More than 9 in 10 claims over delayed diagnosis of melanoma involve GPs, according to figures released by the Medical Protection Society (MPS)* today in its Your Practice magazine.

Modern day healthcare has taken on a patient-led agenda; with the NHS ‘friends and family test’ to be introduced from April 2013, patient feedback being an integral part of the revalidation of doctors and the NHS mandate’s focus on ensuring patients have a positive experience of care.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer-related clinical negligence claim against GPs – making up one in ten cancer claims – according to the Medical Protection Society (MPS).

Identifying whether a patient’s expectations are realistic and ensuring they give valid consent to the intended surgery are essential steps prior to a cosmetic procedure, says the Medical Protection Society (MPS) in response to the Department of Health’s Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions

The recent recall of a typhoid vaccine because it may not offer full protection, highlights the importance of health professionals accurately recording details of vaccines and batch numbers, says the Medical Protection Society (MPS).

More than 100 surgeons in training attended the joint Medical Protection Society (MPS) and Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) conference – Getting to grips with law and ethics – on Friday. The conference gave an insight into the challenges of complex ethical and medicolegal issues, and ways to aid safer practice within surgical specialties.

While using tablet devices might give GPs greater flexibility with accessing information on the go, such as patient records, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is reminding GPs and practices that patient confidentiality needs to be carefully guarded.

Following a change to how some insurance companies are assessing patients’ medical history from GPs, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is advising GP practices to ensure the patient has given valid consent before their information is disclosed.

MPS has long campaigned for a culture of openness and has seen from its members’ experience, the importance of being open and honest when something goes wrong.

The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has welcomed the Department of Health’s strategy to transform the use of information across healthcare. The world’s leading medical defence organisation believes that the principles will support communication, improve knowledge and promote shared decision making, however, patients need to be aware of the potential risks.

The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has found that there is still confusion by GP practices about the current complaints process, despite the changes coming into force in 2009.

With the August bank holiday signalling the peak of the 2012 ‘summer of celebrations’, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is reminding doctors about common holiday problems they could encounter.