Solicitors Launch Scheme To Help Healthcare Professionals

Aug. 14, 2009 - PRLog -- Nottingham, United Kingdom.  Healthcare professionals who have become the subject of an investigation, or who are facing the possibility of having sanctions imposed by their employer and/or regulator, can now contact the MedicAssistanceScheme for help with their problems.

Those requiring assistance will have access to the Scheme’s web site and to a telephone helpline providing up to one hour’s preliminary guidance, free of charge. Callers will receive a realistic assessment of their situation and have outlined to them the options available. Alternatively queries can be submitted via the online enquiry facility at http://www.medicassistancescheme.co.uk

The scheme, which is launched by UK-based, multi-office firm Richard Nelson Solicitors (http://www.richardnelsonsolicitors.co.uk), provides access to comprehensive medical regulatory guidance and can draw upon a panel of expert solicitors and other lawyers. This ensures that all healthcare professionals are provided with the advice and guidance they require at what is likely to be an extremely difficult time.

Deborah Nicholson, Director of Healthcare Law at Richard Nelson Solicitors said:
“Many healthcare professionals are fortunate enough to be members of a medical defence organisation that can assist them when problems arise.  However, many are not or find that the problem with which they need help falls outside the benefits of membership. The MedicAssistanceScheme fills that gap by providing professional advice to anyone who would otherwise not have access to appropriate defence expertise.”

Obtaining timely and effective advice can be critical for many in the health sector since following many complaints a regulator may seek an interim order suspending or restricting a practitioner’s registration and thus his or her ability to do their job and earn a living.  However, often what seems to be a complex issue for the professional in question can be resolved simply following advice from an MAS panel member who has expertise in that area of regulation.

Deborah Nicholson commented:
“We want the MedicAssistanceScheme to become not only a resource for those seeking urgent and immediate advice but also somewhere healthcare professionals can turn when they require more general guidance, assistance and information about their respective regulator or about that which is required of them in practice. In this way we see our scheme helping to protect the public by making those who serve them more aware of their obligations and duties.”

For more information:
Legal -    Deborah Nicholson,
Director of Healthcare Law,
Richard Nelson Solicitors,
Priory Court,
1 Derby Road,
Nottingham NG9 2TA
Tel: 0115 986 3636  
Fax: 0115 986 2626  
Email: deborahnicholson@richardnelsonsolicitors.co.uk

Technical - Duncan Finlyson,
Solicitor,
Richard Nelson Solicitors,
8, The Courtyard,
707, Warwick Road,
Solihull B91 1TT

Tel: 0121 707 7666
Email: duncanfinlyson@richardnelsonsolicitors.co.uk

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About MedicAssistanceScheme - a comprehensive service to all healthcare professionals including, but not limited to, doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, opticians, pharmacists, paramedics, physiotherapists and chiropractors. It provides both access to immediate telephone advice as well as a wide range of additional information on its web site at http://www.medicassistancescheme.co.uk . It’s aim is to supplement, not replace, the services which many receive from organizations such as the Medical Defence Union, the Medical Protection Society and the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland as well as provide help to all of those who are not able to obtain assistance through these bodies. The Scheme is operated by Richard Nelson Solicitors, which also operates a number of other specialist web sites dealing with motoring offences (http://www.keepmedriving.co.uk), employment (http://www.employmentlawhelp.co.uk) and sports law (http://www.sportslawadvice.co.uk).