Newsletter

Spotlight on: Performance Review Panel

When a performance matter is referred to the Council, one possible outcome is the practitioner may be required to undergo a Performance Assessment, which in some instances can lead to a Performance Review Panel (PRP). Of nearly 2000 complaints received by the Council...

Does being grumpy with patients carry serious medico-legal risk?

This article was first published in Australian Doctor , and has been republished by the NSW Medical Council with kind permission of Australian Doctor and Avant. The possibility of missing a diagnosis would have to be one of the major things that keeps doctors awake at...

Communication is key to shared care success

Many healthy, low-risk women choose antenatal shared care (ANSC) because they prefer to be cared for by a doctor they have an existing relationship with and feel more comfortable under their care. The Medical Council has identified some recurring themes in ANSC...

Spotlight on: Council processes

In each newsletter, we shine the spotlight on various council processes to provide clarity and transparency on council procedures and terminology.

Supporting the Medical Benevolent Association of NSW to help doctors in need

Over the last 10 years, the Medical Council has supported the work of the Medical Benevolent Association of NSW by contributing $500 000 to provide counselling support of doctors and medical students who have had a complaint or subject to regulatory action by the...

Telehealth – The patient’s perspective

When the Federal Government made telehealth universally available as a safety measure during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, it was life-changing for many people. Patients reported that the ability to have a telehealth consultation decreased their levels of pain,...

Recalls and reminders: Do you know your obligations?

The doctor-patient relationship is the bedrock of medical practice. This relationship requires not only careful communication in consultations but also diligent follow-up communication outside consultations. Patient recalls and reminders are essential to the continuity...

Does your diagnosis get lost in translation?

According to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare , almost 60% of adult Australians have low health literacy, which means they may not be able to effectively exercise their voice when making healthcare decisions. This is even more difficult for...

Informed consent: make it meaningful

Ensuring patients have given their informed consent to a course of medical treatment is integral to safe medical practice and is embedded in everyday language as a doctor. ‘Have you consented the patient?’ is a question many of us have asked or heard. It is a revealing...

President's message: March 2021

I am delighted to bring you a jam-packed issue which I hope you find both interesting and valuable. As we all know, effective communication with our patients is integral to safe professional medical care. Yet our most recent annual report data suggests poor...

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