Working in dentistry has its ups and downs, so it’s important to do the things that help you stay happy at work.

If you have ever been unfortunate enough to receive a letter of claim, you will be aware of how stressful the process can be. Another aspect is the often high sums of money involved. Stephen Preater, costs adviser at Dental Protection, is part of an expert in-house team that is dedicated to controlling the amounts sought by claimants

Managing a patient’s expectations starts and finishes with good communication

A recent Supreme Court decision has raised questions about the role of non-clinical staff in patient care. The judgment criticised the actions of a receptionist in an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department – Joseph McCaughley, litigation solicitor at Dental Protection, looks at the ramifications of the case

We have made a list of the things to remember when it comes to making and retaining good patient records.

Robert Caplin, senior teaching fellow, King’s College London, looks at how properly weighing up the various factors in a decision can benefit both practitioner and patient.

Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director, discusses how to effectively reflect on clinical practice and its importance for risk management.

When a patient complains, what are they trying to achieve – an apology, a remedy, an expression of sympathy or empathy, accountability or just revenge? Jane Merivale, head of policy and technical at Dental Protection, looks at when financial redress can be the correct course of action.

New data protection regulations came into force on 25 May and MPS is committed to fulfilling its legal obligations – correct redaction and anonymisation is one way that you can play your part in safeguarding data.

Associate dentolegal consultant Andrew Walker explains how you can reduce your risk of periodontal claims and complaints

We look at how the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) impact your dental practice.

Useful information for preparing for new GDPR

Protection for your elective starts here Whether you choose to stay in the UK or travel abroad for your elective, you’re in for an exciting and challenging time. This will be your first chance to exercise the skills and knowledge you’ve learned over the last few years, and to experience life in a new environment.

Where can I find out about current evidence and best practice which affect my work, premises, equipment and business?

Do I need to update the patient’s medical history on every appointment?

The GDC has very sensibly adopted the term 'valid consent' which helps to avoid the incorrect perception that giving patients information (informed consent) is sufficient to achieve a proper, valid consent. It isn't.

In business, it is always a good idea to ensure that people who are making a purchase are made aware of the costs involved before agreeing to go ahead. In this way, any misunderstanding about the price can be eliminated.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has stated that it intends to inspect approximately 10% of dental providers and that it will not apply ratings following inspections.

Receiving and acting on complaints: a summary of complaints, responses, correspondence and other relevant information identified must be provided to CQC within 28 days of a request.

The duty of candour, which was introduced by the government through Regulation 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, applies to dental practices from 1 April 2015.

All healthcare organisations that provide regulated activities have to register with the CQC. Here's a little background along with advice on who is affected and how to apply for registration.

The Local Authority Social Services & NHS Complaints (England) Regulations 2009 came into force on 1 April 2009 and introduced a revised procedure for the handling of complaints by local authorities, in respect of complaints about adult social care, and by NHS bodies, primary care providers and independent providers in respect of provision of NHS care.