All things General Practice! Join doctors Sara and Lisa as they interview specialists from around Greater Manchester with the aim of improving the confidence and knowledge of local primary care clinicians. The podcast has been made possible due to the support of Wigan CCG and GP Excellence in Greater Manchester.
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Doctors Lisa and Sara are joined by Dr Cheryl Fitzgerald who is a retired gynaecologist with an extensive background in subfertility. Using a hypothetical case we discuss the definition of subfertility, important components of a history with this presenting complaint, and comorbidities to be aware of. We talk about who should be referred to secondary care, and what patients can expect from that referral. We also think about useful investigations in primary care before referral. You can use these...
Doctors Lisa and Sara are joined by Medical microbiology and Infectious Diseases Consultant Dr Callum Mutch to follow the journey of a urine sample and a throat swab as they are processed. We discuss the important points to get right in the pre-analytical, analytical and post analytical stages of their journeys. Some fascinating insights (including how the clinical details can affect what is tested for) that have changed our practice for the better. You can use these podcasts as part of your CPD...
Dr. Julian Treadwell discusses his journey from frustration with traditional evidence-based medicine to finding contentment by truly understanding treatment benefits. The episode highlights the challenges clinicians face in appraising evidence, using a statin case study to illustrate how to communicate absolute risk reduction. It advocates for moving beyond prescriptive guidelines to embrace nuanced patient discussions, leveraging tools like Cates plots, and recognizing the broader human aspects of clinical care, including the role of uncertainty and social determinants of health.
Doctors Lisa and Sara are joined by Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Consultant Dr Callum Mutch for an overview of Antibiotics and Microbiology in General Practice. Doctors Callum and Jame host a podcast in Infectious Diseases called ID:IOTS and we wanted to do a crossover episode exploring common themes in Microbiology that we encounter in General Practice. We talk about the case of a woman with recurrent UTIs and a man with epididymo-orchitis. This lends itself to a discussion on g...
Doctors Lisa and Sara take a deep dive into the recent combined asthma guidelines with Dr Murugesan Raja who is a GP and clinical lead for respiratory medicine for NHS Greater Manchester Strategic Clinical Network. We go through the new asthma recommendations for the different age groups, starting with a reminder of what symptoms make up a typical asthma history, moving on to the new pathway of investigations, and ending with a chat about management covering AIR and MART. We also touch on green ...
This episode features Dr. Simone Schaefer discussing nasal obstruction in children, covering assessment, primary care management, and ENT referral. Key topics include recognizing severe obstructive sleep apnea, differentiating allergic rhinitis from common congestion, and clarifying misconceptions about nasal polyps. The conversation also provides practical advice for managing patients awaiting specialist review and understanding the appropriate use of nasal steroids.
Episode three of four on Paediatric ENT. Doctors Lisa and Sara are back with Paediatric Ear Nose and Throat Consultant Dr Simone Schaefer for this episode on Recurrent Epistaxis in Children. We discuss important differentials, including a rare condition that can present in predominantly teenage boys not to be missed, before moving on to discuss options for management and why the vast majority of these patients can often be safely managed in the community. We discuss cases that would be useful to...
Episode two of four on Paediatric ENT conditions. Doctors Lisa and Sara are back with Paediatric Ear Nose and Throat Consultant Dr Simone Schaefer for this episode on Recurrent Tonsillitis in Children. We go through the definition of tonsillitis and what ENT class as recurrent Tonsillitis that would hit the criteria for Tonsillectomy in our region. We use a case and discuss why referral criteria are so strict, as well as some exceptions to the criteria. Resources: ENT UK Recurrent Tonsillitis De...
Episode one of four on Paediatric ENT conditions. Doctors Lisa and Sara are joined by Paediatric Ear Nose and Throat Consultant Dr Simone Schaefer for this episode on Recurrent Acute Otitis Media (AOM) in Children. A common problem, we take a classic presentation and work through getting the diagnosis right, red flags and differentials before discussing management and which children may need referrals. We then discuss the limited options of what might be done in an ENT clinic and helpful resourc...
Doctors Lisa and Sara are joined by GP and Medical Educator Dr Alan Ng, working in Canada. We discuss what Balint groups are, starting from who Balint was. We go through the structure of a Balint session and why they exist in the form they do. We discuss the advantages to both Doctors and their patients of discussing cases within a Balint group and being part of a group. Discussions can help us gain a deeper understanding of the doctor-patient relationship and discover more about the dynamics an...
Doctors Lisa and Sara were delighted to interview Dr Sylvia Kama-Kieghe, a GP based in Sheffield with an interest in Women’s Health. She is the Chair of the Royal College of General Practice North of England International Medical Graduates Group. We start with what the group does, why it was set up and look at issues International Medical Graduates might face when working and training in the UK. We consider what practices, staff and supervisors can do to help make International Medical Graduates...
For the podcast this week we spoke to Dr Abid Ali Khan, a GP trainee in East London currently on a Clinical Fellowship in Leadership (National Medical Directors Clinical Fellow). We focused on his experiences as an International Medical Graduate to gain an understanding of the challenges he faced coming to the UK. We got his advice for other International Medical Graduates and those supporting IMGs. We have a second episode out next month focusing more on what practices and staff can do to help ...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Hepatitis C GP Champion Dr Lindsey Kent and Greater Manchester Peer Programme Manager Tony Horrocks for an overview of Hepatitis C. We cover the basics around the virus and prevalence, potential symptoms and at risk groups to consider when offering testing. We discuss the great work being done to eradicate Hepatitis C in Manchester (and around the UK) including Tony’s personal story as well as his work as a Peer Programme Manager. Wonderful to hear the success rate ...
Doctors Sara and Lisa discuss the podcast episodes over the year. We talk about our longer term learning points, how the year has gone and what's to come. ___ We really want to make these episodes relevant and helpful: if you have any questions or want any particular areas covered then contact us on Twitter @PCKBpodcast , or leave a comment on our quick anonymous survey here: https://pckb.org/feedback Email us at: primarycarepodcasts@gmail.com ___ This podcast has been made with the support of G...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Locum Consultant Dr Caitriona MacDermott about assessing and managing constipation in Palliative Patients. A common symptom with a significant impact on people’s quality of life, the episode aims to get across the importance of the topic, the often multifactorial nature of clinical scenarios, the red flags not to miss and arm you with a logical and holistic approach to management. We discuss how management might differ for patients with certain conditions such as pa...
As requested by GP Trainees, this week's episode is on tips to pass the Simulated Consultation Assessment exam; the final exam for GP trainees in the UK. We spoke to Dr Anne Hawkridge who was a GP trainer in Bolton for over 20 years and has been a MRCGP examiner since 2007 when the CSA (Clinical Skills Assessment) started, the predecessor to the pandemic RCA and now the SCA. She is also the co-founder of the successful exam support programme here in the North West; the SOX programme (Support on ...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Respiratory Physiotherapist Thomas James about COPD. We start with what COPD is, when to suspect it, a standard work up, pitfalls and points of consideration about spirometry, before moving on to an overview of management. We then cover some changes in the way COPD exacerbations are managed in South Manchester and the role of Eosinophils in both acute and chronic management. Understanding the role of Pulmonary rehabilitation, prednisolone and exercise in management ...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Dr Joanna Bircher, Dr Nikesh Vallabh, Shelley Ryder (SWAN PCN Manager and Transformation Lead) and Dr Fran Fitton. We find out what proactive care is all about and then launch into example projects around dementia care that Shelley and Fran are involved in. We hope this gives people a flavour of what proactive care projects could entail in General Practice in terms of design and implementation. Later in the year, we hope to bring more examples of projects and how th...
***SUMMER REWIND - INITIALLY RELEASED ON 31ST JAN 2024*** To get in touch: primarycarepodcasts@gmail.com Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Senior Pharmacist Sarah Hafeez about Polypharmacy. She explains the difference between inappropriate and appropriate polypharmacy before talking through some typical cases that illustrate several examples of common scenarios. This leads to discussions on prioritising concerns, weaning/stopping medications, counselling patients on the effects of Opioids and Gabape...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Palliative Care Consultant Lesley Henson and Specialty Doctor Caitriona MacDermott for a discussion on common issues Primary Care Clinicians face when dealing with patients at the end of life and their families. We discuss Hospice admission criteria and the role of the hospice. We then look at how they approach questions around palliative symptoms like breathlessness, reduced oral intake and this leads on to a conversation about assessing and discussing options arou...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Palliative Care Consultant Lesley Henson and Specialty Doctor Dr Caitriona MacDermott about Breathlessness as a symptom in Palliative Patients. We start with a case to look at an approach to a patient with deteriorating breathlessness, before discussing a diagnosis of refractory breathlessness. We explore the importance of understanding the subjective nature of this experience before moving on to non-pharmacological and pharmacological options to help manage this of...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Dr Saadat Ahmed, ST5 in Geriatrics for a deep dive into Osteoporosis. We cover what it is, why it matters, what the risks factors are, who and how to assess for it, and what to do with results from FRAX and DXA scans. After a discussion on lifestyle options to help improve bone health, we ask advice on counselling patients around the pros and cons of taking Bisphosphonates including his advice on talking about the rarer side effects. We talk through a case and ask a...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to GPs Dr Joanna Bircher, Dr Lucy Spurrell and Dr Dario Rydel about their experiences in different roles in General practice; salaried, partner and locum. The aim of the episode is for GPs or GP trainees listening to get a flavour of their experiences and to understand the pros and cons of each of those roles in general practice, with a particular focus on the partnership model and the benefits of becoming a partner. Useful resources: GPOnline Talking General Practice ...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Dr Tim Dalton, a GP in Wigan, and Chair of the Greater Manchester GP Provider Board. The focus of today’s episode is all about how general practice is funded. They cover how it is different from other NHS settings, the sources of income in general practice and the flow of money through the system, DES’, LES’ and QOF, the place of PCNs and Federations, as well as talking about different types of GP contracts and what these mean. To note: this was recorded in March 20...
Doctors Lisa and Sara are joined this week by Satty Boyes (Senior programme manager) and Lorna Laflin (Previous Practice Manager who works with the GP Excellence team). They discuss a new platform in Greater Manchester for the non-clinical workforce within General Practice, which allows staff to explore progression pathways, track their professional progress, and access learning opportunities all in one place. Some quotes from those who have accessed the platform already: “I think this is an abs...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Specialty Doctor Caitriona MacDermott about anticipatory prescribing for Palliative patients. An area where there has been much learning over the last several years, it is a good opportunity to get some teaching on why this is the case, the stages involved in recognition and addressing symptoms at the end of life, the need for regular reviews in terms of the potential for change and her advice on how she opens up conversations around future needs, death and symptom ...
This is the third episode in our MSK mini-series. Doctors Lisa and Sara speak to Tom Smith and Charlotte Barker again, who are First Contact Practitioners in Wigan. The focus of this chat is shoulder pain - using a hypothetical case to discuss important history points, red flags, useful examination tips, differential diagnoses and further assessment options. You can use these podcasts as part of your CPD - we don’t do certificates but they still count :) Useful resources: Escape Pain: https://es...
This is the second episode in our MSK mini-series. Doctors Lisa and Sara speak to Tom Smith and Charlotte Barker again, who are First Contact Practitioners in Wigan. The focus of this chat is shoulder pain - using a hypothetical case to discuss important history points, red flags, useful examination tips, differential diagnoses and further assessment options. You can use these podcasts as part of your CPD - we don’t do certificates but they still count :) Useful resources: British Elbow and Shou...
This is the first episode in a three part MSK mini-series, which aims to briefly capture important features in history, examination and further investigations of common joint presentations. Doctors Sara and Lisa speak to Tom Smith and Charlotte Barker who are First Contact Physiotherapists in Wigan. Back pain is the focus of this episode, with a fictional case used to chat through history, examination, red flags and further assessment of this very common primary care topic. You can use these pod...
Doctors Lisa and Sara talk to Senior Pharmacist Sarah Hafeez about Polypharmacy. She explains the difference between inappropriate and appropriate polypharmacy before talking through some typical cases that illustrate several examples of common scenarios. This leads to discussions on prioritising concerns, weaning/stopping medications, counselling patients on the effects of Opioids and Gabapentinoids and involving community teams aiming for successful reductions of addiction forming medications....
