This guidance from MPS has been prepared in light of the current concerns about the Ebola virus.

In this issue we bring you two interesting cases; the first encourages GPs to exercise caution when diagnosing haematuria, and the second highlights how various poor communication channels can have a negative impact on patient care.

With the ever-changing legislation surrounding the management of controlled drugs, clinical risk manager Kate Taylor asks, is your practice is up-to-date?

MPS clinical risk programme manager Julie Price discusses how to build a patient safety culture in primary care.

What happens on tour stays on tour, but what happens on Twitter stays on Google forever. Practices should be cautious when posting on social media sites, says web editor Jack Kellett and MPS medicolegal adviser Dr Rachel Birch

Dr Paul Heslin, a GP and occasional locum based in Dublin, looks at the misunderstood life of a GP locum.

MPS advisers answer real dilemmas from the advice line.

GPs are the most discussed group on NHS Choices; here are some tips to use patients’ comments to your advantage.

In her last column, our columnist Laura Davison, talks about her experiences of being a new GP.

This workshop will help you to gain a greater understanding of the patient safety culture that exists in your practice, allowing you to identify and target areas for improvement.

Handover is a critical time when things can go wrong. Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, MPS medicolegal adviser, shares advice on what information should be handed over to the team coming on, while highlighting the importance of good communication.

Text messaging allows practices to target and contact hundreds of patients within minutes. Patients can respond by text with replies automatically forwarded to a specified email address. Many practices are signing up to using a text messaging service to inform patients of appointments, flu vaccinations etc.

Medicolegal adviser and MPS spokesperson, Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, outlines the various tactics employed by the press and what to do if you become involved in a media story.

The Clinical Communication Programme (CCP)

A highly intensive interpersonal skills training programme which greatly enhances doctor-patient communication and creates significant behavioural and attitudinal change.

Your repeat prescribing journey

Repeat prescribing is a complex journey that accounts for 75% of prescriptions issued in general practice. With more than 20 steps from the initial decision to prescribe to the patient finally taking the medication, the opportunity for error is great. Therefore, it is no wonder that errors in repeat prescribing frequently occur.

The care.data programme has been subject to intense media coverage and scrutiny. GMC Chairman Professor Sir Peter Rubin looks at what doctors can disclose and in what circumstances.

Professionalism can be hard to define and even harder to teach. Dr Mark Dinwoodie, Head of Member Education at MPS, highlights some practical tips to encourage professionalism in trainees.