Oxford Medical

• Putting the care of patients first
• Protecting and promoting the health of patients
• Keeping own medical knowledge and skills current
• Recognising and working within own limits of competence
• Working with colleagues to serve patients’ interests
• Treating patients as individuals
• Respecting patients’ right to confidentiality
• Listening and being responsive to patients and their needs
• Acting honestly and openly with patients, and with integrity

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To provide good clinical care, doctors must:

• Gain sufficient knowledge of the patient’s health to be sure the course of action best meets the person’s needs, before prescribing drugs or treatment
• Use the best available evidence to provide treatment
• Try to alleviate pain and distress, regardless of whether a cure is available
• Respect a patient’s right to a second opinion
• Make accurate and relevant records concerning the patient and course of action taken
• Make records during or straight after the event
• Be available when on duty
• Consult with and take advice from colleagues when needed
• Use all the resources available

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In addition, doctors should:

• Encourage patients to take an interest in their health and take steps to improve it – for example, by advising on the possible outcomes of their treatment or the impact of their daily decisions on their health
• Wherever possible, not provide medical care to people who are close on a personal level
• If concerned by any aspects including premises and equipment which could put patients’ safety at risk, take measures to deal with this. If this is not possible, it should be reported to the employer. If inadequate action is taken, the matter should be taken further. Make sure any concerns are recorded along with attempts to resolve the situation.
• Base all decisions on medical reasons and act in the interests of the patient, and not be influenced by the life choices made by the individual. If a doctor ever feels compromised by own religious or moral views, the patient must be advised they have the right to see another doctor.
• Treat all patients even when their medical condition means they are a risk, as all patients are entitled to medical treatment and cannot be refused treatment. Steps should be taken to minimise the risk before treatment is carried out or alternative arrangements for treatment should be made.
• Always offer assistance in an emergency, wherever it arises, taking into account own safety, ability and care options.

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Doctors should also be willing to participate in the teaching, training, appraising and assessing of doctors and students.

• When teaching, doctors must develop the necessary skills, and ensure staff they are responsible for training are properly supervised.
• When appraising or assessing the performance of colleagues, doctors must be objective and honest, and consider the implications on future patients. Similarly, when providing references, only honest and accurate information should be provided.

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The relationships with patients section of the Good Medical Practice includes:

• Listening and responding to patients, and dealing with their needs and concerns
• Speaking to patients in a way they understand
• Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of young people and children
• Offering assistance to children and young people if there is reason to think their rights have been abused or denied
• Acting considerately to relatives, carers, partners and others close to the patient
• Being honest with patients when things go wrong, offering an apology and advising what happened and what the health effects might be
• Respecting a patient’s right to make a complaint and not allowing this knowledge to impact on medical judgement
• Maintaining trust in the profession
• Ensuring you have consent or other valid authority before carrying out an examination or investigation, prescribing treatment or involving patients in research
• Treating information about patients as confidential
• When ending a professional relationship with a patient, being prepared to justify the reasons and advise the patient, and make arrangements for the continued care of the patient

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The working with colleagues section of Good Medical Practice includes:

• Team work – respecting colleagues, communicating effectively, making it clear to patients what the individual roles of the team are, participating in regular performance reviews of the team, and supporting colleagues
• Putting the health and safety of patients first, raising any concerns about a colleague’s fitness to practise medicine through the relevant channels
• Treating colleagues fairly and with respect
• Ensuring suitable arrangements are made for patients’ medical care during own off-duty times
• Taking up any post formally accepted and working contractual notice periods
• Sharing relevant information with colleagues and passing on full records when referring a patient
• Taking responsibility for delegation of tasks

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The probity section of Good Medical Practice includes:

• Being honest and trustworthy at all times
• Ensuring accuracy and relevance if publishing information about services
• Being honest and not misleading when writing reports, CVs and signing documents
• Putting the interests of participants first when conducting research
• Advising patients of fees and charges
• Acting in patients’ interests when making referrals or providing treatment, and not encouraging or accepting any form of gift or hospitality that may affect or be seen to affect these measures

The health section of Good Medical Practice includes:

• Having access to objective medical care and not treating yourself
• Seeking advice of others for own health matters which may affect patients’ wellbeing