contentS
in this issue of Sessional GP…
Medicolegal features
founder of the national association of
sessional gps (nasgp), investigates
6–7 Good communication – why
it’s worth it
18–19 What complaint?
6
poor communication is a barrier to the delivery
locums often feel excluded from the
of effective care. sara Williams explores how
complaints process. sarah Whitehouse and
to become a good communicator
sara Williams explore whether the new nHs
complaints system will encourage practices to
8–9 essential guide to consent better involve locums
the gMc’s guidance on consent – Consent:
patients and doctors making decisions
20 top ten risks for locum Gps
together – is the most important document for
the risks locum gps meet day-to-day are
gps. read an Mps quick guide to consent
different from the risk sink of the nHs – dr
and tackle the consent quiz
Judith Harvey identifies the top ten
10 Quick guide to medical records
21 do’s and don’ts of emailing
12
clinical records contain sensitive personal data,
patients
contributed to by a number of clinicians over a electronic communication can provide a
varying period of time. Keeping them secure useful alternate point of access for patients.
from prying eyes or inadvertent disclosure is a dr richard stacey explores the pros and cons
legal as well as a professional responsibility
22–23 treating non-english
case files
speakers
gps are at the forefront of the cultural melting
12 More than a headache
pot, treating an increasing number of non-
Hearing about others’ experiences can
english speakers. sara Williams explores how
provide the inside track on how to perfect
to overcome the difficulties this presents
your practice. in this case a different approach
could have resulted in another outcome
24–25 learning from mistakes
21
to err is human unless you are a doctor, is the
13 too little, too late view held by some, but Julie Wilson, Mps
this case serves as a reminder of the risk Manager, argues that all doctors make
importance of taking a detailed history and mistakes and the key is to learn from them
thoroughly investigating all angles
26–27 dilemmas
14 “one last thing...”
Working as a gp, your skills may be called
poor record keeping and inadequate
upon when you least expect it. dr richard
handovers can have serious consequences
stacey, Mps Medicolegal adviser, gives
for patients. in this case an important
advice on how to deal with such encounters
diagnosis was not made until it was too late
28–29 locum workspaces
28
practical problems
locums and practices need to work together,
but this doesn’t always happen. dr Judith
16–17 What’s the buzz about Harvey analyses the particular problems
teamworking?
locums face in their working environment
in the run-up to revalidation, “locum teams”
has joined a family of oxymorons such as
30 final thought…
“open secret” and “found missing”. But are dr euan lawson, a locum from Kendal, steps
locums really working in well-organised out of the surgery and into the wild to explore
groups, or is it a myth? dr richard fieldhouse, the peculiarities of locum craft
editor-in-cHief dr richard stacey editor sara Williams contributorS dr euan lawson, dr
richard fieldhouse, dr Judith Harvey, Julie Wilson, sarah Whitehouse deSiGn Jayne perfect
production MAnAGer philip Walker MArKetinG Jo naylor, Kirsten Wilson Gp repS Kay find more online at
christey, Beverley Hampshaw editoriAl boArd dr stephanie Bown, Jon golding, dr richard
www.mps.org.uk
fieldhouse Your Practice, Medical protection society, granary Wharf House, leeds ls11 5pY. tel: 0113 241
0377 fax: 0113 241 0500. cover image: shutterstock/© Monkey Business images
sessional gp | voluMe 1 | 2009 www.mps.org.uk 3
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