The Dutch, an outward looking people, have long had a unique programme for training what were called “tropical doctors” and are now called “global health doctors.” The two years and three months of clinical and theoretical training aims to prepare doctors to work as generalists in challenging environments worldwide providing clinical care and strengthening health […]
The three magi, the three Kings of the East, or the three wise men (Latin magus, a wise man, Greek μάγος), are also known as the three Kings of Cologne, their bodies having supposedly been deposited in Cologne Cathedral in 1164 by Rainald of Dassel, who looted them from Milan after the Holy Roman Emperor […]
With work and the NHS the way that it is these days, it is really easy to take your eye off things like continuing professional development (CPD). As our roles evolve and become more complex, spinning the plates of CPD becomes an increasingly demanding task. I got myself into a corner a few years ago […]
You are working in an emergency department. You see an 85-year-old man who has fallen at home. He is confused but not in any pain. He has a mild fever, crackles at his left lung base, and slight suprapubic tenderness. He has a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and congestive cardiac failure. He says […]
At the end of last week I received this email: “Greetings from India, and I hope this finds you well! My name is Anoo. I’m a journalist based in Delhi, at The Wire. I broke the story on 13 December, about Derek Yach’s email-list, targeting health professionals with grant money: “Exclusive: Philip Morris Funded Anti-Smoking […]
The commencement address that nobody asked for These two middling authors have long hoped somebody would ask them to deliver a commencement. The fact that this is unjustified has not stopped them from writing one. The following is based upon “Everyone’s Free (to wear sunscreen)”, attributed to Mary Schmich. We encourage everyone to reflect, to […]
During the years spanning the 100th anniversary of the 1914–18 war, The Daily Telegraph has, day by day, been publishing facsimiles of issues of the paper that appeared 100 years ago. This advert appeared in the issue of Friday 7 December 1917. Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills came in boxes of 40 kidney pills and 4 […]
It seems like it really is good to talk. A new study by Jill Maben carefully evaluated the experience of nurses, doctors, and others taking part in Schwartz Rounds. These were introduced to the UK ten years ago from the US, offering a safe, facilitated space for staff (clinical and non-clinical) to share stories about […]
Winter is here and with it the annual NHS winter crisis. Lung disease makes a substantial contribution to this, particularly in children and older people. Many respiratory illnesses are seasonal; cold weather, damp homes, and the increased circulation of viruses cause a winter spike in conditions including flu, COPD exacerbations and bronchiolitis. There are 80% […]
At this time of year, well at any time of year really, a look at alcohol may not go amiss. Alcohol was originally what you put on your eyes, powder of antimony stibnite, antimony trisulphide, or black antimony, known to the Arabs as al-koh’l, from kohl, meaning paint or stain. Kohl was used as a […]