Learning from cases - OncologyArticle - Oncology in the UK: top tips to minimise risk

Oncology in the UK: top tips to minimise risk
Dividing RulePlease note this is not an exhaustive list of recommendations, but some key learning points from our analysis:

Ensure your clinical management is regularly updated and in line with current best practice such that it would be supported by your peers.

Ensure you are fully indemnified to carry out all the work you conduct in the UK.

Ensure you are competent in prescribing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and that your prescriptions are based on correct and up-to-date information, such as blood test results or the patient’s weight and height where necessary.

Listen to your patients and understand and explore their concerns and expectations. Demonstrate empathy throughout your consultations and show your patient that they are the focus of your attention.

Discuss the possible benefits and risks of all potential treatment options, including no treatment. Consider what is most important to each patient, taking into account their current employment and personal interests.

Explain frequent and serious complications (even if the serious complications are rare) and the implications for the patient if these occur. Explain what you would do to address any complications. Document these discussions.

Explain what the treatment will involve, the likely outcome and recovery period, and when you’ll next review them.

Double-check that the information has been understood and decisions are correctly informed.

Ensure you treat colleagues with respect and maintain good communication with other specialties that may be involved in the care of your patients.

If consulting with patients remotely, ensure you have all the necessary information on which to base your clinical management decisions, and that arrangements are in place for a face-to-face review, should that be necessary.

Ensure accurate and clear documentation – this may need to be relied upon years after the event and is the cornerstone of any medicolegal defence. Be aware that you may be asked to write a statement, including in relation to claims, inquests, and complaints about your practice months or even years after an event, and ensure that your contemporaneous record keeping would allow you to give a comprehensive account of your involvement, even if you cannot remember the patient concerned.

When the procedure or consultation is on a private basis, your patients should be given clear information about ALL the costs involved, and what their rights are to a refund/return of deposit if they change their mind after having paid some or all of the costs.

When things go wrong, the vast majority of patients just want two things: an explanation and an apology.

Be open and honest with patients and their families. Be welcoming, listen to feedback, and address concerns promptly and in the spirit of co-operation.

CTA Best Practice
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