Support from the MDU
From complex medico- and dento-legal questions to complaints – we provide expert, responsive support when healthcare providers need it most.
MDUConnect members can draw on responsive help and support from medico- and dento-legal experts with extensive experience of mitigating risk well before a claim arises.
Whether contacting a dedicated risk advisory partner or our 24/7 medico- and dento-legal helpline, members can rest assured help is at hand when they need it most.
A fellow professional
The MDU is the UK market leader in its field. We connect members with our medico- and dento- legal advisory team, who are all doctors or dentists with experience of clinical practice. We never underestimate the importance of speaking to people who have walked those wards, sat in that surgery, or taken that urgent phone call in the middle of the night. In stressful and emotional circumstances, their real-world insight is invaluable.
Proactive support
Our advisory support service aims to avoid medico- and dento-legal issues arising or escalating and provides support at an early stage when something goes wrong – mitigating risks, helping to resolve complaints and trying to reduce the chances of a subsequent claim.
Dedicated risk advisory partner
Every MDUConnect member is assigned a dedicated risk advisory partner (RAP) and provided with direct contact details.
All RAPs are senior clinicians (doctors and dentists) with first-hand experience in clinical practice, as well as extensive medico- and dento-legal experience.
Risk advice
RAPs offer to meet with every new member to talk through the range of support available, field questions, and provide bespoke risk management advice. The RAP can also arrange access to Resolve, our complaints management system, and the MDU risk management toolkit to help them get the most from MDUConnect membership.
Complaints support
Our RAPs are highly experienced in advising on complaints, whether being handled within your organisation, or if escalated externally.
In the last five years alone, our teams have advised on over 30,000 complaints.
Throughout, they will be on hand to offer support and guidance, helping MDUConnect members deal with stressful situations efficiently and effectively.
In fact, only around 15% of medical cases notified as complaints to the MDU subsequently go on to become claims.
24/7 medico- and dento-legal helpline
MDUConnect members facing ethical or medico- or dento-legal issues needn’t lose any sleep. Every member can speak to specially trained doctors and dentists via a 24-hour helpline, seven days a week.
The helpline is staffed by medico-dento-legal advisers with deep understanding around the issues our members face, thanks to the c.21,000 member calls they take, on every topic imaginable, every year.
In 2022, 99% of the calls to our advice line were answered within 20 seconds, with the average call answered in just over 10 seconds –a crucial resource for members requiring urgent advice.
CQC compliance support
MDUConnect members can seek our support with the medico- and dento-legal aspects of CQC compliance.
Round-the-clock media support
Complaints and investigations can attract unwanted media interest. That is why MDUConnect members get access to our media team, who can help members to respond appropriately and avoid common pitfalls when dealing with media attention following a wide range of events. They could include, for instance, complaints, local regional and national inquiries, investigations, hearings and court proceedings relating to clinical 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.