NOTICE BOARD
MDDUS wins eco award MDDUS has been awarded the
prestigious Carbon Trust Standard for its success in reducing carbon emissions. A campaign spearheaded by the Union’s
staff Carbon Group achieved a reduction of 3.2 per cent in carbon emissions at its Glasgow headquarters between 2012 and 2013. Overall gas usage fell by 12 per cent while energy costs were slashed by a quarter. MDDUS staff vehicles for the Glasgow office also recorded a drop in fuel consumption of almost four per cent. The Standard is a mark of excellence
awarded by the Carbon Trust in recognition of a company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. It is valid for two years and firms who want to retain it must continue to cut emissions year-on-year.
The success follows 18 months of hard
work by members of the MDDUS Carbon Group which was set up in January 2013 with the goal of implementing more environmentally friendly business practices in its Glasgow offices. Over this period, the company and the Carbon Group have introduced a number of new measures including the installation of energy efficient lighting, a heating system upgrade, improved insulation of windows, a move to petrol company vehicles and a staff awareness campaign. It’s hoped the scheme will be extended to MDDUS offices in London in the near future. MDDUS Chief Executive Professor Gordon
Dickson said: “I am very proud that MDDUS has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard following a committed campaign
Caution advised over waiting list initiatives THE NHS has been under increasing pressure to maintain
and reduce the length of time patients wait for procedures. To this end many hospitals have out-sourced procedures to private hospitals. Others have used their own NHS staff to undertake extra sessions within their own and other hospitals. Patients within the NHS are protected by NHS indemnity under
various
schemes.In England, trusts contribute to the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) and are thus covered by NHS indemnity. Some other private institutions may also join the CNST scheme and so become indemnified through the same
scheme.There are similar schemes in Scotland (CNORIS) and Wales (WRP), and Northern Ireland has a risk-pooling scheme. Doctors may be invited to undertake these waiting list initiatives and may be free to do so within the terms of their
led by our staff Carbon Group over the past year and a half. “This reflects the Union’s commitment to
sustainable, responsible business practices both now and in the future. “We hope this award will be valued by
both our staff and our members and will be taken as a sign that we take our corporate social responsibilities seriously.” Darran Messem, Managing Director, Certification at the Carbon Trust added: “It is genuinely impressive to see such a well mobilised internal team, focused on creating and delivering reduction strategies to achieve the Standard. We congratulate the team at MDDUS for all their hard work, which serves to show other organisations what can be achieved through a focused approach.”
contract. However, it is not true to say that NHS-type indemnity “follows the patient”. Doctors must not simply assume that if these are patients undergoing procedures as NHS patients that they are automatically covered by NHS indemnity. Members who wish to undertake this kind of extra work must be clear or have it made clear to them whether the procedures are covered by one of the NHS indemnity schemes. If the work is not so covered, members will have to check if their current subscription is adequate and appropriate to allow them to undertake this extra work. Members must ensure that they fully understand the terms on which they take on such work and, more importantly, carefully check the terms of the agreements or contracts for professional indemnity requirements. Contact our Membership Team if in doubt.
Dr Jim Rodger retires from MDDUS IN SEPTEMBER Dr Jim Rodger retired
as head of professional services at MDDUS after 21 years of providing advice and support to members.
Jim joined the Union in 1993 having practiced
for 18 years as a GP in Hamilton near Glasgow. His interest in medico-legal matters sprung in part from his experience working as a police surgeon. He developed this interest further by earning a Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence from the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London.
l “NO” VOTE IMPLICATIONS As all members will be aware, the outcome of the Independence Referendum was a vote in favour of Scotland remaining part of the UK. At a political level this marks the start of a period of negotiation on the added powers that are to
4
be devolved to Scotland. MDDUS does not anticipate that there will be any great impact on our day-to- day operations. We will of course watch developments closely and consult as appropriate with key stakeholders both in Scotland and the rest of the UK to ensure that
In 1980 Jim became MRCGP and later
served on both the Scottish and UK Councils. It was through the RCGP that he met Bill Mathewson, who was then head of the medical division at MDDUS, and Jim developed an interest in the work of the Union. In 1993 a position became open at MDDUS and Jim applied. “It was difficult leaving clinical practice,” he
says. “But it seemed an exciting prospect in an area I was very interested in.” In 2005 Jim was promoted to head of medical advisory services and later in 2008 he
the interests of all our members are taken into
account.The Union remains as financially strong today as it was before the referendum and will continue to provide a high-quality, expert service to all our members regardless of where they practise.
l FORENSIC OR POLICE PHYSICIAN WORK MDDUS has revised the pricing structure for those members who perform forensic/police physician work. In the past we have included cover for forensic/police physician work through the standard GP
SUMMONS
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 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24