In October and November 2024, Brian Lambert spent six weeks volunteering as a ‘medic’ at the Mavrovouni refugee camp on Lesvos, working for the Dutch charity the Boat Refugee Foundation (BRF).
John Brooks takes us to a little known Gaudi building, El Capricho in Comillas, northern Spain. But were Gaudi's amazing powers of observation and creativity partly a result of his childhood arthritis?
In Oncology clinics, during Covid-19, patients usually have only one person with them and may be asked to make treatment decisions in a few minutes, often in a corridor. Alistair Appleby makes the case for “enhanced consent” with time, counselling and additional
Once the urgency of Covid is over, let us remember our core skill as GPs - listening to our patients. Charles Todd reminds us that every patient encounter is unique.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK was a dramatic reduction in both the number of Two Week Wait referrals being made by general practitioners, and the number of patients being diagnosed with and treated for cancer. The return now to baseline
We all want 2021 to be a better year! It's not too late to make a new year's resolution. Prithvi Dixit and David Salman help us to get into a better exercise regime.
We hope for better things in 2021. But not everyone in our society is so hopeful. Mo Stewart argues that austerity measures, added to social policy reforms, are leading to those in greatest need now living in fear.
The requirement by the MHRA that there should be a 15 minute wait following covid vaccination has led to a delays in the UK vaccination program. David Misselbrook questions the ethics of this decision.
2020 - what a year! I will be glad to be rid of it. Over the next few days BJGP Life will be looking forwards, not just to a better 2021 but also to a better world.
Why do we continue to examine GP trainees at 10 minutes when the RCGP itself has called for longer GP consultations? Greg Irving and colleagues question the status quo.
The BJGP gets in the mood for Christmas! We wish for a happy and peaceful Christmas to all our readers.
Jonathan Wells has had a busy and stressful year. He tells us how thinking differently about his time off has helped him to manage the stress of work.
It’s Christmas Eve and a disheartened Dr Scrooge has been considering resignation. But might his guardian angel, Clarence, be able to change his mind?
It's Christmas eve, and a dispirited Dr Scrooge is thinking of packing it all in. But might an unexpected visit change his perspective?
Nicholas Surridge brings us a case report about a remarkable case of vinyl-assisted Christmas psychotherapy.
BJGP Life is now able to reveal how the RCGP foiled a ghastly plot and saved the world in time for Christmas.
David Misselbrook previews a bumper week for BJGP readers.
Is the NHS a service that understands the female health burden and attempts to alleviate it? Judith Dawson investigates the evidence.
What do you do to help switch off after a busy clinical day? Read? Paint? Brick-lay? GP and post-CCT Fellow, Sophie Ingham, reveals her surprising discovery of D.I.Y as a therapeutic tool during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We doctors are pretty smart, yes? Chris Tiley identifies three critical areas of understanding that we need to get straight.
Missing the gymn or pool? Or just Covid enui? James Douglas challenges us to try wild swimming!
There is a growing research interest in doctor's "gut feeling" about diagnosis in consultations. But Covid has radically changed our consultations. Can our gut feelings catch up?
Marion Brown and Stevie Lewis urgently remind us to make sure we are not mistaking antidepressant adverse effects and/or withdrawal issues for medically unexplained symptoms, functional neurological disorders or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Isn't it great to know that with evidenced based practice we will always get it right? Charles Todd reminds us of a few home truths.
Should bereavement leave be a dependant on Employers' goodwill? Bert Leysen and Johan Wens survey the current situation in Europe and suggest a better way.
Anna Gordon reminds us that refugees are people like us, but in desperate need of our humanity.
Competing patient, family medicine and psychiatric perspectives complicate the management of distress and mental illness general practice and call for resolution. K. S. Jacob suggests some ways forward.
Some GPs seem invincible, gliding through their entire careers with a minimum of alarms. How do they do it? Retired GP, Ed Warren, muses on attitudes worth cultivating during a career as a GP.
During the current Covid-19 pandemic, operating procedures to deal with face-to-face consultations in primary care in the United Kingdom were clear in the need of separating services for patients with symptoms of Covid-19, and for shielded patients needing care. Pablo Millares Martin
Migrants are widely recognised to have complex and diverse health needs, but recent reform within the NHS includes the introduction of healthcare charges for many of them. These may create pressure on GP services, increase the disease burden and widen health inequalities,
We see the refugee crisis remotely, on our TV screens. Dr Peter von Kaehne decided to do something to help. We need to hear his story.
Many clinical situations force patients into disempowered vulnerability. Judith Dawson reflects on the etiquette of dressing and undressing within the consultation.
Many former GPs may want to move along a different career pathway, but when they retire from clinical work they encounter barriers. Mona Aquilina argues that we need to harness and leverage the skills and energy of these doctors and she gives
Advances in medicine have led to major improvements in end-of-life care. But when a patient dies should doctors be aware of any factors in funeral care that can help the relatives? Dr Sarah Jones, a doctor turned Funeral Director, and Dr Julie
Community palliative care delivery is changing dramatically in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. But what of the unintended consequences of such rapid change? Ben Bowers and his co-authors examine key issues.
Primary care is changing at an unprecedented pace and the COVID19 pandemic has shown how being adaptable is vital to the future of general practice. Ria Agarwal and Sarah Mitchell ask whether Physician Associates may provide a way forward for end-of-life care
Editorial comment - today we publish two articles on current challenges in palliative care and possible ways forward. Compare and contrast!
This year Covid-19 has been a backdrop to profound human loss. Anupma Parihar reflects on the role of patients' narratives in preserving the dignity of our our patients within the consultation.
The COVID 19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic shift from face- to-face to remote consulting within general practice. But how will this impact ongoing patient care? Victoria Tzortziou Brown, Simon Gregory and Denis Pereira Gray examine the evidence.
As doctors we are committed to justice and an end to discrimination. So surely sex discrimination in medicine is a thing of the past? These four medical students from Kings are not so sure.
Afrosa Ahmed reflects on a telephone consultation that will change her patient's life forever. She missed the ability to reach out physically to her patient as she took in the news. We are human beings, who support one another in the consultation.