Guidance from the MDU
Practise with confidence, supported by our insights, tools and guidance for healthcare companies.
Every MDUConnect member gets access to a wealth of guidance, tools and e-learning resources developed by experienced medico-legal/dento-legal professionals – as well as specialist support from hand-picked partners in areas ranging from health and safety to employment law.
Our teams of medico-legal and dento-legal experts provide market leading guidance to help reduce the chances of a clinical negligence claim, and help make practice safer for healthcare providers and their patients.
MDU risk management toolkit*
This secure, cloud-based survey tool is designed to help healthcare providers to understand and reduce risk.
The toolkit is simple and easy to use and delivers tailored risk mitigation advice according to individual practice risk profiles.
Members simply fill out an online questionnaire to receive a bespoke report detailing the practice’s risk profile, flagging areas of potential concern, and setting out tailored risk mitigation guidance.
*Not currently available for dental companies.
Complaint management with Resolve
Reduce the risk of complaint escalation with Resolve, the MDU’s proprietary complaint and incident management software platform. Resolve offers a clear, best practice workflow to guide effective complaint resolution, and aids regulatory compliance.
Healthcare providers can use Resolve to record, store and manage complaints, to gain insight from data driven dashboards that identify trends and aid improvements in patient safety and satisfaction.
Learning and development resources
Access a comprehensive e-learning suite with an ever-growing catalogue of online courses covering everything from data protection and subject access requests to prescribing errors and coroners' inquests.
MDU e-learning is designed to support continuous professional development, including non-clinical skills like risk management. It helps both clinicians and business management staff provide safe, ethical, and high-quality care while navigating the complex legal and regulatory landscape of healthcare in the UK.
MDU publications
The MDU’s highly regarded publications are accessible to MDUConnect members. Covering a wide range of risk management topics, our library of insights includes real case histories and topical articles on subjects ranging from complaints to confidentiality.
themdu.com resources
MDUConnect members can access all areas of the MDU website, including advice, hot topics, case studies, videos and webinars – on topics such as avoiding prescribing and medication errors, considering mental capacity, dealing with challenging consultations, and understanding information governance and data protection.
Free 24-hour employment law advice
MDUConnect members also receive free access to a 24/7/365 employment law advice line provided by our hand-picked partner. Benefits include:
- Immediate advice from dedicated consultants with in-depth experience in employment legislation, contractual requirements and case law precedents
- Telephone coaching when managing difficult or complex employee relations
- Health and safety advice from a team of expert advisers
- Access to a team of specialist solicitors who can advise on contractual matters.
Sarah Jarvis
Risk advisory partner
Sarah has been a full-time medico-legal adviser since 2013, and has wide experience of supporting healthcare companies in dealing with complaints, inquests and general medico-legal queries.
A GP partner and trainer before joining the MDU, she is a team leader in the advisory department, where she also draws on experience gathered from sitting as an MPTS fitness to practise panellist, including chairing the panels.
Oliver Lord
Risk advisory partner
Oliver is part of a specialist advisory team that assists members with disciplinary investigations and has an interest in doctors’ wellbeing.
Before joining the MDU in 2013 Oliver was a consultant psychiatrist in a crisis resolution team. He provides regular talks and courses to members on medico-legal issues, conflict resolution and unconscious bias.
John Dale Skinner
Risk advisory partner
John is a medico-legal adviser and risk advisory partner. John has been with the MDU for the past 10 years, having previously worked as a GP.
He has wide experience as a senior medical claims handler helping MDU members defend clinical negligence claims.
Kathryn Leask
Risk advisory partner
Kathryn has been a medico-legal adviser with the MDU since 2007. She is a team leader and trainer in the medical advisory department.
Before joining the MDU, she worked in paediatrics, gaining her MRCPCH in 2002, and holds a CCT in clinical genetics. Kathryn also holds an MA in Healthcare Ethics and Law, a Bachelor of Law and a Professional Doctorate in Medical Ethics. She is also a fellow of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine and has previously been an examiner and deputy chief examiner for the faculty.
Kathryn is currently a member of the faculty’s training and education subcommittee and a member of the Royal College of Pathologists (medical examiner).
Jerard Ross
Risk advisory partner
Jerard has been with the MDU for over 10 years, and now works as a risk advisory partner.
Prior to joining the MDU, he was a consultant neurosurgeon balancing a busy NHS practice with private sector work. He is currently the educational lead for the MDU and head of Scottish affairs.
Ed Farnan
Risk advisory partner
Ed has been a medico-legal adviser at the MDU since 2013, and now works as a risk advisory partner. In addition to providing advice and assistance to members. Ed has worked as a clinical risk manager in the underwriting department and as a member of the medical education team.
After qualifying from Queen’s University Belfast in 1995, and as a GP in 2000, he worked as a partner in general practice for around 12 years before joining the MDU.
With an interest in clinical governance, Ed sat on a regional research ethics committee, completed a master’s degree in medical law in 2011 and became a Fellow of the RCGP in 2015.
Ed also writes articles for the MDU and other publications as well as running courses and webinars.
Leo Briggs
Risk advisory partner – dental
Leo is a risk advisory partner specialising in supporting dental practices in dealing with complaints and regulatory matters, as well as general dento-legal queries.
Having qualified from University College Hospital London in 1989, he has worked extensively in the Community Dental Service as well as in general dental practice. Leo also gained an MSc in Periodontology from the Eastman in 1995 and is on the GDC specialist register for Periodontics.
Leo worked part time as a clinical tutor at the School for Professionals Complementary to Dentistry in Portsmouth and started working part time for the DDU in 2005. He has been with the DDU full time since 2009 and became deputy head of the DDU in 2016.
Sarah Ide
Risk advisory partner – dental
Sarah is a risk advisory partner and has been working at the DDU as a dento-legal adviser since 2015, initially combining this work with general practice.
She qualified from Guy's Hospital Dental School in 1992, working there as a house officer before entering general practice as a vocational trainee.
Sarah subsequently worked in independent and private general practice for 25 years and completed an MSc in Aesthetic Dentistry at King’s.