02 FYi


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Welcome News


TOOLKIT LAUNCHED TO


CUT HANDOVER ERRORS A TOOLKIT designed to reduce errors during patient handovers has been launched by the Royal College of Physicians. The document defines the principles behind good handover


practice, what the handover framework should contain and how to avoid mistakes. It makes a number of


Welcome to your FYi


THERE are lots of new challenges for trainee doctors to handle as we start our medical careers – and managing patient complaints is likely to be one of them. No matter how hard we try we will undoubtedly have to deal with negative feedback at some point, which can be a daunting prospect. But MDDUS medico-legal adviser Mr Des Watson offers some advice on how to defuse complaints in his article on page 10. As doctors, our relationships


with patients must stay strictly professional but this can be increasingly difficult in the age of social media. On page 5, contributing editor Jim Killgore looks at new BMA guidance for doctors who might be tempted to ‘friend’ patients online. New doctors often worry about


mistakenly harming patients, and evidence shows managing diabetes is one of the most likely ways in


which this might happen. Dr Matthew Young and specialist nurse Janet Barclay offer expert advice on page 4. New doctors in Scotland might one day be asked to give evidence at a Fatal Accident Inquiry and on page 14we report on a mock FAI run by MDDUS.


Deciding on a medical specialty is a big decision, and onpage 6 emergency medicine trainee Dr Craig Brown discusses why he chose the field and what the job is like. Then on page 8we look at what it takes to follow a career in geriatric medicine. Professor Sue Black is something


of a celebrity in the field of forensic anthropology and human identification. On page 12she talks to FYi about her important work identifying victims of war crimes and in helping to prosecute killers.


Dr Rebekah Skeldon Editor


recommendations for the handover process including determining clear arrangements for ongoing care of patients, defining who is relinquishing responsibility and who is now responsible for care and establishing standardised systems of communication. Professor Humphrey Hodgson, RCP Education Vice President, said: “The shorter working hours for medical trainees under the European Working Time regulations, and the increasing use of short- stay medical admissions units, so that patients may well be transferred between teams, are only two of the reasons why a robust and effective handover system is needed for patient safety and high quality care.” The toolkit is the first of a series aimed at offering guidance on best quality care. It can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl.com/63tlaq2


SUPPORT FOR FITNESS TO PRACTISE REFORMS


EDITOR: Dr Rebekah Skeldon


ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Joanne Curran


DESIGN:


CMYK Design www.cmyk-design.co.uk


PRINT: arc colourprint www.arccolour.co.uk


CORRESPONDENCE: FYi Editor MDDUS Mackintosh House 120 Blythswood Street Glasgow G2 4EA


t: 0845 270 2034 e: jcurran@mddus.com w: www.mddus.com


FYi is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered in Scotland No 5093 at Mackintosh House, 120 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EA. The MDDUS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MDDUS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.


THE GMC is claiming broad support from doctors and patients for many of the proposals detailed in its recent consultation on fitness to practise procedures, including plans that would see doctors able to accept a sanction without going to hearing. The fitness to practise reforms consultation was launched in January 2011 and the GMC received 217 written responses from patient groups and individuals, as well as the BMA, Royal Colleges, CHRE, NHS Employers, individual doctors and medical defence organisations, including MDDUS. Among the proposals is a mechanism by which doctors can


accept a sanction without going to a full hearing, thus providing a quicker resolution to cases. Other proposals would see doctors with convictions for certain crimes, such as murder and rape and possibly fraud, automatically struck off the medical register. However, plans for doctors to be able to share information


with the regulator on a 'without prejudice' basis will not be pursued after respondents voiced concerns. Niall Dickson, GMC Chief Executive, said: "We will now


develop the plans in detail, working closely with doctors and patients to make sure the changes continue to ensure there is widespread confidence in our fitness-to-practise procedures."


PHOTO: WALTER NEILSON


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