NEWS Manager Practice


I AM pleased to take my first turn as editor in this issue of Practice Manager. First I would like to welcome Jill Thomson to the advisory team as a practice adviser. Jill is currently undergoing training and is looking forward to speaking to our members on the advice line in the very near future. Many practices and individu-


als are finding themselves at the sharp end of comments on social media and the article on page 7 offers some advice on dealing with unwelcome postings. A few years ago it was almost


unheard of but today more PMs are becoming partners in their surgeries. On page 12 solicitor Michael Royden looks at the pros and cons for those considering an offer. Most of us don’t like challenging others but can


a team function effectively without it? Trust and respect are essential in enabling challenge and healthy conflict to ensure patient safety and on page 8 risk adviser Cherryl Adams explores how these can be fostered. It’s not all hangovers and STDs but university students do pose some unique challenges as patients. Barclay Medical Practice operates a surgery on the campus of Glasgow University dealing with over 15,000 students. On page 10 Jim Killgore meets practice manger Kim McWilliams and senior GP partner Dr Des Spence. Next April, fathers who want


to take a greater role in the day- to-day care of their newborn children will be afforded that right by the new Shared Parental Leave (SPL) scheme. On page 6 Liz Symon looks at what this will mean for employers. And on page 4, tannoy gaffs, mistranslations, DNAs, overcritical parents, grimy carpets and a consent form past its sell-by are among the topics addressed in our Call Log.


Helen Ormiston Editor


Bleak Practice – the sequel


A SEQUEL to our video eLearning module Bleak Practice – featuring a fictional GP surgery in crisis mode – is now available to MDDUS members. It follows on from the events


and characters introduced in the first module – this time focusing on additional risks common in general medical practice such as record keeping, results han- dling to avoid delayed or missed diagnosis, supporting colleagues with health problems and team


communication. As with the first module, a downloadable discus- sion guide is available to help PMs and GPs take their teams through the risk areas and apply lessons learned to their own practices. MDDUS doctors and dentists


can access the video eLearning module in the Risk Management section of mddus.com using their surname and membership number. Practice managers should contact risk@mddus.com to receive a unique access code.


MHRA warning on bogus


dental equipment OVER 12,000 different pieces of poor quality dental equipment imported into the UK from China and Pakistan and sold on auction websites have been seized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the past six months. The regulatory agency is warning dentists and practice managers about the potential danger of buying and using counterfeit and unapproved dental equipment. It has six ongoing investigations involving the purchase of dental equipment from auction websites by UK dental practices. The seized items include dental X-ray machines that emit high levels


EDITORS: Scott Obrzud Helen Ormiston


ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Jim Killgore Joanne Curran


DESIGN:


CMYK Design www.cmyk-design.co.uk


PRINT:


J.Thomson Colour Printers www.jtcp.co.uk


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


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


Practice Manager 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.


of radiation, hand-piece drills that could malfunction and disintegrate inside patients’ mouths and poor quality root canal files that could break on use. About 40 per cent of the equipment is counterfeit and 60 per cent non-compliant with European medical device regulations. Alastair Jeffrey, the MHRA’s Head of Enforcement, said: “Dentists must source their dental equipment from reputable suppliers. Purchasing from auction websites and being unable to verify the integrity of the seller has the potential to increase risks to patients and cause reputational damage to the dental profession.” The MHRA is asking dental staff to report non-compliant devices to the MHRA Adverse Incident Centre at aic@mhra.gsi.gov.uk or on 020 3080 7080.


AUTUMN 2014  ISSUE 11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16