Global incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is between 1 and 2 per 1,000 adults annually. In this podcast Dr Thomas Round, EKU Clinical Lead discusses with Dr Nicholas Jones, a salaried GP, GP Cardiologist and a Wellcome Trust Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, the diagnosis, management and thrombophilia testing of venous thromboembolic diseases including the changes in the approach to assessment recommended by NICE and how the new guidelines have adjusted their recommend...
Jul 12, 2021•25 min
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition, but if treated early with disease modifying drugs then it can sometimes be put into long-term remission. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Danny Murphy discuss the need to treat rheumatoid arthritis at an early date as well as some of the less commonly covered areas of management, including psychological issues, contraception and fertility and drug monitoring during COVID. Reviewed and updated: July 2024 Supported by an independent e...
Jul 08, 2021•19 min
This podcast features a discussion between Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire and Maralyn Druce, a Professor of Endocrine Medicine. Topics include: The diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism and how to interpret borderline results When it is appropriate to screen for thyroid disorders Prescribing levothyroxine and what to tell our patients The impact of thyroid disorders on pregnancy How to deal with queries about liothyronine The May 2021 MHRA guidance for switching levothyroxine manufactu...
Jul 06, 2021•45 min
Pollen food syndrome is a common allergy, characterised by a very rapid onset of mild symptoms which resolve quickly. Serious reactions such as anaphylaxis are rare. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Isabel Skypala discuss the interaction between pollen food syndrome and hayfever and how to differentiate between pollen food syndrome and primary food allergy. They also cover the immediate treatment of pollen food syndrome, when to refer to an allergy clinic and which patients might need an a...
Jun 09, 2021•12 min
Allergic rhinitis and asthma are common conditions which affect a single airway and are therefore inextricably linked. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Glenis Scadding discuss the links between asthma and allergic rhinitis, when to suspect that a rhinitis may be non-allergic, the importance of trigger factors and the use of immunotherapy for the treatment of allergy. Reviewed and updated: June 2024 Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP....
May 04, 2021•14 min
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the UK leading to 3.5 million primary care visits every year. In this EKU2020.3 podcast Dr Thomas Round, a GP and RCGP Essential Knowledge Update (EKU) Clinical Lead discusses the condition of acne vulgaris with Dr Angelika Razzaque, a GP partner and trainer in South East London and Executive Chair of the Primary Care Dermatology Society (PCDS) Executive Committee.
Apr 01, 2021•28 min
Syncope is defined as transient loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion; it is a common problem which will affect an estimated 15-20% of children before the end of adolescence. The cause is usually benign, but it is important not to miss syncope due to a cardiac cause. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell talks to Professor Lesley Kavi about the different causes of syncope in children and young adults. They also discuss how to diagnose and manage the condition in primary care. Reviewed an...
Mar 02, 2021•18 min
In this podcast, Dr Kevin Barrett talks to Dr Danny Murphy about osteoarthritis (OA) and how to diagnose and manage the condition in primary care. They also discuss what can be done to help patients who have been diagnosed and the useful resources available to support them. Financial support for the design and development of this Osteoarthritis Learning Hub is provided by Pfizer Ltd as a Medical and Educational Goods and Services grant, an arm’s length educational grant. Pfizer has had no involv...
Jan 25, 2021•28 min
In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell talks to Dr Liz Angier about presentations of allergy and how the presentation is related to the underlying mechanism of the allergy, whether IgE mediated or non IgE mediated. The podcast covers history taking, referral, the interpretation of allergy tests and the use of community services such as dietetics to help in both diagnosis and management. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP. Reviewed and updated: November 2023...
Dec 21, 2020•31 min
In this podcast the Dr Dirk Pilat chats with RCGP’s Honorary Secretary Dr Jonathan Leach about staying well in these stressful times. Topics include workload overload, how to relax after work and how to look after our colleagues. An educational grant was received by CHSA (COVID-19 Healthcare Support Appeal) for the production of this podcast. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP. Reviewed: February 2024
Nov 26, 2020•15 min
In this podcast, we talk to Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire and Chair of the Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology. about autoimmune hepatobiliary disease. The discussion focuses on primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis, including when to consider them as diagnoses and what the next steps should be for a GP. Risk from COVID-19 is also touched on, along with how we can support remote monitoring in primary care, when this is needed. Editorial and content decisions were ma...
Nov 26, 2020•17 min
Eczema is a common, chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition which mainly occurs in childhood but can persist into or start in adulthood. In this EKU2020.2 Dr Dirk Pilat, a GP and RCGP Medical Director for eLearning discusses atopic eczema, dermatitis and emollients for eczema in children with Dr Matthew Ridd, a GP and Reader in Primary Healthcare at the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol. Dr Ridd's research interests include skin and allergy problems diagnosed a...
Nov 12, 2020•31 min
In this RCGP podcast on peanut allergy Dr Toni Hazell talks to Dr Helen Brough, Consultant in paediatric allergy at the Evelina children’s hospital. They discuss the prevalence of peanut allergy and how to deal with a patient who presents with a possible allergy, including the question of whether to give an adrenaline auto-injector while they are waiting to see a consultant. They also cover the LEAP study, the results of which have allowed paediatricians to confidently recommend that the early i...
Nov 09, 2020•13 min
The prevalence of diverticular disease is up 65% by 85 years of age. In this EKU2020.2 podcast we explore the diagnosis and management of diverticular disease with Dr Patricia Mcnair, an interface geriatrician with an interest in gastroenterology who currently works in palliative care in Farnham.
Oct 19, 2020•15 min
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common medical condition which is usually managed in primary care. In this podcast we interview Dr Kevin Barrett, chair of the Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology and discuss the diagnosis and management of IBS. The discussion will include when to suspect IBS, what tests need to be done routinely, management in primary care, how to explain a diagnosis of IBS to a patient and when to consider referral to secondary care. Editorial and content decisions wer...
Oct 15, 2020•24 min
Patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis benefit significantly from swift assessment by secondary care. If disease modifying drugs are started soon after presentation, the likelihood of full remission is greatly improved. This has always been challenging within the resource limitations of the NHS and waiting lists are now higher than ever as we try to catch up from the pandemic. In this podcast, Dr Toni Hazell speaks to Dr Danny Murphy about the basics of making a diagnosis of inflammatory...
Sep 28, 2020•28 min
Thrombocytosis is associated with a higher risk of solid tumour malignancy. In this EKU2020.1 podcast we discuss with Professor Willie Hamilton, GP and Professor of Primary Care Diagnostics at the University of Exeter, the causes, investigations, differential diagnosis and referral of thrombocytosis.
Aug 06, 2020•14 min
Around 40% of adults have hypertension. It is a key risk factor for a range of prevalent diseases including ischaemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease. In this EKU2020.1 podcast we explore with Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire and RCGP Clinical Lead, the NICE Guideline on Hypertension, in particular blood pressure (BP) readings (including those taken at home, in clinic and ambulatory readings), changes in BP targets, the different stages...
Jul 09, 2020•15 min
This podcast is a follow-up to the first, very well received podcast on coeliac disease. This time we are talking to Dr Charlie Andrews who is a GP in Clevedon and part of the committee for the Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology. The podcast covers scenarios in which coeliac disease might be overlooked, multi-system manifestations of the condition and why they arise, and issues with diagnosing coeliac disease in children. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP. Review...
Jul 01, 2020•27 min
Dr Ollie Hart, GP, PCN Clinical Director, Clinical Commissioning Lead for Person Centred Care at Sheffield CCG and passionate exponent of personalised care, discusses the benefits for individual patients, health professionals and the whole system. Resources mentioned in the podcast NHS England (2019) Universal Personalised Care Implementing the Comprehensive Model Peak Health Coaching Nesta (2016) Ten actions to put people and communities at the heart of health and wellbeing Patient Activation M...
Jun 02, 2020•15 min
Dr Nicky Turner, GP in Buckinghamshire and Clinical Director for the Chalfonts PCN reflects on her personal leadership journey, and discusses some of the opportunities and challenges facing all clinical directors. This podcast was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Resources mentioned in the podcast. BMA PCN site Ockham Healthcare The King's Fund (2020) How to build effective teams in general practice...
Jun 02, 2020•19 min
Developing a coaching mindset at your PCN Dr Tim Williams GP, coach and author discusses the value of coaching for leadership development both for individual PCN leaders, teams and the whole organisation. Resources mentioned in the podcast Kline, N. (1999). Time to think . London: Ward Lock. Kline, N. (2009). More time to think . Pool-in-Wharfedale: Fisher King Pub. NHS Leadership Academy Coaching & Mentoring. Programmes Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management Williams, T. (2015). Don’t...
Jun 02, 2020•16 min
A brief introduction to population health for Primary Care Networks (PCN) from Dr Kathrin Thomas a GP and Consultant in Public Health. The discussion includes a clear explanation of what a population health approach means, how it can address health inequalities and improve the health of your PCN population, and some practical suggestions as to how this might be achieved. Resources mentioned in the podcast Kings Fund Short video Public Health England: All Our Health: personalised care and populat...
Jun 02, 2020•24 min
In this podcast, Dr Helen Howells, a GP with a special interest in Allergy, and Dr Dirk Pilat discuss aspects of atopy management during lockdown. Topics include hayfever, anosmia, weaning, adrenaline auto-injectors and service provision. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP. Reviewed and updated: February 2024
Jun 01, 2020•21 min
Many of our patients are very anxious at the moment; in the worst case scenario this anxiety can manifest as apparent shortness of breath and affect your clinical assessment. In this episode we discuss how to address these issues, what we can say to patients to help and the use of communication skills and empathy in these difficult consultations. This is episode 4 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.
Apr 03, 2020•8 min
This episode focuses specifically on triaging a patient with possible COVID-19, including a discussion about how to carry out a verbal examination and what red flags to look for. It also discusses how to assess shortness of breath on the phone, which is a particular challenge for patients who may have COVID-19. This is episode 3 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.
Apr 03, 2020•7 min
Aimed at those coming back to triage after a break, this episode discusses new technology such as video calls and techniques to get started again, such as the golden minute. We also talk about the adaptation of basic communication skills to the triage call and how to handle the patient’s ideas, concerns and expectations. This is episode 2 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.
Apr 03, 2020•7 min
This introductory episode discusses telephone triage from the perspective of a doctor who is new to it. We discuss how to set up a session of telephone triage to maximise success, how to structure and document the call and how to safety net. Some groups of patients can be particularly challenging and we talk about how to manage these challenges and how to know when triage won’t work and the patient has to be seen. This is episode 1 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19....
Apr 03, 2020•12 min
This EKU2019.3 explores the recent Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare on Combined hormonal contraception with Dr Anne Lashford, a GP in Wiltshire, Vice President of the FSRH and an Assessor for EMBRACE, which audits maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality combined hormonal contraception.
Mar 09, 2020•25 min
In the UK, there are approximately 146,000 people with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and at least 115,000 people with Crohn’s disease. This EKU2019.3 podcast discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease with Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire, Chair of the Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology and RCGP Crohn's and Colitis Spotlight Clinical Lead.
Mar 09, 2020•19 min
