RCGP membership fees, as well as a tailored indemnity product at a competitive price. Find out more about the RCGP First5 partnership on the Join page at www.mddus. com


Winter indemnity scheme


NHS England is again running an indemnity scheme to support GPs doing extra out-of- hours (OOH) and unscheduled care work this winter.


The scheme has been developed in conjunction with UK medical defence organisations, including MDDUS, and runs until 2 April 2018. It is designed to meet the costs of indemnifying additional OOH/ unscheduled care work this winter and does not apply to pre-existing indemnity arrangements.


The scheme will work differently this


year with the additional cover allocated in blocks of 8, 16, 24 or 32 sessions. GP members interested in accessing the scheme should initially check with their local OOH/ unscheduled care provider to determine what additional shift cover is required and then contact MDDUS to agree the appropriate package of extra indemnity. You will then be able to add these additional sessions to your current membership with payment being made directly to MDDUS by NHS England. Any additional blocks of sessions can be applied for when your existing quota has been exhausted (subject to availability from NHS England). Go to www.mddus.com/forms/winter for an online application to add additional OOH sessions funded by the scheme. More information on the scheme including FAQs can be found on the NHS England website at www.tinyurl.com/y7ghbqbf.


Doctors working with football clubs


MDDUS does not provide indemnity for doctors or dentists employed or contracted as a team doctor by football clubs in the English Premier


League, Championship or Scottish Premiership. If a doctor is independently contracted by


a lower league professional football club to provide his or her professional services to players, then professional indemnity will be provided at the appropriate subscription rate. Members dealing with professional football


players should note that their professional and contractual relationship is with the player alone, with contractual arrangements and subsequent invoicing being directed to the player, no matter whether the member is subsequently reimbursed by the club or its medical insurers. MDDUS may extend cover to include indemnity for overseas events to the travelling party only and providing any claim is made in a UK court and under UK law. Any claim made outside UK jurisdiction or under non- UK law will not be indemnified by MDDUS. Members who work with sports


professionals are encouraged to obtain a recognised qualification related to such work.


MDDUS welcomes regulation reform


MDDUS has welcomed a new consultation on reform of the regulation of healthcare professionals.


Commenting on the Department of


Health’s Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation, MDDUS senior lawyer and practice development manager Joanna Jervis said: “We will be responding in detail to the consultation, focusing in particular on the difficulties which may be posed by a reduction in the number of healthcare regulators, as is proposed.” MDDUS agrees that the current regulation of healthcare professionals is outdated, slow and in need of reform. Legislative changes to the current framework are undoubtedly required but the key factors at the heart of any changes should be performance, fairness, transparency and patient safety. Jervis added: “The focus must be on ensuring that the regulatory framework is fit for purpose and retains appropriate expertise in relation to each of the very different healthcare professions subject to regulation.”


q


EARLY PRACTITIONER TRAINING DAY New dental graduates can learn about common risks in practice at an MDDUS training day at our Glasgow office on 27 February 2017. Hot topics include the pitfalls of using social media and how to ensure informed patient consent. MDDUS early practitioner adviser Laura McCormick will also be available to speak with delegates. Email risk@ mddus.com to book.


q


BMJ AWARDS ENTRY Healthcare teams across the UK can submit entries for the BMJ Awards 2018 – with headline sponsorship from MDDUS. Now in their tenth year, the BMJ Awards expect more than 350 teams from across the UK vying to have their important work recognised. Find out more at thebmjawards.bmj. com


q


RISK BITES: MDDUS PODCASTS Want to learn more about how to navigate a complaint, significant event review, negligence claim or GMC investigation? Tune in to the MDDUS Risk Bites podcast series. Each episode looks at how two different practices handle the case of a patient with breast cancer. Find them in the Resources section of www.mddus.com


q


UPDATE YOUR CONTACT NUMBERS We have noticed that a few members are still contacting MDDUS on our old 0845 number and incurring a higher phone tariff. Please ensure you are now contacting MDDUS on 0333 043 4444, or 0333 043 0000 for membership enquiries.


MDDUS INSIGHT / 5


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