As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May), the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is calling for more support and awareness of mental health issues among GPs.

As Jeremy Hunt is reappointed as Health Secretary, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is urging the new administration to consider two key issues affecting healthcare professionals; the lack of a collaborative, open learning culture and the rising cost of clinical negligence claims.

A Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of more than 500 UK members, including GPs, consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors, revealed that two in three doctors (68%) believe there is a blame and shame culture in the NHS, and that it will be difficult to overcome this. This compares with 66% of respondents to the same survey conducted in 2011, indicating that there has not been a positive culture change in four years.

The Medical Protection Society (MPS) is calling on the next government to prioritise reform of the legal system to drive down the cost of clinical negligence. MPS believes introducing fixed costs for small value claims and a reform of the rules relating to claimants’ expert reports will help make clinical negligence more affordable.

As new doctors start their careers on hospital wards, a Medical Protection survey of over 500 doctors who have just completed their first year has revealed that 89% felt that they had some support. Of those, 91% said they received support from senior doctors, while 64% said they also received support from nurses.

MPS has long called for a full and proper review to examine what the potential barriers to innovation might be as well as solutions. We are pleased the government has listened.

MPS has produced a briefing document ahead of the Medical Innovation Bill’s Second reading in the House of Commons, which is currently scheduled for Friday 6 March.

A Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of 600 GP members reveals that 67% of respondents are fearful of being sued by patients.

A Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of 600 GP members reveals that 88% of respondents believe they are more likely to be sued now than five years ago.

MPS recognises that the policy decision has been made to introduce mandatory reporting for female genital mutilation (FGM). For this reason we will not comment on the policy decision itself. Having said that, MPS is of the view that the current General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines for reporting FGM are, in general, clear and appropriate.

A Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of over 290 members in Scotland reveals that 67% of respondents do not believe a duty to be open with patients will improve openness. Of the 296 doctors surveyed by MPS, 66% were not aware of the proposals for a duty of candour and 70% believe a statutory duty to admit mistakes would be difficult to enforce.

Today, Lord Saatchi’s Medical Innovation Bill will go for its final reading in the House of Lords. MPS believes this Bill is unnecessary, and is risk to responsible innovation and patient safety.

MPS responds to the GMC’s consultation about its Confidentiality guidance.

A Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of over 290 members in Scotland reveals that 81% believe the proposed new criminal sanctions for healthcare professionals who wilfully neglect or ill-treat patients will create a culture of fear and 75% believe doctors are currently fully accountable for errors that may happen.

MPS fully supports a culture of openness in the NHS – a need for which was notably raised in the Francis Inquiry Report. We have long standing concerns that legal duties, such as a statutory duty of candour being proposed by the Scottish Government, fail to provide the impetus necessary for behavioural change.

MPS has provided a pre-consultation in response to the rising cost of clinical negligence and a proposed Fixed Recoverable Costs Scheme.

A Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of 254 GP members reveals that 46% of GPs believe patients are more violent and aggressive than five years ago, while 35% think the situation is about the same. Worryingly, 51% of GPs have experienced violent or aggressive behaviour from patients and sadly 34% of those accepted it as part of their job.

In yesterday’s Health Select Committee hearing, the GMC suggested doctors practise defensively because of the threat of litigation; however MPS’s experience is that it is the increasing scrutiny by the GMC, with half of those investigations requiring no action on the doctor’s registration, which is causing most alarm and mistrust within the profession.

The MPS has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on proposals to introduce a new offence of wilful neglect or ill-treatment in health and social care settings.