New guidance for ME and CFS to improve understanding of these largely misunderstood conditions

The recommendations noted that both ME and CFS have not been clearly defined. They highlighted a lack of pathological evidence of brain inflammation, meaning the use of ‘encephalitis’ is problematic....

SCREEN NOW: a new educational resource for diabetes and eye health

Following on from previous initiatives and the national and international outreach these had, iDEAL brought together leading experts in diabetes and eye health to design and create a series of...

PROTECT NOW: A new resource for diabetes and kidney health

The iDEAL diabetes multi-disciplinary (MDT) advocacy group, following the success of ACT NOW, are aiming to reduce the number of preventable lower limb amputations by 50% in 5 years (Edmonds et al,...

World COPD Day: supporting people to live well with COPD

It is important to ensure from the moment someone presents at their GP practice with symptoms of COPD that they get support for smoking cessation if they smoke. Having a conversation with patients...

COVID vaccination: What's next?

There are concerns that developed countries such as the UK have resorted to ‘vaccine nationalism’, that is stockpiling vaccines to prioritise rapid access for their citizens due to public or political...

We should be celebrating general practice, not criticising

It would be so helpful to have more public messaging with positive stories of general practices being open to face-to-face appointments, and more stories of the benefits of remote access to a...

Raising awareness: ‘but you don't look like you have a stoma…’

I have always been honest and open about my condition and my stoma, yet I have encountered many negative perceptions, bewildered and commiserative looks. I am not embarrassed or ashamed of my ostomy,...

Spirometry going forward – should we restart?

As the diagnostic element of the hub is currently only myself undertaking testing, the risk assessment that is recommended has been based on my personal safety and that of my patients. It also...

Violence in primary care: a growing problem?

Professor Gautam Gulati is a consultant forensic psychiatrist and Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Limerick. ‘The following violent scenario,’ Prof Gulati told Practice...

Improving health outcomes for people with learning disabilities

A project led by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust aimed to address this by increasing the number of annual health checks carried out with people with a learning disability over 12 weeks. The...

Make your voice heard on standards of specialist practice

What the practice nurse needs to know about Lyme disease

Infected ticks can be found all over the UK and are found in woodland, heathland and parkland, but have also been found in urban parks and gardens. You can be bitten and infected at any time of the...