alarms. to the patients? Staff should take
There is no charge for registering for practice package
Winter is a hazard, with its dark the paths leading to the surgery 3) support staff – January can care of themselves, consider
membership – contact us today to find out more!
mornings and evenings, freezing and decide on who will be be a depressing month with staff having a flu jab, dress warmly,
temperatures and slippery paths, tasked with the job before any suffering from the post-festive keep hydrated, and get some
call 0845 456 7767
practices should be particularly patients arrive. blues at one of the busiest fresh air and exercise and be
mindful during this frosty season. 2) check external lighting – times. Staff may be more prone strict hand-washers. Ensure
email gppractice@mps.org.uk
1) perform season- Lighting should be bright enough to feeling under pressure and that there is plenty of alcohol gel
specific risk assessments – to ensure safe passage on suffer stress. So staff should be around the practice for both staff
apply online www.mps.org.uk/gppractice
Assessments done earlier in the arrival and leaving the practice. particularly vigilant of each other and patients to use.
MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
www.mps.org.uk YOUR PRACTICE VOL. 3 NO. 1, 2009 3
YP07 pp02-03 contents.indd 3 3/2/09 13:26:09
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