Vol. 6 no. 2 2012
Your Practice
The countdown has begun for you to register with the CQC by 1 April 2013 – this includes those providers of General Medical Services (GMS), Personal Medical Services (PMS) and Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS). From July you will receive an invitation from the CQC to begin the application process (registration) – you will then be able to choose a date between September and December 2012 to submit your online application.
In the application you will be asked to state whether or not you are compliant with the Essential Standards of Quality and Safety. MPS is aware of practices who are cautious about how to demonstrate compliance with these standards and have sought advice from MPS.
In her article “Going for Gold”, MPS’s clinical risk manager Julie Wilson shares her tips to help you successfully register with the CQC. She will explore the CQC registration process further at the MPS General Practice Conference 2012 – Where the risks lie. Visit the Conferences section of the website for more information.
This issue also boasts an interesting feature from Diane Baylis, on how to safely manage nurses who perform telephone triage. Face-to-face appointments with a doctor come at a high cost, but it is important that nurse triage is not simply introduced as a way to save money. That said, if it is introduced safely and managed effectively, it can be a valuable resource for a GP surgery.
We hope you enjoy this issue.
Dr Richard Stacey – Editor-in-chief
MPS Medicolegal Adviser