Category: Risk management
Guidance, news and advice on risk management for GP locums

Being mindful of medical hierarchy
Medical hierarchy may present a challenge, and at times a possible reluctance, to open discussions about patients. Dr Rachel Birch, medicolegal consultant at Medical Protection, discusses possible reasons for this and provides helpful strategies to overcome this.
Read more

The story of a locum session; missing out on marginal gains
In this final article, we'll run through a hypothetical locum session (but inspired by real events!) and the typical response to errors, finally examining how a more considered, system-based approach based on the learning from psychology and Black Box thinking could promote patient safety, practice efficiency and GP morale and retention.
Read more

Dealing with trivial patient requests over the festive period
Board games are popular during the festive period but dealing with patients who present with concerns of a minor nature is no trivial pursuit. GPs are likely to be busy in the run up to Christmas, and on a busy day, it is understandable that they may feel frustrated when a patient presents with a seemingly trivial matter.
Read more
Contracting with practices via your limited company as a MPS member
"We are aware that some practices have recently contacted GP locums who contract via their limited company, as opposed to self-employed individual doctors, to request evidence of corporate malpractice protection. We know that many GP locums who contract this way do not have corporate protection, as they rely on their individual membership with Medical Protection to protect their interests. However, some practices are concerned that, if a claim arises, individual membership is not enough to protect the locum if the company is named as part of the claim.
Read more