Category: Risk management

Guidance, news and advice on risk management for GP locums

Physician associates face independent review in 2025

Physician associates will be the subject of a new independent review ordered by health secretary Wes Streeting, the government has announced.

What can GPs do to reduce the incidence of suicide?

Dr Emma Davies, medicolegal consultant at Medical Protection, highlights key considerations for GP locums on this complex issue

GPs and the new Cause of Death certification forms

Dr Emma Davies, medicolegal consultant at Medical Protection, breaks down the new death certification reforms and what they mean for GP locums

Patient follow-up request form for GP locums – download

Try using this form to flag up to reception when a patient really needs review.

QIA – Practice prescribing system proforma

This template helps practices explain the steps in their prescribing systems so that visiting GPs can make informed, safe prescribing decisions.

Risk management

How to supervise physician associates: tips for GP locums

Dr Heidi Mounsey, medicolegal consultant at Medical Protection, provides some helpful advice for GP locums to consider as they supervise or manage physician associates

Breaking bad news to patients: a sessional GP’s guide

Dr Sabira Hughes and Dr Priyanka Saigal, Medicolegal Consultants at Medical Protection, describe situations when GP locums might be required to break bad news, why it is important to be good at breaking bad news, the consequences of getting it right or wrong, and frameworks GP locums can use to break bad news.

GP locums and ‘Fit to Participate’ forms

Requests for fitness to participate statements can put GP locums in a difficult situation and you may feel pressured to complete forms and sign declarations. However, it is important that you only make statements and sign forms that are honest and truthful, and you should always act in the best interests of your patients’ health.

Acknowledging mistakes confidently as a GP locum

Talking to patients when something goes wrong is a skill that will constantly develop throughout your clinical career, but it can be more challenging to have these conversations as GP locums because of the limited time to establish a relationship with the patient.

Risk management

GP locums: reducing the risk of criminal allegations

Medical Protection regularly sees allegations of sexual assault or misconduct arising from patient encounters. Dr Emma Davies, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at why this can happen to a GP locum and how these issues can be managed.

Survey: Physician associates pose ‘significant’ patient risk

LocumDeck, NASGP’s booking platform, includes a setting for each practice for locums to express their level of willingness to supervise non-GPs.

Sessional GPs’ role in parental disagreements

In some cases involving children, a sessional GP will be faced with a scenario involving requests for a child’s medical records from separated parents. Dr Heidi Mounsey, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, sets out some underlying principles that are usually applicable to most cases.

Referrals: how GP locums can minimise risks

Dr Rachel Birch highlights risks a GP locum can face in the referral process

Remote working from overseas as a GP locum – MPS advice

Dr Sarah Townley, deputy medical director at Medical Protection Society (MPS) advises: 'All GMC registered doctors should be aware of and abide by the GMC Remote Prescribing high level principles if providing services from abroad.'

Significant event analysis for GP locums

SEA can provide valuable learning and sharing of information. However, this may not always be the case for GP locums: Dr Emma Green, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection explains why.

Risk management

GPs asked to ‘take extras on top of agreed patients’ by NHS 111

Wessex LMCs, which covers Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Dorset, and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight where NASGP offers funded membership, said it had had reports of NHS 111 phoning practices to push additional patients or telephone referrals.

GP safeguarding spreadsheet resource – Dr Rob Howlett

Try Dr Howlett's resource for recording learning.

Discussing colleagues – advice for GP locums

It is likely that remarks made flippantly about your colleague may carry more weight in the eyes of a patient, given they are coming from a trustworthy professional.

A risky business: medicolegal pitfalls in general practice

A recent lecture on the medicolegal processes that can arise after an adverse clinical incident by Dr Sabira Hughes, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection.

Risk management

‘See GP’ advice for ambulance callers in England

Worried patients could be advised to see their GP following new guidance.

Locum pitfalls event scheduled for March

Practice advice from MPS experts Dr Katy Miller and Dr Heidi Mounsey.

What do GP locums need to know about enhanced access?

Dr Priyanka Saigal and Dr Dee Traue, Medicolegal Consultants at Medical Protection Society (MPS), explain the Enhanced Access Programme.

Risk management

GPs asked to cover paramedics during ambulance strike

Action in England to go ahead on 21 Dec.

Conversations around weight – advice for GP locums

Conversations around a patient’s weight can be challenging, especially for locum GPs who may not have met the patient before. Sinead Lay, Case Manager, and Dr Rachel Birch, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, discuss this sensitive issue.