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GPs LACK CONFIDENCE IN NEUROLOGICAL


REFERRALS MORE than half of GPs in England do not feel confident in their ability to make an initial assessment and referral for people presenting with signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and 84 per cent would see benefit in further training on identifying and managing people presenting with neurological conditions. These are the results of a survey and an expert


workshop conducted by the Neurological Alliance. The Neurology and Primary Care report also found that


85 per cent of GPs in England are either “somewhat concerned” or “extremely concerned” about the time taken from referral for patients to see a consultant neurologist. More than half of GPs (59 per cent) believe the local services and systems in their area mean that people with neurological conditions frequently do not receive a timely diagnosis. The report sets out eight recommendations aimed at


UNHELPFUL RECEPTIONISTS CAN


LOWER PATIENT SATISFACTION UNHELPFUL GP receptionists can lead to lower patient satisfaction scores, according to new research published in the British Journal of General Practice. A study carried out by Loughborough University found that the more patients had


to push for effective service when calling GP practices, the less satisfied they were. This so-called “burden” on patients to drive calls forward occurred, researchers found, when receptionists failed to offer alternatives to callers whose initial requests could not be met, or to summarise relevant next actions (for example, appointment, call-back, or other query) at the end of calls. Researchers noted that: “Survey-based research shows that the helpfulness of


the receptionist, along with communication with the doctor, is the most important driver for satisfaction among UK patients.” The team analysed 447 incoming telephone calls to three GP surgeries in England


in October 2014. GP PRACTICE FINED £40K BY ICO


A GP practice has been fined £40,000 by the Information Commissioner for revealing confidential details about a woman and her family to her estranged ex-partner. The practice released the information when the patient’s ex-partner made a request for the medical records of the former couple’s son. Staff at the practice responded with 62 pages of information that included the woman’s contact details as well as those of her parents and an older child the man was not related to. The information was


provided despite express warnings from the woman that staff should take particular care to protect her details. An ICO


investigation found


that the GP practice had insufficient systems in place to guard against releasing unauthorised personal data to people who were not entitled to see it. It found that staff had not received adequate guidance or supervision about what could be disclosed or should be withheld. Steve Eckersley, the ICO’s Head of


Enforcement, said: “ GPs could have protected staff by providing proper support, training and guidance. They did not do this.” The ICO says it issued a fine of £40,000 not because the practice’s partners would be individually liable, but because of the serious nature of the breach most organisations would expect to


receive a much larger fine.


improving the primary care pathway for people with neurological conditions, including a call for the development of a pan-neurological “watch list” of the 10 signs and symptoms GPs should be aware of during patient interactions in primary care settings.


“WORRYING” LEVELS OF STRESS AMONG


PRIMARY CARE STAFF ALMOST 90 per cent of NHS primary care workers find their work life stressful, according to a new survey. That figure is far higher than the wider UK workforce


where 56 per cent of employees reportedly find their jobs stressful.


The findings emerged in a survey of more than 1,000 primary care staff, including GPs, practice nurses, practice managers and their colleagues, by mental health charity Mind.


Almost one in 10 respondents (eight per cent) said


workplace stress had led to suicidal thoughts, a fifth (21 per cent) said it had caused them to develop a mental health problem, and 17 per cent said they take medication for a stress-related mental health problem. Two-fifths (43 per cent) said they had resigned or were considering resigning due to work stress. The poll also found stress impacted more than mental health. Just over 80 per cent said stress affected their ability to sleep, more than half (54 per cent) said it directly impacted their physical health, and 17 per cent have phoned in sick because of it. A number of employees admitted resorting to unhealthy


habits to cope. Two-fifths (42 per cent) drink alcohol at least once a week to cope with stress while eight per cent smoke every day to ease work pressures. Despite such high stress levels, many staff were


reluctant to admit they had a problem. Almost a third said they feared disclosing they were overly stressed would lead to them being perceived as less capable than other colleagues. A fifth (22 per cent) also felt admitting the problem would harm their chances of promotion. Mind chief executive Paul Farmer said: “We need to make


sure that healthcare professionals are well and supported, so they can provide the best care for their patients.”


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