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Cost of private practice claims rockets

Compensation claims for multi million pound sums against GPs and consultants in private practice have risen three-fold over the last decade, according to figures released in March by the Medical Defence Union (MDU).

In 2015, the MDU settled 12 compensation claims for more than £1m on behalf of its GP and consultant members. By contrast, in 2005 just four settled claims exceeded the £1m mark and in 1995 only one patient received over £1m in compensation from the MDU.

Over the past three years alone more than £100m has been paid out by the MDU to compensate patients and pay legal costs in 36 medical negligence claims that exceeded £1m. The highest amount paid out by the MDU was £9.2m to compensate a patient rendered tetraplegic after spinal surgery and to pay legal costs. In another case, involving a GP, £8.5m in compensation and legal costs was paid for a missed diagnosis of a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

South American implants manufacturer has CE Mark suspended

On 25 September the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced it had temporarily suspended the use of South American manufacturer Silimed's silicone implants in the UK after its CE Mark had been suspended following an inspection by a German notified body.

In a statement the MHRA said: "The German medical device regulatory authority informed MHRA on Friday 18 September 2015 that a German notified body had temporarily suspended the marketing and distribution of all medical devices manufactured by Silimed.

"A recent inspection of the manufacturing facility by the notified body identified particles on the surface of some devices.

BMI criterion for weight-loss surgery ‘too high’, say Swedish researchers

Aerial view of the Sahlgrenska Institute at the University of Gothenburg for Your Expert Witness story The criteria for weight-loss surgery need to be changed, according to health experts at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. In particular, a reduction in the body mass index (BMI) that obese patients must exceed in order to qualify for weight-loss – or bariatric – surgery could result in improvements to the health of many more people, reducing the prevalence of conditions such as type 2 diabetes.

The recommendations are based on the findings of the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study carried out at the university's Sahlgrenska Academy, involving 104 patients who were operated on despite their BMI being 'too low'. As a result, the risk of developing diabetes was reduced by 67%.

Cosmetic surgery responses published

Photo of breast implants for Your Expert Witness story - source US Government The responses to the call for evidence in the review of cosmetic surgery were published on 31 December. It allowed experts in the cosmetic interventions industry and patient groups to contribute to Sir Bruce Keogh's review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions.

According to a statement from the Department of Health, while there were a wide range of views on the future regulation of cosmetic interventions, some consistent key messages emerged from respondents. Recurrent themes were:

• The current regulatory framework was inconsistent and did not reflect the many changes and innovations in such a fast-growing and dynamic sector
• Training requirements were felt by many to be disproportionately weak compared to the potential risks of a procedure and more specialised training was welcomed
• Dermal fillers and intense pulsed light and laser procedures were highlighted by many as an area where there was insufficient legislation to protect the public

Doctors begin ‘revalidation’ process

Picture of stethoscope for Your Expert Witness story Radical changes to the way doctors are checked to ensure they are safe to treat patients came into force on 3 December. The new system of checks, known as revalidation, will be run by the General Medical Council (GMC). It means the UK's 230,000 licensed doctors are now legally required to show they are keeping up to date and are fit to practise.

The UK is the first country in the world to introduce such a system across its whole healthcare system, covering GPs, hospital doctors, locums and those working in the independent sector. To keep their licence to practise, doctors will be required to revalidate on a regular basis, usually every five years.

The GMC began the new system by writing to 13,000 doctors telling them when they will revalidate. The rest of the UK's licensed doctors will be written to by the end of January. The GMC expects to revalidate the majority of licensed doctors by March 2016, with medical leaders expected to go first.