The Government, NHS and private healthcare providers must plan now for the mental wellbeing support doctors will need following the Covid-19 pandemic, if we are to avoid huge swathes either leaving the profession or suffering in silence with psychological injuries, says Medical Protection.

The Government must commit adequate resource and support to clearing the backlog of referrals and delayed follow-ups in secondary care if we are to avoid a potential patient safety crisis and a tsunami of future claims or investigations, says Medical Protection.

A YouGov survey of over 2000 GB adults, commissioned by MPS, demonstrates an overwhelming show of public support for doctors’ protection during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Rob Hendry, Medical Director at the Medical Protection Society, comments on the news that Essex Coroner’s Service has withdrawn its demand for GPs to verify deaths in person during the pandemic.

MPS is calling for urgent reassurance from both the GMC and employers that doctors will not be subjected to regulatory or disciplinary action following a decision or outcome that is the result of poor PPE provision.

Medical Protection has urged the UK Government to introduce emergency laws, similar to those being passed in New York state, so doctors know they are legally protected when making momentous decisions in very challenging circumstances that are in the best interest of their patients.

Under measures to support student members during the Covid-19 pandemic, Medical Protection will provide an extra year of free membership for final-year medical students— with many starting work earlier than expected.

The Government’s Coronavirus Bill published today sets out steps to increase the available healthcare workforce, including enabling the regulator to emergency register suitable people such as recently retired doctors.

Medical Protection welcomes today’s letter by the General Medical Council (GMC), four health departments of the UK and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, addressed to doctors working to combat the spread of COVID-19.

International Women’s Day – celebrated 8 March every year- aims to, among other causes, honour the achievements of women throughout history and across the globe. Medical Protection is proud to support women in healthcare and has today unveiled information about its first women members.

The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has helped refine the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) advice for headache and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), to enable healthcare professionals to diagnose SAH earlier.

Dr Rob Hendry, Medical Director, comments on the Paterson Inquiry

MPS calls for National Coroner Service to avoid ‘postcode lottery’

MPS welcomes Queen’s Speech commitment to patient safety

Dr Rob Hendry, Medical Director of Medical Protection, shares his comments following a doctor being acquitted by the Court of Appeal.

The GMC’s annual workforce report has found that high numbers of GPs are at risk of burnout, and 18% are considering leaving medicine entirely within the next year.

Dr Rob Hendry, Head of Medical Services at Medical Protection responds to the GMC’s recommendations to support wellbeing. Read the statement here.

Following extensive negotiations, Medical Protection Society (MPS) and the Welsh Government have reached an agreement that will ensure Medical Protection general practice members in Wales can turn to a state-backed scheme for help with clinical negligence claims no matter when in the future they become aware of a claim or how much that claim settles for.

Nearly three quarters of doctors surveyed in the UK say they will always come into work, even when they are too unwell, fatigued or stressed to be productive according to a leading medical protection organisation.