Category: Coronavirus

Rachel Lightfoot, a medical student at Trinity College, Dublin, shares her experience of hope as she takes her part in a local vaccination clinic.

John Travers reminds us that we are taking part in a miracle. “That is how a dragon is felled, one tiny jab at a time.”

We live in extraordinary and historic times. Maxwell Cooper reminds us that we must ensure that the phenomenal achievements of general practice during this pandemic in delivering vaccination – alongside patient care – are never forgotten.

Balancing individual freedom with public health interests and the economy remains a delicate and fraught endeavour. However, Carmen Schmechel and her colleagues remind us that there is nothing new under the sun…….

The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has been shouldered by the most vulnerable. Far from being the great equaliser, the pandemic has simply exacerbated health and social inequalities for the homeless. Jatinder Hayre calls us all to action to find practical solutions in order to vaccinate this vulnerable group.

A recent report by SAGE suggests high rates of vaccine hesitancy in Black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups. The reasons underlying a higher degree of vaccine hesitancy in such communities are complex and varied. Julia Darko helps us to understand and navigate the issues.

Patients being treated for cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic face a double challenge. Feryad Hussain talks us through the issues and suggests the best ways to help.

COVID-19 is bad enough. And we know there will be a mountain of clearing up to do later. Richard Armitage tells us about the impact of the pandemic on rheumatology referrals from general practice in England.

There is a growing realisation that Long-COVID can also occur in children, with numerous physical symptoms and emotional consequences. NHS England now recognises that Long COVID in children needs urgent evaluation, and as GPs we need to help children and their parents as they search for answers to this new disease.

Louise Dubras reflects on Covid vaccination. We give more than a vaccine. We give hope. We also give a healing encounter, a touch that starts their return to being in the world.

Perhaps Primary Care will after all become the restorers of ‘normality’. Whatever happens, we will still be here. We will still be listening; still validating lives. Emma Ladds reminds us why, despite Coronavirus, General Practice is still the best job in the world.