Advice centre

A common query received by Medical Protection is concern about the ability of a patient to drive safely and whether it would be appropriate to make a disclosure to the relevant authority. Dr Heidi Mounsey, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at the guidance and an example case study.

Recently, awareness of the effects of the menopause and its treatment options have been the subject of media attention. Dr Rachel Birch, Medicolegal Consultant and member of Medical Protection’s Menopause Network, discusses lessons that can be learned from analysis of our case files.

General practice is under particular pressure from workplace stress and burned-out staff. Here we look at some ways to manage these situations and bring about improvements in wellbeing.

Following the rise in popularity of medical tourism and long NHS waiting lists, patients are seeking more medical treatment abroad. Julie Baylis, Case Manager at Medical Protection, explores the recent trend of patients seeking bariatric surgery overseas and returning to the UK for follow up care.

Patients often choose to email practices in the hope of receiving prompt answers to their medical queries. Dr Rachel Birch, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, offers some practical tips to help reduce risk and manage email contact safely.

Medical Protection has urged GPs to consider requests from patients to declare them ‘fit to participate’ in high-risk activities carefully, and ensure they have adequate professional protection in case the patient is injured and makes a claim for compensation.

In late 2022 Medical Protection celebrated 15 years of its flagship Ethics For All conference in South Africa. During this year’s webinar for healthcare professionals, Dr Blesset Nkambule and Dr Zarina Sonday, Medicolegal Consultants at Medical Protection, took delegates through a series of frequently asked questions they come across while assisting Medical Protection members.