Many faces of MPS

New doctors look to MPS when things go wrong but this is only a small part of what’s on offer. Staff from across the organisation explain why members should call for so much more

Casebook

Jonathan Haslam, Casebook Editor

Casebook is the main way that MPS communicates with members. At its heart, Casebook is an opportunity for MPS to share its experience, most clearly through the case reports. These provide details of recent problems encountered by fellow doctors. For those just starting on their career they provide a valuable warning of the pitfalls that await the unwary. The cases are not intended to be sensational or salacious; rather we try to choose those that could happen to anyone. The best cases usually have a “there but for the grace of God go I” moment in them. We also highlight the situations that are a common cause of medicolegal problems, such as acute headaches, the acute abomen, cauda equina syndrome and rashes in children. Awareness of these common problems – the situations where you hear a tiny alarm bell – will help you to practise safely. And, of course, we keep you up to date with the latest, and never-ending, changes in legislation, regulation and guidance that you need to know about.

The best publications are edited by their readers, so we encourage you to send in your thoughts on any articles and case reports that have stirred you. The best letters will feature in our Over to you pages. Another way new doctors can contribute is by reviewing a book, CD or DVD, perks include keeping the book and getting your name in print, which is a boost to any e-portfolio. If you would like to get involved in Casebook, or any of our other publications, please get in touch. We are always looking for writers and those with an interesting story to tell.

Organising events and requesting speakers

Zoe Gaunt, Junior Doctors Marketing Manager

New doctors will have become familiar with MPS marketing during their medical student years, but the support does not end there, it continues throughout postgraduate education. From the provision of talks on medicolegal issues such as consent and keeping medical records, to the dissemination of educational materials, our team of regional membership coordinators attend various mess events and exhibitions across the country, chatting to members and providing them with useful information. You can find out who your co-ordinator is here.

The co-ordinators also organise interactive teaching sessions on medicolegal issues such as consent, which includes case scenarios and lively discussion. These are very popular with F1/2s and can be requested through the MPS website. A proportion of calls I take are from new doctors on the benefits they receive, like exclusive discounts on textbooks, online revision for exams, Oxford Handbooks and CD-ROMs. When I have them on the phone I tend to run through the valuable offers from PasTest, Medisave, Oxford University Press, Elsevier and many more that they can take advantage of.

If you would like to request a talk for your department or would be interested in MPS sponsoring one of your mess events, please get in touch.

Handling the press

Stella Zegge, Press Officer

The MPS Press Office is staffed by professionals who are experienced in dealing with the media and assist around 100 members a year, 24 hours a day, with press enquiries. We can help you by:

• Providing advice on responding to media enquiries
• Drafting a statement
• Acting as your spokesperson
• Liaising with your trust’s press office
• Advising practice staff.

The medical field has always attracted heavy media attention, and the majority of calls to the press offi ce are from journalists enquiring about a member who has been, or is involved in, a court case or GMC hearing. Occasionally we receive calls from members asking for help because they have had a photographer turn up at their doorstep unannounced.

24/7 medicolegal helpline

Nick Clements, Medicolegal Adviser

Over the last five years, I have taken over 3,000 calls on our telephone helpline. The medicolegal team deals with a wide variety of concerns from the mundane to potentially serious issues. Everyone has the potential to make mistakes or, through no fault of their own, to become involved in a serious matter – this applies just as much to juniors as to everyone else. Some cases, particularly those involving a death, have the potential to generate complaints, and for the doctors to be involved in a number of separate investigations including:

• Critical incident reporting
• Investigation by the employer
• A potential claim in negligence
• Investigation by the National Clinical Assessment Service
• Investigation by the General Medical Council.

Although claims in negligence relating to treatment received in the NHS are covered by the doctor’s employer under the terms of NHS Indemnity, there is usually little support for the doctor outside of this. MPS, of course, is able to offer this. MPS does not get involved with matters of personal conduct, but it assists junior doctors in other, less serious enquiries, such as:

• How to respond if a patient asks you on a date (GMC says you should never form a relationship with a patient)
• What to do if confronted by an emergency outside of the hospital (GMC advice is that doctors must provide assistance that they can reasonably be expected to provide)
• When it is ok to disclose information to the police without patient consent (usually matter for the trust, but in general disclosure for criminal purposes is permissible).

Some cases may take many months to resolve, at a time when junior doctors in particular are anxious to concentrate on their career and training. Even a matter that may seem trivial can result in difficulties if an inappropriate decision is taken. I would always encourage doctors who have concerns to get in touch sooner rather than later so that they can have any advice they need as early as possible.

Keep your details up-to-date

Shelley Price, Membership Helpline Supervisor

We are the problem solvers who take more than 6,500 calls each month from medics in the UK and Ireland. Most calls are from members who want to update their details and ask for information on subscriptions. Newly qualified doctors call us to ask about:

• Membership renewal
• Subscriptions rates
• Changing contact address
• Work outside the NHS
• Changing position or starting a new rotation
• MPS vs competitors
• Discretionary indemnity vs insurance
• Direct debit payments.

I would encourage all foundation years to call if they have any queries about their membership, no matter how trivial. Keeping records up-to-date is vitally important: members with incorrect addresses will not receive any of the benefits of membership, such as Casebook and other important information. Most of the information we provide can be sourced on our website, alongside any new services, but it is important that new doctors visit it regularly, as it is constantly being updated. A new service has just been launched where members can request a copy of their current membership certificate online that confirms their membership grade and subscription.