Calls for single database of consultants reignited after Ian Paterson inquiry
The Ian Paterson inquiry accused the NHS and private healthcare sector of “wilful blindness” and concluded more responsibility for safety was needed.
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MPS pokes GMC for social media guidance
The Medical Protection Society wants a new section on the use of social media incorporated into official ethical guidance issued to doctors.
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GP prescribing ‘could be improved by IT’
Better use of computer systems in general practice could reduce errors in GP prescribing, which are currently found in one in 20 prescriptions, a major study has recommended.
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Docs rapped for social media abuse
A US study suggests that medical boards are starting to get tough on doctors who act unprofessionally on social networking sites.
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Doctors criticise appraisal data and IT
Doctors say NHS trusts are unable to provide them with enough data on their performance to carry out appraisals and have heavily criticised an IT toolkit for revalidation.
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NHS needs better trained prescribers
Doctors are to be formally tested on their knowledge of medicines before they graduate, it has been announced. The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) says that prescribing is the core business of the NHS, but skill levels have lagged for too long and known problems have not been addressed. The Society says current training in prescribing […]
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One in 10 prescriptions have errors
One in 10 written hospital prescriptions contain mistakes, most are minor and spotted but some are potentially lethal. In many cases the errors result from poor or illegible handwriting, transcribing errors, ambiguous prescriptions or other communication breakdowns. This is the finding of major new research commissioned by the General Medical Council, which says despite the prevalence […]
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GMC issues confidentiality guidance
Fresh guidance on confidentiality has been published by the General Medical Council, with advice on topics including sharing confidential genetic information and disclosing identifiable patient data for Quality and Outcomes Framework checks. The revised guidance, which comes into effect on 12 October, covers the principles of confidentiality that doctors are expected to follow and takes […]
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GPs warned on honesty of claims
GP practices have been warned to take care when making claims under the Quality and Outcomes Framework given the current row over MPs’ expenses claims. The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland said a GP was struck off the General Medical Council’s register in January for falsifying QoF claims and warned other GPs to be scrupulously […]
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GMC rejects calls for inquiry into MTAS
The General Medical Council has rejected calls for it to investigate the IT and selection procedures for Modernising Medical Careers. Doctors’ pressure group Remedy UK wrote to the GMC in October urging it to investigate centralised, computer-based application process for MMC and the role of the senior doctors responsible for it. Remedy asked the GMC […]
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