The MDU

Frontline NHS services have no money to spare – here's where to find it - Politics.co.uk As party conference season concludes and MPs and peers return to Westminster, attention will turn to the next major date in the political calendar: 26 November – budget day. In the midst of what will ...

“There is one area where the government can... free up significant sums without impacting frontline services or staff – clinical negligence”, writes Lewis Jones of @themdu.bsky.social

🗣️ Frontline NHS services have no money to spare – here’s where to find it
www.politics.co.uk/opinion/2025...

I think my colleague is struggling, what can I do? Elisabeth Mahase hears how doctors can support colleagues who are struggling, including with burnout Sue Carr, General Medical Council deputy medical director, says, “In August we published our annua...

'I think my colleague is struggling, what can I do?'

Medico-legal adviser Dr Kathryn Leask gives some advice in @bmj.com: www.bmj.com/content/390/...

A colourful illustration showing people and speech bubbles overlapping.

A photograph of Prof. Rowan Harwood. He's standing outside with trees and a lake in the background. He's wearing a blue checked shirt and glasses, and is looking off into the distance.

Prof. Rowan Harwood explains how cognitive impairments make communication more complex, and shares his insights on how to talk to patients with dementia: ow.ly/oGzO50WUmNH

A dark blue graphic with a qoute from MDU's Director or Policy and Communications, Thomas Reynolds. The quotes reads: 'Doctors need the support of NHS Practitioner Health more than ever and we are very pleased to hear that funding has been renewed for another three years. This is a vital service and its stability and accessibility is critical for doctors who are unwell and need expert help.'

We are delighted that the government has confirmed
@nhsprachealth.bsky.social will be funded for a further three years, ensuring vital services will continue to be provided to the NHS workforce.

When to suspect sepsis: analysing members' cases What are the key trends in claims involving sepsis? We examine members' cases to better understand this potentially devastating diagnosis.

When should you suspect sepsis?

We examined members' cases to better understand how to minimise risks: ow.ly/Ozex50WI5gV

A graphic promoting the MDU's latest journal - summer 2025 edition. The image shows a colourful painterly illustration of lots of people's faces turned to the side, as if they're walking in different directions.

Our latest journal is out now.

In this issue:
🗣️ Why words matter: talking to patients who have dementia
👩‍⚕️ When to suspect sepsis: analysing members' cases
🏛️ Inquests and prevention of future deaths reports explained

Read here: ow.ly/gnae50WI5KY

A photograph of article author Keioni. Keioni is stood in front of a flowering tree wearing a grey t-shirt and glasses, and is smiling at the camera.

"I am the first person in my family to attend university and am from a low socioeconomic background"

Read about Keioni's experience and see his tips for managing money at med school: ow.ly/w4cm50WCGpG

A blue graphic with the words 'In 2024, we received over 21,000 calls to our medical and dental advice lines.' in red, with a phone icon above.

2024 was another busy year for our brilliant team of medico-legal and dento-legal advisers at the MDU and @theddu.bsky.social, who received more than 21,000 calls on our 24-hour advice lines.

Read our annual report here: ow.ly/JVIr50WBVwt

Common problems linked to DVLA medical checks Dr Kathryn Leask examines key trends in cases reported to the MDU linked to patients driving.

Medico-legal adviser Dr Kathryn Leask examines key trends in cases linked to patients driving.

Read more and see our advice in @gponline.bsky.social
www.gponline.com/common-probl...

A graphic showing a quote from MDU's Director of Policy and Communications, Thomas Reynolds. The quote reads 'Our members are dedicated to providing the very best possible care for their patients, however the system they work in is increasingly a barrier to this. The government’s 10 Year Health Plan sets out a commitment to modernising our NHS, overhauling training and prioritising staff wellbeing. While we await full details in the Workforce Plan, the GMC’s latest report shows that this transformation cannot come soon enough.'

We welcome the signs of gradual improvements in workload and wellbeing in @gmcuk.bsky.social's Workplace experiences report.

However, as the data shows, medical professionals are still under intense pressure and are calling out for more support.

Our response: ow.ly/WQZ050WBaP3

What's staying the same?

When you need guidance, support or defence, you can continue to contact us in the usual way.

Our phone numbers, email addresses and website are not changing.

Get support here: themdu.com/get-mdu-supp...

What’s changing?

You’ll start to see new logos, fonts, colours and aspects like photography, icons and illustrations roll out across our communications.

We hope that this gives you a more engaging, simple and accessible experience, especially across our digital platforms.

A collage of images showing the updated MDU branding. Images include a photo of a new tote bag, our app logo on a phone, an MDU business card, and our updated branding on a tablet. These all include a darker blue and red colour.

New look, same MDU.

With input from our members, we've made some changes to our brand. So, you may start to see our new logo in our communications.

How to ensure safe repeat prescribing Dr Rachel Stewart, MDU medico-legal adviser, explains steps practices and GPs can take to ensure repeat prescriptions are being issued safely.

How to ensure safe repeat prescribing - advice for GPs and practices from @themdu.bsky.social www.gponline.com/ensure-safe-...

Sleep-deprived GPs 'could be blamed unfairly' for errors in patient care Nearly four in five GPs report feeling sleep deprived at work - with many warning tiredness has a direct impact on their ability to treat patients, a survey by a leading medico-legal organisation show...

@themdu.bsky.social has called on the government to do more to ensure there are adequate resources in place to allow doctors to take regular breaks. #GPnews #TeamGP
www.gponline.com/sleep-depriv...

Sleep-deprived GPs 'could be blamed unfairly' for errors in patient care Nearly four in five GPs report feeling sleep deprived at work - with many warning tiredness has a direct impact on their ability to treat patients, a survey by a leading medico-legal organisation show...

Sleep-deprived GPs 'could be blamed unfairly' for errors in patient care #GPnews @themdu.bsky.social
www.gponline.com/sleep-depriv...

Doctors’ lack of sleep is affecting patient care, defence body warns Patients’ safety is being compromised because a growing number of doctors are feeling severely tired at work, medical defence experts have warned. The Medical Defence Union (MDU) said that longer hou...

Patient care is being compromised because a growing number of doctors are feeling severely tired at work and not able to take breaks, warns @themdu.bsky.social www.bmj.com/content/388/... @bmj.com