by . jenny hope . published : . 18:29 est , 22 april 2013 . | . updated : . 18:29 est , 22 april 2013 . say sorry : doctors are to be made to apologise for their mistakes . patients whose treatment goes wrong should get an honest explanation and possibly an apology from their doctor , the general medical council has said . doctors must put patients ' safety , dignity and comfort first , according to a new guide . for the first time , it tells patients directly what they can expect from their doctors . it comes after the scandal at stafford hospital , where an inquiry found doctors did not raise the alarm when patients were forced to drink water from flower vases and were left lying in their own excrement and urine for days . the new guidance makes clear that patients should expect doctors to report when things go wrong , including accidents and mistakes . they should take ` prompt action if they think that a patient 's safety , dignity or comfort is being compromised . ' niall dickson , chief executive of the gmc , said ` it is absolutely clear that doctor must tell patients when something has gone wrong . ` they must be open and honest with patients , and apologise where appropriate . ' he said the new guidance was the first to be aimed at patients in the 150-year history of the gmc . but it was important in the wake of the francis inquiry to make clear that patients ' safety should come first . ` the mid staffs inquiry found some doctors did not raise concerns about serious failings in the standard of care ' he said . doctors who commit serious breaches of gmc rules or persistently flout them would face disciplinary proceedings ' he added . health secretary jeremy hunt imposed a ` statutory duty of candour ' on nhs organisations in response to the inquiry , meaning patients or their families must be informed if errors in their treatment have caused death or serious injury . but so far no decision has been made . about whether to make individual doctors and nurses criminally . accountable for hiding errors . small businesses and restaurants will be forced to close over the easter long weekend as they struggle to cover the costs of penalty rates on public holidays . gmc . chairman professor sir peter rubin said figures released last week . showing doctors ` talking over ' one in four patients as if they were not . there were unacceptable . no apologies : heather wilhelms ' husband tom was forced to drink out of a vase during his treatment in stafford hospital , where he later died . statutory duty of candour : patients or their families must be informed if errors in their treatment have caused death or serious injury , says jeremy hunt . he said ` doctors should take a lead in ensuring good practice is embedded in day to day practice . having a quarter of patients feel they are being ignored is simply not acceptable . ' many operators across the country will face penalty rates of up to two-and-a-half times regular pay that would allow young workers to earn around $ 50 an hour as a casual . but the australian chamber of commerce has launched a campaign in a bid for small businesses to voice their concerns and call on the federal government to make changes to the penalty rates . the too big to ignore campaign will allow small retailers and hospitality businesses to put up posters in their windows explaining why they are closed . ` we 're sorry we 're closed today . we 'd like to be able to serve you . we 'd like to give local people jobs . but the penalty rates are too high , ' the posters will read . some young workers who earn up to $ 50 on public holidays will not be able to earn money this weekend . the campaign will allow small businesses to put up posters in their windows explaining why they are closed . acci chief executive kate carnell said businesses that remain open are expected to lose money , with the extra holiday trade cancelled out by the extra wage costs . ` this is a lose-lose situation , ' ms carnell said . ` customers lose because the services they want are harder to access ; staff lose because they do n't get the hours many are seeking at work ; and business proprietors lose because they get little benefit from the holiday traffic . ' the campaign will also allow businesses that remain open over the public holidays the option to display a sign in their windows to explain why they are operating with reduced staff . ` we will be open today to serve our loyal customers . we will have fewer staff than we wished . we 'd like to give local people jobs . but the penalty rates are too high , ' the poster will read . katherine murphy , chief executive of patients association , said ` we firmly believe that the patient needs to be at the centre of a doctor 's practice , and this guide is a useful tool to assist clinicians in achieving that goal . ` it also provides useful information to patients about what behaviour , support and assistance they should reasonably expect from their doctor . ' dr dan poulter mp , health minister , said ` the vast majority of doctors have an excellent relationship with their patients . however , the francis report highlighted that there is much more we need to do to put patients at the heart of healthcare . ' the guide for patients is based on the standards for doctors set out and apply to all 250,000 doctors on the medical register , including those from abroad working in the nhs . the penalty rates will come into force from good friday to easter monday in retail , restaurant , hotel , pharmacy , fast food , dry cleaning , amusements and hair and beauty sectors . this means a casual retail shop assistant or a fast food employee is paid a minimum $ 50.94 an hour and a person working behind a bar is paid at least $ 49.55 an hour on public holidays . the penalty rates will come into force across good friday , saturday , sunday and easter monday . the campaign will also allow businesses that remain open over the public holidays the option to display a sign in their windows to explain why they are operating with reduced staff . small businesses will struggle to open their doors due to the cost of penalty rates on public holidays . but the australian unions has claimed workers are being subjected to a false and misleading campaign about penalty rates by employer groups in the lead up to easter . actu president ged kearney said the business community are using the easter break as a justification to attack penalty rates by saying it 's unaffordable to hire more workers . the guidance is available as a booklet and online . ` the truth is the share of business income going to wages in retail and hospitality has fallen in recent years , ' ms kearney said in a statement . ` there is no evidence this will create new jobs , but plenty of evidence it will hurt low-paid workers . ` we know most retail and hospitality workers are paid less than full time average weekly total earnings and working over the easter break allows them extra disposable income to spend in shops and cafes -- the very businesses that are driving this attack . ` cutting penalty rates have nothing to do with job creation or productivity - it is about cutting people 's pay packets and disposable income . '
small businesses will be forced to close over the easter long weekend . penalty rates of up to two-and-a-half times pay are affecting employees . the inflated penalty rates allow casual workers to earn up to $ 50 an hour . the australian chamber of commerce has called on the federal government to make changes to the penalty rates to help small operators . but unions has claimed workers are being subjected to a false and misleading campaign .
by . jenny hope . published : . 18:29 est , 22 april 2013 . | . updated : . 18:29 est , 22 april 2013 . say sorry : doctors are to be made to apologise for their mistakes . patients whose treatment goes wrong should get an honest explanation and possibly an apology from their doctor , the general medical council has said . doctors must put patients ' safety , dignity and comfort first , according to a new guide . for the first time , it tells patients directly what they can expect from their doctors . it comes after the scandal at stafford hospital , where an inquiry found doctors did not raise the alarm when patients were forced to drink water from flower vases and were left lying in their own excrement and urine for days . the new guidance makes clear that patients should expect doctors to report when things go wrong , including accidents and mistakes . they should take ` prompt action if they think that a patient 's safety , dignity or comfort is being compromised . ' niall dickson , chief executive of the gmc , said ` it is absolutely clear that doctor must tell patients when something has gone wrong . ` they must be open and honest with patients , and apologise where appropriate . ' he said the new guidance was the first to be aimed at patients in the 150-year history of the gmc . but it was important in the wake of the francis inquiry to make clear that patients ' safety should come first . ` the mid staffs inquiry found some doctors did not raise concerns about serious failings in the standard of care ' he said . doctors who commit serious breaches of gmc rules or persistently flout them would face disciplinary proceedings ' he added . health secretary jeremy hunt imposed a ` statutory duty of candour ' on nhs organisations in response to the inquiry , meaning patients or their families must be informed if errors in their treatment have caused death or serious injury . but so far no decision has been made . about whether to make individual doctors and nurses criminally . accountable for hiding errors . small businesses and restaurants will be forced to close over the easter long weekend as they struggle to cover the costs of penalty rates on public holidays . gmc . chairman professor sir peter rubin said figures released last week . showing doctors ` talking over ' one in four patients as if they were not . there were unacceptable . no apologies : heather wilhelms ' husband tom was forced to drink out of a vase during his treatment in stafford hospital , where he later died . statutory duty of candour : patients or their families must be informed if errors in their treatment have caused death or serious injury , says jeremy hunt . he said ` doctors should take a lead in ensuring good practice is embedded in day to day practice . having a quarter of patients feel they are being ignored is simply not acceptable . ' many operators across the country will face penalty rates of up to two-and-a-half times regular pay that would allow young workers to earn around $ 50 an hour as a casual . but the australian chamber of commerce has launched a campaign in a bid for small businesses to voice their concerns and call on the federal government to make changes to the penalty rates . the too big to ignore campaign will allow small retailers and hospitality businesses to put up posters in their windows explaining why they are closed . ` we 're sorry we 're closed today . we 'd like to be able to serve you . we 'd like to give local people jobs . but the penalty rates are too high , ' the posters will read . some young workers who earn up to $ 50 on public holidays will not be able to earn money this weekend . the campaign will allow small businesses to put up posters in their windows explaining why they are closed . acci chief executive kate carnell said businesses that remain open are expected to lose money , with the extra holiday trade cancelled out by the extra wage costs . ` this is a lose-lose situation , ' ms carnell said . ` customers lose because the services they want are harder to access ; staff lose because they do n't get the hours many are seeking at work ; and business proprietors lose because they get little benefit from the holiday traffic . ' the campaign will also allow businesses that remain open over the public holidays the option to display a sign in their windows to explain why they are operating with reduced staff . ` we will be open today to serve our loyal customers . we will have fewer staff than we wished . we 'd like to give local people jobs . but the penalty rates are too high , ' the poster will read . katherine murphy , chief executive of patients association , said ` we firmly believe that the patient needs to be at the centre of a doctor 's practice , and this guide is a useful tool to assist clinicians in achieving that goal . ` it also provides useful information to patients about what behaviour , support and assistance they should reasonably expect from their doctor . ' dr dan poulter mp , health minister , said ` the vast majority of doctors have an excellent relationship with their patients . however , the francis report highlighted that there is much more we need to do to put patients at the heart of healthcare . ' the guide for patients is based on the standards for doctors set out and apply to all 250,000 doctors on the medical register , including those from abroad working in the nhs . the penalty rates will come
flower vases and were left lying in their own excrement and urine for days . the new guidance makes clear that patients should expect doctors to report when things go wrong , including accidents and mistakes . they should take ` prompt action if they think that a patient 's safety , dignity or comfort is being compromised . ' niall dickson , chief executive of the gmc , said ` it is absolutely clear that doctor must tell patients when something has gone wrong . ` they must be open and honest with patients , and apologise where appropriate . ' he said the new guidance was the first to be aimed at patients in the 150-year history of the gmc . but it was important in the wake of the francis inquiry to make clear that patients ' safety should come first . ` the mid staffs inquiry found some doctors did not raise concerns about serious failings in the standard of care ' he said . doctors who commit serious breaches of gmc rules or persistently flout them would face disciplinary proceedings ' he added . health secretary jeremy hunt imposed a ` statutory duty of candour ' on nhs organisations in response to the inquiry , meaning patients or their families must be informed if errors in their treatment have caused death or serious injury . but so far no decision has been made . about whether to make individual doctors and nurses criminally . accountable for hiding errors . small businesses and restaurants will be forced to close over the easter long weekend as they struggle to cover the costs of penalty rates on public holidays . gmc . chairman professor sir peter rubin said figures released last week . showing doctors ` talking over ' one in four patients as if they were not . there were unacceptable . no apologies : heather wilhelms ' husband tom was forced to drink out of a vase during his treatment in stafford hospital , where he later died . statutory duty of candour : patients or their families must be informed if errors in their treatment have caused death or serious injury , says jeremy hunt . he said ` doctors should take a lead in ensuring good practice is embedded in day to day practice . having a quarter of patients feel they are being ignored is simply not acceptable . ' many operators across the country will face penalty rates of up to two-and-a-half times regular pay that would allow young workers to earn around $ 50 an hour as a casual . but the australian chamber of commerce has launched a campaign in a bid for small businesses to voice their concerns and call on the federal government to make changes to the penalty rates . the too big to ignore campaign will allow small retailers and hospitality businesses to put up posters in their windows explaining why they are closed . ` we 're sorry we 're closed today . we 'd like to be able to serve you . we 'd like to give local people jobs . but the penalty rates are too high , ' the posters will read . some young workers who earn up to $ 50 on public holidays will not be able to earn money this weekend . the campaign will allow small businesses to put up posters in their windows explaining why they are closed . acci chief executive kate carnell said businesses that remain open are expected to lose money , with the extra holiday trade cancelled out by the extra wage costs . ` this is a lose-lose situation , ' ms carnell said . ` customers lose because the services they want are harder to access ; staff lose because they do n't get the hours many are seeking at work ; and business proprietors lose because they get little benefit from the holiday traffic . ' the campaign will also allow businesses that remain open over the public holidays the option to display a sign in their windows to explain why they are operating with reduced staff . ` we will be open today to serve our loyal customers . we will have fewer staff than we wished . we 'd like to give local people jobs . but the penalty rates are too high , ' the poster will read . katherine murphy , chief executive of patients association , said ` we firmly believe that the patient needs to be at the centre of a doctor 's practice , and this guide is a useful tool to assist clinicians in achieving that goal . ` it also provides useful information to patients about what behaviour , support and assistance they should reasonably expect from their doctor . ' dr dan poulter mp , health minister , said ` the vast majority of doctors have an excellent relationship with their patients . however , the francis report highlighted that there is much more we need to do to put patients at the heart of healthcare . ' the guide for patients is based on the standards for doctors set out and apply to all 250,000 doctors on the medical register , including those from abroad working in the nhs . the penalty rates will come to the cost of penalty rates on public holidays . but the australian unions has claimed workers are being subjected to a false and misleading campaign about penalty rates by employer groups in the lead up to easter . actu president ged kearney said the business community are using the easter break as a justification to attack penalty rates by saying it 's unaffordable to hire more workers . the guidance is available as a booklet and online . ` the truth is the share of business income going to wages in retail and hospitality has fallen in recent years , ' ms kearney said in a statement . ` there is no evidence this will create new jobs , but plenty of evidence it will hurt low-paid
by. jenny hope. published :. 18:29 est, 22 april. |. updated :. 18:29 est, 22 april. say sorry : doctors to made apologise their mistakes. patients whose treatment goes should get an honest explanation possibly an apology, the general medical council doctors must put patients ' safety, dignity comfort first, according a new guide. for, it tells patients directly it comes after the scandal at stafford hospital, an inquiry doctors did raise patients forced drink flower vases were left lying and. the new guidance makes patients expect doctors report when things, including accidents mistakes. they should take ` prompt action if a patient 's safety, dignity comfort. ' niall dickson, chief executive the gmc ` it absolutely clear doctor must tell patients when something. ` they must open patients, apologise where appropriate. ' he the new guidance the aimed patients the 150-year history the gmc. but important in the wake the francis inquiry make patients ' safety should come. ` the mid staffs inquiry found some doctors did raise serious failings the standard ' he. doctors who commit serious breaches gmc rules or persistently flout would disciplinary proceedings ' he. health secretary jeremy hunt imposed a ` statutory duty candour nhs organisations in response the inquiry, meaning patients or must errors caused death. but so no decision. about whether make individual doctors and criminally. accountable hiding errors. small businesses restaurants will forced over easter long weekend they struggle cover penalty rates on public holidays. gmc. chairman professor sir peter rubin said figures released last. showing doctors ` talking over ' one in as if not. there were unacceptable. no apologies : heather wilhelms ' husband tom was forced drink out a vase during his treatment stafford hospital, where later. statutory duty candour : patients or if errors caused death, says jeremy hunt. he said ` doctors take a lead ensuring good practice is embedded day. having a quarter patients feel they ignored simply. ' many operators across will face penalty rates that allow young workers earn around 50 as a casual. but the australian chamber launched in for small businesses voice and call make the penalty rates. the too big ignore campaign will allow small retailers hospitality businesses put posters explaining closed. ` we 're sorry we closed today. we 'd be serve. we 'd give local people jobs. but the penalty rates too, ' the posters will read. some young workers earn up 50 on public holidays will earn money this weekend. the campaign will allow small businesses put posters explaining closed. acci chief executive kate carnell said businesses that remain expected lose, with the extra holiday trade cancelled out the extra wage costs. ` this, ' ms carnell said. ` customers lose because the services want harder ; staff lose do n't get the hours many are seeking at work ; business proprietors get little benefit the holiday traffic. ' the campaign will also allow businesses that remain over public the option display a sign explain operating with reduced staff. ` we will open today serve our loyal customers. we will have fewer staff than wished. we 'd give local people jobs. but the penalty rates too, ' the poster will read. katherine murphy, chief executive patients association, said ` we firmly the patient needs at a doctor 's practice, this guide clinicians achieving ` it also provides useful information patients what behaviour, support assistance reasonably. ' dr dan poulter mp, health minister, said ` the vast majority doctors an excellent relationship. however, the francis report highlighted there much we put patients healthcare. ' the guide patients is based the standards doctors set and apply all 250,000 doctors on, including from abroad working the nhs. the penalty rates will come force good friday to easter monday in retail, restaurant hotel pharmacy dry cleaning amusements hair and beauty sectors this means a casual retail shop assistant or paid $ 50.94 a person behind at 49.55 on public holidays. the penalty rates will come force across good friday, easter monday the campaign will also allow businesses that remain over public the option display explain operating with reduced staff. small businesses will struggle open due penalty rates on public holidays. but the australian unions has claimed workers subjected a false and misleading campaign about penalty rates by employer groups in the lead easter. actu president ged kearney said the business community are using the easter break a justification attack penalty rates by saying 's unaffordable hire more workers. the guidance is available as a booklet online. ` the truth the share business income going wages in retail, ' ms kearney in. ` there this will create new jobs, plenty evidence hurt. ` we know most retail and hospitality workers paid average weekly total earnings working over the easter break allows extra disposable in shops cafes -- the very businesses driving this attack. ` cutting penalty rates have nothing job creation productivity - cutting people 's pay packets disposable income. '
by . jenny hope . published : . 18:29 est , 22 april 2013 . | . updated : . 18:29 est , 22 april 2013 . say sorry : doctors are to be made to apologise for their mistakes . patients whose treatment goes wrong should get an honest explanation and possibly an apology from their doctor , the general medical council has said . doctors must put patients ' safety , dignity and comfort first , according to a new guide . for the first time , it tells patients directly what they can expect from their doctors . it comes after the scandal at stafford hospital , where an inquiry found doctors did not raise the alarm when patients were forced to drink water from flower vases and were left lying in their own excrement and urine for days . the new guidance makes clear that patients should expect doctors to report when things go wrong , including accidents and mistakes . they should take ` prompt action if they think that a patient 's safety , dignity or comfort is being compromised . ' niall dickson , chief executive of the gmc , said ` it is absolutely clear that doctor must tell patients when something has gone wrong . ` they must be open and honest with patients , and apologise where appropriate . ' he said the new guidance was the first to be aimed at patients in the 150-year history of the gmc . but it was important in the wake of the francis inquiry to make clear that patients ' safety should come first . ` the mid staffs inquiry found some doctors did not raise concerns about serious failings in the standard of care ' he said . doctors who commit serious breaches of gmc rules or persistently flout them would face disciplinary proceedings ' he added . health secretary jeremy hunt imposed a ` statutory duty of candour ' on nhs organisations in response to the inquiry , meaning patients or their families must be informed if errors in their treatment have caused death or serious injury . but so far no decision has been made . about whether to make individual doctors and nurses criminally . accountable for hiding errors . small businesses and restaurants will be forced to close over the easter long weekend as they struggle to cover the costs of penalty rates on public holidays . gmc . chairman professor sir peter rubin said figures released last week . showing doctors ` talking over ' one in four patients as if they were not . there were unacceptable . no apologies : heather wilhelms ' husband tom was forced to drink out of a vase during his treatment in stafford hospital , where he later died . statutory duty of candour : patients or their families must be informed if errors in their treatment have caused death or serious injury , says jeremy hunt . he said ` doctors should take a lead in ensuring good practice is do n't get the hours many are seeking at work ; and business proprietors lose because they get little benefit from the holiday traffic . ' the campaign will also allow businesses that remain open over the public holidays the option to display a sign in their windows to explain why they are operating with reduced staff . ` we will be open today to serve our loyal customers . we will have fewer staff than we wished . we 'd like to give local people jobs . but the penalty rates are too high , ' the poster will read . katherine murphy , chief executive of patients association , said ` we firmly believe that the patient needs to be at the centre of a doctor 's practice , and this guide is a useful tool to assist clinicians in achieving that goal . ` it also provides useful information to patients about what behaviour , support and assistance they should reasonably expect from their doctor . ' dr dan poulter mp , health minister , said ` the vast majority of doctors have an excellent relationship with their patients . however , the francis report highlighted that there is much more we need to do to put patients at the heart of healthcare . ' the guide for patients is based on the standards for doctors set out and apply to all 250,000 doctors on the medical register , including those from abroad working in the nhs . the penalty rates will come
 The General Medical Council (GMC) has introduced new guidelines that require doctors to apologize and explain their mistakes to patients when something goes wrong during treatment. This move aims to improve patient safety and trust in the medical profession. The guidelines emphasize the importance of honesty, transparency, and communication between doctors and patients. Doctors are expected to report incidents, take responsibility, and provide explanations to patients and families affected by errors or near-misses. The GMC hopes this approach will help reduce the number of complaints and improve overall healthcare quality.