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The other day reminded me why I enjoy the variety and purpose of my work as a medicolegal advisor at the Medical Defence Shield (MDS). Each day is different, but I thought I’d share a snapshot of a particularly busy and rewarding one.
My morning began with a call concerning a Datix report. These conversations are often how we start supporting our members. After hearing the details, I requested further documentation to allow for a more thorough review. Clear communication at this early stage can make all the difference to the advice we’re able to give.
The main event of the day, however, was a workshop I was scheduled to deliver in Milton Keynes Hospital for around 40 GP trainees. Before setting off, I spent some time checking over my slides, making sure all interactive elements were functioning smoothly, and doing a final run-through of the script. At 11:30am, I packed up my laptop and headed off.
After a quick stop at a service station for a bite to eat, it was onwards to Milton Keynes. On arrival, I was impressed by the academic centre where my session was taking place. It’s a modern, airy space that made a strong first impression, and with the sun shining, I felt optimistic that it would be a good afternoon.
I met up with Pushpa, our Head of Outreach, who had already begun setting up the MDS stand. It looked great and was filled with helpful resources for the GP trainees attending the event, including information about our comprehensive medico-legal and employment cover package. This joined-up service really sets MDS apart and speaks to the rounded support we aim to provide to our members.
Once the stall was set, I was welcomed by the academic staff, who were great and helped me get my presentation up and running. We began with a session on confidentiality. This is a cornerstone of medical practice and often an area of uncertainty for trainees. The audience was fantastic: engaged, interactive, and open to discussion. We explored key learning objectives, including GMC guidance, legal justifications for breaching confidentiality, and how to handle information requests from third parties.
After a short break, we moved into a patient complaints-focussed session. This was more scenario-based, prompting a great deal of input from the trainees. We covered not only the complaints process itself, but also touched on related areas like clinical negligence, Coroner’s inquests, and GMC investigations. The interactive format worked well, with trainees sharing their experiences and reflections.
One point that sparked discussion was the statistic that 49% of GP complaints are not upheld. It was reassuring for the group to hear that a patient complaint does not necessarily indicate poor care. I also shared practical tips to help avoid complaints, such as being proactive when things go wrong, developing conflict resolution skills, and improving communication practices.
We wrapped up at 4pm, and it was genuinely a pleasure to be part of such an engaging and thoughtful session. The GP trainees asked insightful questions and offered valuable contributions throughout. Afterward, while Pushpa continued to speak to attendees at our stall, I stayed back to answer a few more individual queries.
Then it was time to head home to my dog who was eagerly awaiting my return!
We hope you enjoyed this brief look into the life of a medicolegal advisor at MDS. Our advisors are at the core of the services we provide, always ready to apply their vast swathes of medical knowledge to our cases and requests for advice. If you think you might benefit from access to the expertise of our medicolegal advisors, join MDS today!
