A patient presents with a sore wrist after a fall.

A patient’s solicitor sought disclosure of a GMC expert report after a case had been closed. Medical Protection successfully challenged this, only for the decision to be overturned at appeal. Kirsty Sharp, content editor at Medical Protection, looks at the challenges of making a challenge

All healthcare providers within the NHS have legal, contractual and professional obligations to provide an accessible and suitably responsive complaints procedure for service users.

At presentation, Peter was 14 years old and had presented with migraines since the age of 8. He was taking Pizotifen and his headaches were well controlled. Over the past four weeks he had started getting headaches again. They were in a similar location to his migraines, but were different in nature – he couldn’t put his finger on exactly how.

MPS Claims Manager Ashley Dee, who is based in our Edinburgh office, explains the claims process step-by-step and what it means for you

This case report was sent in by a reader, focusing on the importance of keeping clear medical records, good communication and working within your own limits.

Mr O was a 24-year-old man who had just enjoyed a holiday overseas. On the return journey he started vomiting. The nausea and vomiting continued after he arrived home and he began to lose weight because of it. When his symptoms did not abate he made an appointment with his GP.

The sooner you call MPS about an ethical or legal dilemma, the sooner the matter can be resolved. Professor Carol Seymour, Dr Tom Mosedale, Dr Richard Brittain and Sara Williams explore how and why Collateral-damage foundation doctors get into troubleCollateral-damage foundation doctors get into trouble

Complaints in health and social care: standards and guidelines for resolution and learning (2009) aims to provide a simple, consistent approach for staff who handle complaints, and for patients who raise complaints across all health and social care services.

One incident can be investigated in a number of different ways – as a complaint, a clinical negligence claim, a criminal case, a disciplinary matter by your employer, a Coroner’s inquest or a complaint to the GMC. An important starting point is your written report on the circumstances of the incident. This factsheet gives more information about writing this report.

Mrs C, a 25-year-old mother of two, had an elective caesarean with her first pregnancy as that baby was breech, and she experienced a failed attempt at a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) with her second pregnancy. Her third pregnancy was uneventful and she was booked in for an elective caesarean section at 39 weeks.