Until recently, the main concerns of mobile phone use in hospitals were the risks associated with the interference of medical equipment. This resulted in many NHS Trusts putting restrictions in place to prohibit their use. Some Trusts even enforced blanket bans across their hospitals. However, these concerns have been steadily allayed over the last few years as a mass of research demonstrates that mobile phones actually pose little or no risk to the majority of hospital equipment. Trust policies therefore now tend to adopt a more flexible approach allowing for the use of mobile phones on their premises, with the exception of a limited number of prohibited areas such as specialist baby and critical care units.
Having the right procedures in place to deal with the management of patients (and in some cases their relatives) who are abusive, aggressive or threatening is more important than ever. Assaults on NHS staff for 2009/2010 amounted to 56,718 (1). This is clearly of huge concern both from the perspective of those individual staff members personally attacked whilst carrying out their jobs, but also in terms of the time and money which is being diverted from the delivery of healthcare.
This Update contains brief details of recent Government publications, legislation, cases and other developments relevant to those involved in health and social care work, which have been published in the last month.
This Update contains brief details of recent Government publications, legislation, cases and other developments relevant to those involved in health and social care work, which have been published in the last month.
This Update contains brief details of recent Government publications, legislation, cases and other developments relevant to those involved in health and social care work, which have been published in the last month.
Nicola Pegg provides our usual round-up of interesting cases, including a look at whether a Claimant can sell a claim to someone else to pursue and more judicial support for standing firm against over-inflated claims.
If yes, it will be illegal to be involved in this activity without a licence from 27 August 2012 - Are you prepared?
The number of litigants in person is on the rise according to The Personal Support Unit (PSU), a voluntary organisation which provides support to litigants in person. They have reported that such cases in the Manchester Civil Justice Centre are up by 89% in the four months to 30 September compared with 2010.
Julie Charlton sets out a quick brainteaser on various aspects of managing claims, for when you have a spare 10 minutes.
This Update contains brief details of recent Government publications, legislation, cases and other developments relevant to those involved in health and social care work, which have been published in the last month.