I have long believed that first impressions, and even visual clues generally, can cause trouble. Indeed, it is my view that their (mis)use is possibly a key component in the development of prejudices such as racism and sexism. My ideas about first impressions came to me in rather odd circumstances. I was timetabled to give the last […]
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Tom Nolan on how to kiss during a flu pandemic
The first cases of H1N1 infection resistant to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) spreading from person-to-person were found in Wales last week. The spread of the resistant strain occurred at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and all five people affected have “severe underlying health conditions” according to officials. Dr Roland Salmon, Director of the NPHS Communicable […]
Harry Brown on electronic communications with patients
Patient and doctor interactions are one of the cornerstones of medical care and with the advent of modern technology, there is now more than one way for doctors and patients to communicate with each other. With the rise of the mobile phone, instant two way communication has become even easier. I have found that having a […]
Andrew Potter on not taking the swine flu vaccine
Increasing numbers of clinical staff at the hospital where I work declined invitations to be vaccinated against pandemic “swine” influenza. I think this is a worrying trend for both public health reasons and for the doctor’s integrity as a medical practitioner. There have also been reports in the popular press of doctors refusing the jab. […]
Tom Nolan: New pandemic flu guidelines – don’t forget your oximeter
New guidelines on the management of pandemic H1N1 influenza were published recently by the Department of Health. They include guidelines on when to refer patients to hospital (see below) and an update on the epidemiology of the disease: fewer than 1% of cases are admitted to hospital; 12-15% of patients admitted to hospital go on […]
Louise Kenny on paraquat poisoning
The night before last, one of the other doctors admitted a 22 year old male who had ingested concentrated paraquat whilst intoxicated. At the time of admission he was 24 hours post ingestion and his presenting complaint was pain in his mouth and throat due to chemical burns. The night shift doctor handed over the case, […]
Emily Spry on ER in the Pikin Hospital
I am happy and exhausted at the end of the first week of the new Triage system and Emergency Room at the Children’s Hospital. Around 80 children present to the hospital each day and Triage nurses now briefly assess them and rush those with Emergency signs to the new 3-bedded ER. There they are assessed […]
Joe Collier on swine flu and ministries of fear
One thing about the current swine flu pandemic is that it has brought with it a universal sense of fear. As with all fears, individuals respond differently, but we know what they are feeling because the sensation of fear, which varies from a mild anxiety to incapacitating panic, is so much part of our constitution […]
David Pencheon: We face a SSTEEEP learning curve
If the health service takes environmental, social and economic sustainability seriously, it is amazing how many co-benefits there are – for the health of individuals, for the health of the population, and for the cost and quality of the health care system – genuine win-wins – win now, win later. You might think therefore that […]
Tom Nolan on what every doctor should know about the swine flu vaccine
The H1N1 vaccination programme is underway in the UK and many other countries across the globe. In Sweden a million people have already been vaccinated. One swine flu vaccine manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, expects to produce 440 million doses over the next few months. With newspapers, television and the internet raising doubts about the safety of the […]