There is a lot that we can learn from complaints and concerns that go to the GOsC. We’re going to look at some of the lessons we can learn today and next week we’ll look at professional development from issues arising within clinic. The GOsC 2017-18 fitness to practice report has recently been published which gives details of how investigative processes work and cases from the last year. I’m using this report as the basis for this article. How are complaints investigated There are three committees that handle complaints at Continue Reading »
Have you heard the saying: From a little spark a great fire can be kindled. I’m going to use sparks as a metaphor for feedback. You can recognise those sparks of feedback and deal with them in different ways. You don’t know where that spark might lead but you can direct it’s course by taking appropriate action. We’re going to look at different types of sparks, recognising the sparks – both positive and negative and then handling sparks and conclude with a few warnings. Where is your spark leading? Often Continue Reading »
This month we are going to be covering the subject of handling complaints. In my opinion handling complaints is one of the key components of good practice alongside good consent procedures and good communication. A complaints policy is compulsory We will consider your complaints procedure, handling complaints, learning from complaints and using feedback for professional development. We will also consider the Duty of Candour. These subjects relate to standards D3 and D4 in Theme D Professionalism. Under standard D4 it is compulsory for osteopaths to have a complaints policy in Continue Reading »
Here is a free one page summary of consent. You are very welcome to download it and use it to assess your clinical consent. It is a summary of the Theme A requirements of the Osteopathic Practice Standards for clinical consent. The link will download the pdf. Do leave us feedback if you found it helpful or you have suggestions for improvements.
Do you have a system for clinical consent? Just as you have a system for taking your case history that enables you to follow a logical pattern, covering all the points you need, I suggest you need a system for clinical consent. The benefits of a system Following a system enables you to make sure that you have covered all the necessary bases. It does not mean that every patient experience is exactly the same. Your consent processes must be individualised to the patient in front of you and their Continue Reading »
Last week we began looking at the third component of valid consent – capacity. We recognised how capacity involves being able to understand, retain and evaluate information to make and communicate decisions. We particularly considered capacity with regard to adults. This week we are going to consider consent with relation to young people and children and all the three elements of consent – voluntary, informed and capacity. First of all, to define children and young people. In this article a child is under the age of 16 years and young Continue Reading »
In the last post we considered 2 essential aspects of valid consent – it must be voluntary and informed and we also looked at how you record consent. The 3rd essential element of valid consent is that the person has capacity to consent, this is the subject fot this post. It is not always a simple decision so you should have a clear understanding of capacity to inform your decision making. What is capacity? Capacity is the ability of a person to understand, retain and evaluate information to make and Continue Reading »
In the last blog we spent time understanding the history of consent and the complete switch in the focus of consent since 2015. If you missed it, watch the video on facebook or see the previous post. Consent is the most important aspect of practice In my opinion gaining consent is the most important aspect to osteopathic treatment. It doesn’t matter if you are the most amazing osteopath with incredible premises if you practice without gaining valid consent you are both ethically and legally deficient. Good communication is fundamental to Continue Reading »
If you have never heard of Nadine Montgomery she is fundamental to the current law on consent. She is not a doctor or a lawyer or a politician she is a patient. This is her story: Nadine’s story Nadine Montgomery was a woman with diabetes who gave birth by vaginal delivery. What is significant about this delivery was that her baby Sam was born with serious disabilities after shoulder dystocia during delivery. The doctor, Dina McLellan did not tell Nadine Montgomery about the 9-10% risk of shoulder dystocia. Why not? Continue Reading »
1. The order The folder is now arranged within each of the four themes. The new standards have a much more logical flow so topical standards and guidance are now gathered together under one theme. This means it is no longer necessary to have the Mint Folder arranged by topics. Keeping the order by theme will also help with implementing the new CPD scheme. You will be able to quickly identify where work on a particular area of practice aligns with a theme of the OPS. 2. CPD suggestions There Continue Reading »
