Background information on Dr Alison Metcalfe

Dr Alison Metcalfe qualified in 1993 from Southampton University, and trained as a GP. After attaining her MRCGP, she joined the Medical Protection Society as a medicolegal adviser (MLA). In February 2006 Dr Alison Metcalfe became a senior MLA, before moving up to Head of Medical Services (London) in July 2008. She has provided MPS members with medicolegal advice for over 11 years.
 
Dr Metcalfe's areas of interest lie within improving the service that MPS provides to its members and also in the issues relating to doctors' health. She has since used her training and experience of advising on medicolegal matters to comment on various topics of interest to practising doctors. In fulfilling this area of her role, Dr Metcalfe has recently written on the potential dangers of misdiagnosing and delayed diagnosis, using case reports to demonstrate some scenarios where diagnosis errors have led to complaints or claims.
 
Dr Alison Metcalfe has also written on medical devices and the problems that they can cause doctors if the right systems are not in place to support their use. In her report, she advised doctors to always check they are fully trained to use the device and that the device is fully functioning and used at the right time, to treat the right condition.