GMC Scotland - Online Healthcare stories from other websites
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1. GMC presents to the Scottish Cross Party Working Group on Palliative CareSharon Burton, Senior Policy Adviser with the Standards & Ethics Team of the GMC, gave a presentation to the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Working Group on Palliative Care. They discussed the GMC’s plans to produce new guidance on end of life decision making and how this work might contribute to improving palliative care services for patients. For more information about the presentation please contact GMC Scotland. 2. GMC submits evidence on secondary legislation on vetting and barringThe GMC has submitted evidence in response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on secondary legislation to the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The PVGA sets up a vetting and barring scheme for people wishing to work with children and vulnerable adults. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations has also submitted a response on behalf of 40 organisations in the ‘Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act Coalition’. For more information please contact GMC Scotland 3. First Minster hails new NHS anti-fraud strategyIn responding to a Parliamentary question from Mary Scanlon MSP on the extent of fraud in the NHS, Scotland’s First Minister commended a new strategy to tackle the problem. The strategy, operated by NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services, (NHSSCFS), includes a new Memorandum of Understanding between the GMC and NHSSCFS. Tell me about the First Minister’s comments on fraud in the NHS 4. Committee refers to the GMC in context of the Public Health (Scotland) BillSeveral references have been made to the GMC in the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee meetings on the Public Health (Scotland) Bill. The references were around the regulation of public health workers and the position that the GMC might take towards the compulsory examination of competent patients against their will. The Minister for Public Health, Shona Robison, gave evidence to the Committee. The Committee will consider their report to the Parliament on the principles of the bill on March 19. The Parliament will debate and vote on this report in the near future. Show me the minutes of the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee 5. Scottish Parliament debates opt-out organ donationThe Scottish Government initiated a debate in the Scottish Parliament on organ donation. The debate included the question of whether to adopt an ‘opt-out’ system whereby patients would be presumed to consent to organ donation unless they had opted out. The majority of MSPs who spoke in the debate argued that the recommendations of the UK Organ Donation Task Force should be implemented and given a chance to work before serious consideration is given to a system of presumed consent. Show me the Scottish Parliament debate on organ donation 6. BMA Scotland publicise GMP In ActionBMA Scotland has published an article about GMP in Action, the GMC’s new web-based learning tool about Good Medical Practice. The article was published in the BMA Scotland February newsletter. Show me the BMA Scotland February 2008 newsletter 7. Health Rights Information Scotland publish February 2008 newsletterHRIS have published their February 2008 newsletter which contains information about a new leaflet ‘It’s OK to ask!’ which was developed with input from the GMC. The leaflet contains useful questions for patients to ask their doctors during consultations and was recently launched by the Scottish Secretary for Health. HRIS are in the final stages of drafting a second leaflet aimed at young people called ‘Have your say!’ This leaflet is designed to encourage young people to speak out about their experiences of the NHS. The leaflet is due to go to public consultation in late March. A DVD is being produced by Health Rights Information Scotland for people who’s first language is not English. A steering group has been set up to develop the DVD which will provide information about NHS services. Show me the HRIS February newsletter 8. SHC launch new PFPI best practice websiteThe Scottish Health Council has launched a new interactive website called Evolving Practice to share best practice on Patient Focus & Public Involvement. Show me the Evolving Practice website on Patient Focus & Public Involvement 9. Ombudsman publishes report of complainants surveyThe office of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) has published a report of a survey it carried out into the perceptions of its service. The SPSO surveyed the views of people who brought complaints about a public service to the SPSO. Tell me about the SPSO complainants survey 10. Event – RCGPS Walk the Talk Primary Care Conference, Edinburgh, 19 MarchGMC Scotland will have a stand at a ‘Walk the Talk’ conference hosted by The Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland on 19 March. Walk the Talk is a Scottish Government initiative to improve young people’s access to health services. The RCGPS conference will concentrate on access to primary care services. Tell me about the Walk the Talk Primary Care conference 11. Event - GMC Scotland prepares for Council meeting in EdinburghPreparations are well in hand for the meeting of the GMC Council to be held in Edinburgh on 2 April. For more information please contact GMC Scotland. 12. Events – RCPSG Symposiums on medical negligence and medical educationThe Royal college of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow will hold an event in Sheffield on May 16 to discuss issues around medical negligence. Speakers will represent the doctor, patient and legal perspectives. The college is also due to hold an event on June 9 for final year school pupils explaining what is involved in becoming a doctor; ‘So you want to be a doctor’? A third event on June 19 entitled ‘So now you are a doctor’ is aimed at new medical graduates and will inform them about the college. Tell me more about the RCPSG symposiums on medical negligence and medical education 13. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman reportsThe SPSO tabled reports on 43 cases to the Scottish Parliament in February. 19 of these were health related. She fully upheld three of these, did not uphold any aspect of one and partially upheld aspects of all the remaining cases. In her commentary the SPSO drew attention to complaints handling and her advice to organisations on valuing complaints. She also included a detailed explanation of the test of reasonableness applied by the SPSO to investigations of actions by doctors. |
