Passing and failing feedback – Some common themes in Clinical Management

Here are some common weaknesses that negatively affect clinical management marks.

🔴 Common weaknesses:

• Management discussion started too late, leaving little or no time for high-mark areas
• Explanations of diagnosis or management were superficial, overly technical, or not centred on the patient’s needs
• Management plans vague or incomplete (e.g., drugs not named, doses or specific next steps omitted)
• Missed holistic aspects, such as considering psychosocial needs or arranging MDT/social/safeguarding support
• Skipped or delayed safety netting; failed to provide clear follow-up plans
• Delayed or missed urgent referrals or lacked appropriate urgency in high-risk cases
• Used unexplained medical jargon and assumed patient understanding
• Failed to involve patients or families in decisions or neglected to respect autonomy
• Missed red flags or did not properly escalate concerning findings
• Excluded serious diagnoses on history alone or failed to perform key examination/investigation steps
• Admitted uncertainty without taking or describing the next best steps or checking protocols

🤔 Why not look back at your last recorded consultation? Could any of these feedback statements apply to your clinical management approach? How could you identify and counter these weaknesses in future consultations? How can you more actively safeguard patient safety and autonomy?

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Here are some strengths that positively enhance clinical management marks.

🟢 Common strengths:

• Started management discussion with sufficient time, allowing for thorough planning and patient involvement
• Delivered clear, accessible explanations about diagnosis, and the rationale for tests/treatments
• Proposed specific and relevant management: named tests, referrals, treatment options, and recognised situations requiring urgent action
• Considered holistic aspects: psychosocial needs, home visits, and appropriate use of social/safeguarding resources or MDT
• Provided clear safety-netting advice and arranged appropriate follow-up plans
• Appropriately referred to relevant guidelines and protocols (e.g., urgent pathways, safeguarding measures)
• Avoided jargon and explained medical concepts in patient-friendly language
• Involved patients and families in shared decision-making and checked for understanding
• Identified red flags and escalated care when necessary
• Recognised limits of knowledge and sought guidance or checked protocols where appropriate

🤔 Again, why not look back at your last recorded consultation? Do any of these feedback statements reflect your current practice? How could you further improve the quality, safety, and patient-centredness of your clinical management?

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