AlteaTalks – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we explore the key principles and practices that together make up the foundations of good clinical governance. We are joined by Josie Winter, Clinical Programme Director at Advanced Clinical Solutions, to discuss the key pillars of clinical governance – described by Josie as “the backbone to any high reliability health care organisation”. These are the fundamentals that apply to every health and care setting, including evidence-based care, effective risk management, and workforce development. Josie emphasises proactive approaches and continuous improvement for maintaining high-quality healthcare across diverse settings.

 

Resources:

Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only. The views expressed are personal to Josie Winter and Will Marshall and do not necessarily represent the views of Advanced Clinical Solutions Ltd or Altea insurance Ltd. The content of this podcast is not intended as legal or specific risk or insurance advice and no responsibility can be accepted for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal, risk or insurance advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances.

Join us for the second part of our fascinating discussion with distinguished consultant psychiatrist, Dr Alice Ashby. In this episode, Dr Ashby discusses her groundbreaking work in maternal mental health. She shares her valuable insights into key risk management challenges affecting the practice of modern day psychiatry, including patient confidentiality, capacity and obtaining informed consent, and she recounts her extraordinary professional experiences as a long-standing member of the onsite psychiatric medical team at Glastonbury festival.

 

Resources:

Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only. The views expressed are personal to Dr. Alice Ashby and Will Marshall and do not necessarily represent the views of London Psychiatry Clinic or Altea Insurance. The content of this podcast is not intended as legal or specific risk or insurance advice and no responsibility can be accepted for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal, risk or insurance advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances.

What are the main trends shaping the legal battlegrounds for these institutions entrusted with our most vulnerable? From medication dispensing issues to negligent care and rising violence, Lisa provides invaluable insights into the challenges faced by the sector, shedding light on staffing struggles, regulatory hurdles, and the crucial role of comprehensive insurance coverage.

 

Timestamps

- From medication dispensing challenges to negligent care, what are the pressing trends in malpractice claims for care homes and nursing homes? (00:02:34) - The ongoing impacts and lasting effects of the pandemic (00:06:54) - Exploring the current status of Covid-related legal cases against care homes (00:09:16) - Violence, substance abuse, neglect – what’s behind the notable increase in cases involving these distressing occurrences? (00:11:28) - Staffing challenges and strategies for attracting and retaining qualified care staff (00:15:56) - Strategies for small care homes without specialised HR teams to navigate potential claims (00:22:11) -Benefits of comprehensive insurance coverage and the importance of obtaining formal legal advice to support staff facing inquests or regulatory tribunals (00:27:24)  

Resources:

- Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/

- Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/ 

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only, for practitioners in the UK. It is not intended as legal advice and no responsibility can be accepted by Altea, Lisa Heathcote or DWF Group for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances.

If you're running an aesthetic healthcare business, receiving a negative online review is never ideal, and a knee-jerk response could lead to significant legal and reputational repercussions. In this episode, Joanne Staphnill, Consultant Solicitor at Keystone Law, who regularly defends professionals against negligence claims, discusses the nuances of managing online reviews in the aesthetic sector. Joanne and Will also explore managing patient consent for online testimonials, ethical considerations and the potential PR and legal pitfalls in pursuing a positive review.

 

Time stamps: 

- Why online reviews, social media and digital chat rooms have become an integral part of the overall customer experience and what this means for professionals and businesses (00:03:15) - Balancing patients sharing online the results of their procedure with ensuring patient confidentiality (00:05:29) - Digital reviews are here to stay – are they a hindrance or a help?  (00:08:13) - Ethical considerations for professionals seeking positive patient feedback (00:10:33) - Legal risks involved in boosting professional profiles via positive reviews online and corresponding protective measures (00:15:08) - Handling negative online reviews (00:22:32) - Signs in negative feedback that might give rise to an insurance claim (00:28:28) - What legal action is available to professionals who receive unwarranted publicity (00:33:06) - Juggling the ease and informality of messaging services with associated risks (00:37:17)

 

Resources:

- Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/ - Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/ 

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only, for practitioners in the UK. It is not intended as legal advice and no responsibility can be accepted by Altea, Joanne Staphnill or Keystone Law for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances.

In this episode, Will Marshall is joined by Dr. Catherine Fairris, Director of the Wessex Skin Clinic, Aesthetic Medicine veteran, and President of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM). They discuss how the new licensing scheme is taking shape and the challenges faced by policy makers and stakeholders alike in keeping pace with this moving target. Dr. Catherine Fairris and Will also delve into other trends affecting the sector, including the widespread use of unregulated products and the growing phenomenon of cosmetic tourism.

 

Time stamps:

- From the seizure of fake Ozempic pens to the use of non-surgical fillers as an alternative to BBL procedures, there's a lot happening in the non-surgical aesthetic sector (00:02:36) - Establishing a legislative framework for appropriate training and standards for all non-surgical cosmetic practitioners (00:06:38) - How can a regulatory framework keep pace with such a dynamic and evolving sector (00:10:11) - Implications for the sector around the government's proposal to extend CQC oversight to higher risk aesthetic procedures (00:13:15) - Will the proposed traffic light system effectively address the diverse risks associated with the wide array of aesthetic treatments available? (00:17:03) - Evolution of the licensing framework (00:27:8) - Marketing, distribution and accessibility of unregulated cosmetic products (00:29:10) - Growth of social media and the regulation of content in advertising (00:34:00) - Cosmetic tourism and the duty of care when something goes wrong (00:36:58)

 

Resources:

- Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/ - Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/ 

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only, for practitioners in the UK. It is not intended as legal advice and no responsibility can be accepted by Altea, Dr Catherine Fairiss, the Wessex Skin Clinic and the British College of Aesthetic Medicine for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances.

Despite the best efforts of clinicians, managers, patient representatives, policy makers and regulators, concern about progress in improving patient safety in the UK continues to dominate the headlines. Why is patient safety proving such a hard nut to crack?

 

In this episode, Will is joined by Caroline White, Executive Director of Healthcare at Candere Consulting and an expert in healthcare risk management and integrated governance, to discuss how healthcare organisations can maximise learning opportunities from clinical incident investigations to achieve meaningful change to drive improvements in patient safety.

 

Time stamps:

- The importance of transparent accountability in healthcare amidst organisational challenges (00:04:07)

- The quality of investigations into adverse incidents (00:09:02) 

- Addressing the introduction of PSIRF in relation to independent sector providers who are caring for NHS patients (00:14:50)

- Taking steps to better understand complaint causes and driving improvements (00:20:41)

- Making accountability clear and the Duty of Candour (00:24:38)

- Why is this a problem that simply refuses to go away (00:28:09)

 

Resources: 

• Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/ 
• Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/ 

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only, for practitioners in the UK. It is not intended as legal advice and no responsibility can be accepted by Altea Insurance or Candere Consulting for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances. 

Obtaining informed consent is a fundamental part of every health and care professional’s job and integral to every service user’s treatment experience. But although this process goes to the very heart of clinical practice, it has become something of a legal and clinical minefield in recent years, for practitioners and patients alike.

In this opening episode of AlteaTalks, Will is joined by Vicki Swanton, Head of Healthcare Global Risks at DWF, and widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s leading healthcare lawyers, to unpick the challenges surrounding informed consent and to provide key tips to guide practitioners through this crucial aspect of patient care.

 

Time Stamps:

- Why consent is important in the medico-legal world (00:03:22)

- An overview of the current legal framework that governs consent (00:06:04)

- Different approaches to tailoring advice, presenting risks and options to patients (00:12:05) 

- What questions a healthcare professional should ask their patient to obtain properly informed consent (00:18:52)

- The importance of managing patients' expectations (00:21:21)

- What a healthcare professional can do to best evidence that the consent has been provided (00:28:50)

- Addressing allegations on consent failure (00:35:42)

- The impact of The Mulloch case on consent allegations (00:37:08)  

 

Resources: 
- Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/ 
- Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/ 
- DWF Group https://dwfgroup.com/
- Connect with Vicki Swanton https://dwfgroup.com/en/people/v/vicki-swanton 

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only, for practitioners in the UK. It is not intended as legal advice and no responsibility can be accepted by Altea Insurance or DWF Group for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances. 

 

In this week’s episode we are joined by Carlton Sadler, a top healthcare regulatory lawyer, to help guide us through the complexities of CQC's faltering Single Assessment Framework. Join us as we discuss what the future now holds for SAF amidst the continuing fall-out from the highly critical interim Dash report. As we await publication of the final report later this month, Carlton shares his unique perspectives and insights into the trials and tribulations faced by England’s principal health and care regulator as it seeks to address the operational hiccups, tech troubles, inconsistent rating methodologies and erosion of trust that were highlighted in Dr Penny Dash’s stinging interim report. ​

 

Resources:​

• Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/​
• Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/ ​

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only. The views expressed are personal to Carlton Sadler and Will Marshall and do not necessarily represent the views of Bevan Brittan or Altea Insurance Ltd. The content of this podcast is not intended as legal or specific risk or insurance advice and no responsibility can be accepted for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal, risk or insurance advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr Alice Ashby, a Consultant Psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director at the London Psychiatry Clinic, discusses her expertise in liaison psychiatry and remote treatment. She provides her views on the explosive increase in ADHD diagnoses and discusses the close association between mental and physical health, and the implications of this mind-body connection for treatment and claims. This episode sets the stage for Part 2, in which we discuss some of the key risk management issues arising in mental health practice and much more!

 

Resources:

Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only. The views expressed are personal to Dr. Alice Ashby and Will Marshall and do not necessarily represent the views of London Psychiatry Clinic or Altea Insurance Ltd. The content of this podcast is not intended as legal or specific risk or insurance advice and no responsibility can be accepted for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal, risk or insurance advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances.

The medico-legal system in Ireland is battling to keep pace with a growing and evolving healthcare sector, as sweeping recent reforms drive changes to practice. In this episode Janet Keane, Clinical Negligence Director at DWF LLP Dublin, draws on her extensive experience in both defence and plaintiff roles to analyse the challenges faced by healthcare practitioners and their insurers seeking to navigate this dynamic environment.

 

Resources:

Altea Insurance https://www.alteainsurance.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/altea-insurance/

 

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is not intended to represent a complete analysis of the topics presented and is provided for information purposes only. The views expressed are personal to Janet Keane and Will Marshall and do not necessarily represent the views of DWF LLP Dublin or Altea insurance Ltd. The content of this podcast is not intended as legal or specific risk or insurance advice and no responsibility can be accepted for any reliance placed upon it. Independent legal, risk or insurance advice should always be obtained before applying any information to particular circumstances.