NEWS
RPS RESPONDS TO ‘NO BLAME RE-DRESS’ CONSULTATION
RPS in Scotland has provided the Scottish Government with its views on the proposed ‘No Blame re-dress scheme’.
The consultation, which opened in March of this year, is for anyone who would be affected in anyway by a change in the compensation arrangements for injuries resulting from clinical treatment in Scotland.
The paper consults on the Scottish Government’s outline proposals for a no-blame redress scheme for Scotland, which will
ensure that any patient harmed as a result of poor clinical treatment has access to redress in the form of compensation, where appropriate, without the need to go through lengthy Court processes.
‘In principle,’ the RPS statement said, ‘we support the scheme, which fits well with our professional approach to a ‘no blame culture’ or ‘just culture’, where being open and honest about mistakes is fully part of professional practice and where learning from mistakes is an important
aspect of any adverse event. It also fits with the forthcoming legislation on Duty of Candour.
‘The proposal as it currently stands would make it easier for anyone harmed by clinical treatment to obtain compensation, without having to go through a lengthy process of proving someone was ‘at fault’. Unfortunately despite recommendations that all healthcare professionals be included, independent contractors and their employees are not initially to be included in the scheme.’
‘We highlighted our concern that this creates yet a further unhelpful distinction between NHS managed service employees and those independently contracted by the NHS to deliver NHS health services,’ said Aileen Bryson, Practice & Policy Lead. ‘This is particularly of concern at a time when we are striving for integration. We are therefore recommending that the Scottish Government considers broadening the scope of this proposal.’
HEP C – NHS FORTH VALLEY LAUNCHES TESTING INITIATIVE
Around 3,000 people in the NHS Forth Valley area are believed to be infected with Hepatitis C – known as the silent disease – but so far only around 1,500 have been diagnosed.
Now the health board has launched an initiative to encourage more people to be tested. The
initiative, ‘It’s a Good Bet’, will see local bookmakers and tattoo parlours contacted by healthcare professionals, since these are premises largely visited by men, who are generally more reluctant to engage with health services.
The initiative has been launched
because new antiviral treatments for Hepatitis C – some of which have only become available recently– are proving very successful for Forth Valley patients. Health experts say these drug combinations are more effective – 90-95 per cent cures compared with 70-75 per cent cure for traditional treatment for those with more advanced liver disease. As a result, healthcare professionals want to increase testing in order to identify those who may potentially be at risk, and who could benefit from these new treatments.
‘It can take as long as 20 to 30 years for serious liver damage caused by Hepatitis C to become apparent with increasing symptoms,’ said NHS Forth Valley Consultant Hepatologist, Dr Pete Bramley, ‘hence the ‘silent killer’ label. Over the past few years, testing, treatment and care service provision has increased dramatically.
‘Diagnosing and treating people who are unaware of their infection will improve their quality of life and prevent risks of future ill health, and in turn prevent onward transmission to uninfected people and the wider public.’
With the prospect of further new 14 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST
ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN
COMPLAINTS TO GPHC
Last year’s 50 per cent increase in complaints dealt with by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has been followed this year with a further increase of 18 per cent (up from 1,597 to 1,882) in 2015/16. The figures, which were revealed in the GPhC annual report show that complaints about pharmacists and technicians are continuing to grow.
Rather alarmingly, the biggest increase in complaints came from other healthcare professionals, with the 236 relevant complaints indicating an increase of 362 per cent on the previous year!
With regard to the rest of the 1,939 concerns received by the GPhC in 2015/16, 1,129 (60 per cent) were from members of the public, 128 were self-referrals, 90 were raised by employers (an increase of 100 per cent) and 103 by GPhC inspectors (an increase of 110 per cent).
In total, 26 per cent of the complaints (489) were closed as they were outwith the jurisdiction of the GPhC.
treatments becoming widely available over the next few years, Dr Bramley is particularly keen to hear from anyone who tested positive for Hep C in the past who is not currently being followed-up for their hepatitis.
He’s also keen to encourage anyone who had any blood transfusions or blood products prior to September 1991 to get tested for Hep C – a key recommendation from the Penrose Inquiry –which looked at the risk of contracting Hepatitis C infection via previous blood transfusions and blood products.
Pharmacists in the local area who are aware of any patients, who may have put themselves at risk, or know of patients who would like a blood borne virus test, should signpost them to either their GP surgery or to the Forth Valley hepatology service direct on 01786 434079.
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