The role of GPs in promoting men’s health
GPs play a vital role in supporting men’s health, uniquely positioned to promote a proactive and holistic approach to their care and to address the disparities in health outcomes that men face. Men continue to live shorter, less healthy lives than women, and they...
Facial aesthetics and Botox: New regulations on the horizon
Facial aesthetic treatments, including the use of botulinum toxin (Botox), have become increasingly popular and widely accessible in recent years. Alongside rapid growth in new technologies and treatment options, the sector has expanded beyond specialist clinics....
Responding to the rise in patient complaints and violence in general practice
In recent years, the general practice workforce has been working incredibly hard under extreme pressure to deliver care, as safely and effectively as possible, to an ever-growing patient population. Despite these efforts, GP staff have faced a sharp rise in patient...
Good Record Keeping – Case Study
Background Dr C is an experienced GP of over 23 years’ experience. She is a GP Partner at a GP practice in a small community in England (“the Practice”). The Practice is well known within the local community, not just for the quality of clinical care provided, but...
Regulatory fear and defensive practice
Given the pressures that GPs experience in their daily practice, it is understandable that many fear being the subject of complaints or regulatory procedures. Such regulatory fear is driving GPs toward defensive medicine, where caution overrides clinical confidence....
NHS England Investigations
Background Dr B is an experienced GP, who was working sessions for a private, and exclusively remote, GP organisation. He had been working there successfully for some time, when he was allocated a new supervisor. Dr B found the relationship with his new supervisor...
Medical record keeping in 2025
Record keeping is a fundamental responsibility for GPs, supporting high-quality patient care and clinical decision-making. Accurate and timely health records not only guide ongoing care and promote continuity across providers but also empower patients with information...
Fitness to Practise & Freedom of Speech – Case Study
On instructions from the Medical Defense Society, we recently concluded the successful defence of a GP and Medical Defense Society member in fitness to practise proceedings before the General Medical Council (“GMC”). Background Dr A is an experienced GP and partner...
The Myth of One-Size-Fits-All: Why GP Indemnity Needs to Reflect Real Practice
In an increasingly complex healthcare landscape, it’s striking how many elements of general practice have evolved except the assumptions underpinning GP indemnity. At Medical Defense Society, we speak to GPs at all stages of their careers: newly qualified, established...
Reported CQC failures impact on GP practices
GPs will have been concerned to read that an independent review of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), led by Dr Penny Dash, identified ‘significant internal failings’ that hinder the regulator’s ability to effectively judge how health and social care services are...
New RCGP guidance sets clear limits on Physician Associate roles
Both the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and the British Medical Association (BMA) recently voted to phase out Physician Associate (PA) roles on grounds of patient safety. However, around 2,000 PAs already work in general practice. In recognition of this reality and the...
2024 RCGP annual conference and Labour’s plans for the NHS
Medical Defense Society was pleased to sponsor and attend the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Annual Conference and Exhibition 2024 on 3–4 October at the ACC Liverpool. We heard from Wes Streeting, who addressed delegates in a keynote speech – the first...