A significant number of GPs say the fear of being sued is a major factor in their decisions to order more tests, make more referrals or prescribe medication – according to survey results published by a leading medical protection organisation.

The General Medical Council’s State of Medical Education and Practice 2017 report has been published today. Commenting, Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Senior Medicolegal Adviser at the Medical Protection Society, said: “This report shows that the vast majority of GMC investigations are closed without action, the end result being that over a thousand doctors go through a needless, stressful and slow process each year...

The Government should aim to provide absolute clarity on what and who will be covered in the new state-backed indemnity scheme for GPs in England, and ensure the scheme is set up in doctors’ interests, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) told the Westminster Health Forum.

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee report into NHS clinical negligence costs published today - Director of Claims Policy and Legal at the Medical Protection Society, Emma Hallinan, said...

The Justice Select Committee has just published its report on the Government’s draft legislation on the discount rate. Commenting, Director of Claims Policy and Legal at the Medical Protection Society, Emma Hallinan, said...

The Department of Health has directed NHS Resolution to establish and administer the state-backed indemnity scheme for GPs in England, however details on how the scheme will operate are still to be confirmed.

The proposed state-backed indemnity scheme is welcome news for GPs in England, but the underlying issue of rising clinical negligence costs still needs to be tackled - Alex Chalk MP told MPs, peers and health leaders at a parliamentary event last night.

21 November 2017: We must strive for cultural change in healthcare where staff are trained and supported to be open about mistakes, learn from them and where senior clinicians lead by example - the Medical Protection Society (MPS) told a Scottish Parliament Health & Sport Committee today.

The legislation that will pave the way for reform on how the discount rate is set, must be introduced to Parliament promptly to avoid the risk of clinical negligence costs becoming unsustainable, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) said today after its appearance at a Justice Select Committee.

Commenting on the Department of Health consultation to reform healthcare regulation, and as part of that, cut the number of regulators – Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Senior Medicolegal Adviser at the Medical Protection Society, said...

The Department of Health has issued a statement on the indemnity offer made by MDU following the Government’s recent announcement on a state-backed indemnity scheme.

The Government has announced its intention to develop a new state-backed scheme for clinical negligence indemnity, for GPs in England. Read our response.

Commenting on the Government’s plans to reform the way the personal injury discount rate is set, Simon Kayll, CEO of the Medical Protection Society, said...

80% of newly qualified doctors say they have enjoyed their first year, and over 60% say they are excited about their future careers, according to a survey by Medical Protection.

Medical Protection has announced a major new partnership with two GP networks, which will provide healthcare professionals across 67 practices with access to indemnity and enable flexible working across multiple practice sites in Leeds.

Commenting on the 2016/17 NHS Resolution annual report into the cost of clinical negligence to the NHS – Emma Hallinan, Director of Claims at the Medical Protection Society (MPS), said...

NHS clinical negligence costs have increased by 72% over last 5 years, Costs could reach £2.6bn a year by 2022, Current yearly costs equate to the cost of training 6500 new doctors.

Commenting on the Conservative manifesto commitment to support GPs on rising indemnity costs

Some GP surgeries may be experiencing temporary problems accessing information on their computers following Friday’s cyber-attack.

Three quarters of the public (75 per cent) want Government to do more to reduce the amount of money lawyers are able to claim from the NHS in legal costs following clinical negligence cases, according to a YouGov survey.

Opportunity to deliver greater savings to NHS through legal fee capping scheme should not be wasted

Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Senior Medicolegal Adviser at the Medical Protection Society, said: “This is a positive step - the NHS paid out £1.5bn in clinical negligence costs in 2015/16, with legal costs accounting for 34 percent of that bill. In lower value claims it is not unusual to see lawyers' costs exceed the compensation awarded to claimants."

Simon Kayll, CEO at the Medical Protection Society, comments on the consultation exploring changes to the framework which determines the Personal Injury Discount Rate

Mr Simon Kayll, CEO at the Medical Protection Society, comments on the discount rate change in Scotland