We are delighted to have welcomed our new Director of Safety and Learning, Megan Bidder, who took up her post on 1 October 2023. Megan brings significant expertise in health-related policy. She replaces our current director, Dr Denise Chaffer, who is retiring in November. Read more about this appointment.

We were pleased to welcome Dr Sarah Coope as she took up the new role of Head of Case Advice in our Practitioner Performance Advice service, in early September. Sarah has worked as a GP for the past 20 years and has extensive experience developing and delivering varied training to healthcare professionals. Learn more about Sarah and her new role.

On 29 August, we made our 2023 claims scorecards available to members via our extranet. The scorecards allow members to view both their clinical and non-clinical claims by type and cost. For clinical claims it is also possible to review the associated specialty/cause. Learn more about the 2023 scorecards.

Our Practitioner Performance Advice service has published its latest Insights paper: Exclusion trends and evaluation of NHS Resolution resources to manage exclusions. It shows the use of exclusion is decreasing and that resources we shared last year received positive feedback, albeit some lack of awareness of these. Learn more. 

With less than 1% of claims going to trial (as distinct from going to court), we have always aimed to keep as many cases as possible out of formal processes. To do so, we are utilising a variety of new and existing resolution methods, some of which involve working with claimant solicitors. Read more about our varied resolutions approach.

We have published a new resource: Mediation: Supporting claimants, patients, their families and the NHS to resolve disputes fairly. This guide is designed to help healthcare professionals understand what to expect from an invitation to participate in our claims mediation service. Read this guide and learn more about our approach to mediation.

We have produced a new digital product on preventing needlestick injuries and are testing this alongside our traditional Did you know? digital leaflet and an animation on the subject. We hope to determine which format is the most helpful to NHS staff. Discover the new digital resource and compare this to our traditional resources.

The government has announced it will introduce fixed recoverable costs (FRC) and a new streamlined process for clinical negligence claims with a damages value of £1,501 to £25,000 in England and Wales. We are currently reviewing our claims processes to identify any changes needed. Read more about FRC.

In this case, the Supreme Court examined whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should have been prescribed to a patient initially admitted with chest pain, and considered the implications of the 2015 Montgomery case with regard to the presentation of reasonable alternative or variant treatments. Read more.

On 27 July, we published our annual Factsheet 6 for 2022/23. This provides a statistical overview of the appeals and dispute cases that our Primary Care Appeals service managed last year. It shows an increase in cases received since 2021/22. Find out more about Factsheet 6 2022/23.

In a recent BMJ Best Practice podcast, Nicole Mottolini, a podiatrist and former Clinical Fellow at NHS Resolution, speaks to Dr Kieran Walsh about safer management of diabetic foot disease and NHS Resolution’s 2022 thematic review Diabetes and lower limb complications. Learn more about the podcast and review.

We are pleased to have been awarded the Disability Confident Leader, level 3 award, the highest level of accreditation on the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We remain committed to building an inclusive culture. Read about our disability confident approach. 

Within our Safety and Learning team, we have two expert clinicians who cover national engagement and education around risks and claims in general practice and primary care. Learn more about their work and our offer to general practice.