The NHS has released new guidance to help doctors, nurses and other staff safely use instant messaging during emergencies

New data protection rules are coming into force on 25 May. Dr Rachel Birch, medicolegal adviser at Medical Protection, looks at two key areas that are changing.

Will Haines, Employment Law Consultant at Croner Group, explains how flexibility in terms and conditions can help to recruit professionals to GP organisations. Click here for the video.

Ross Clark, Partner at Hempsons, discusses the resources available to keep abreast of legal and financial changes in healthcare. Click here for the video.

Ross Clark, Partner at Hempsons, discusses the importance of standardising IT systems across GP practices and the Data Protection implications. Click here for the video.

Julie Price, Head of Risk Management and Education Consultancy, describes the resources available for GP groups to help keep up-to-date with regulatory changes. Click here for the video.

With over 23 years in general practice, Dr Tracey Vell is Chief Executive of Manchester LMC and advises on primary care transformation. Click here for more.

Ross Clark of Hempsons Healthcare Solicitors has helped establish over 40 GPPOs and advises on the structures available to GPs. Click here for more.

In this article healthcare experts discuss planning and strategy within GP groups with advice on managing board meetings and corporate indemnity. Click here for more.

All doctors know that maintaining confidentiality is an important part of building up trust with patients. Here, Dr Stephanie Bown examines the medicolegal aspects of confidentiality

The Care.data programme that was due to be rolled out in 2014 was delayed following criticism of the way the information campaign supporting it was implemented.

The GMC has revised its Confidentiality guidance for all doctors practising in the UK

The GMC has revised its Confidentiality guidance and this will come into force on 25 April 2017. Medicolegal Adviser Dr Rachel Birch explains what doctors need to know about the changes

Doctors may, on occasion, receive a request from a patient’s employer for a medical report to be delivered directly to the HR department, without the patient seeing it. However, before any medical report can be provided, you must be satisfied that the patient has given valid consent to the release of the information. This factsheet looks at the issues surrounding medical reports for employers and other organisations, and offers advice to doctors who are asked to write reports.

Text messaging allows practices to target and contact hundreds of patients within minutes. Patients can respond by text with replies automatically forwarded to a specified email address. Many practices are signing up to using a text messaging service to inform patients of appointments, flu vaccinations, etc.

NHS authorities can now be forced by the Information Commissioner (ICO) to be audited for compliance with the Data Protection Act.

NHS authorities can now be forced by the Information Commissioner (ICO) to be audited for compliance with the Data Protection Act.