Video game review entries

Thu, May 17, 2012

How to handle exam stress

The pressures of everyday life can leave you feeling like you can¿t cope. Revising for your medical exams is a particularly stressful time, says Charlotte Hudson. Here are some tips to manage stress. Photo by JixarThe symptoms of stress vary, from feelings of anxiousness to outbursts of temper, and during times of increasing pressure or [...]

Tue, Apr 10, 2012

Wellcome trust gives oxygen to the ¿academic spring¿

Writing in the Guardian,  Alok Jha gives an excellent review on the problems with academic publishers producing content that is behind a pay wall. Sir Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome trust is quoted as supporting free open access publishing for research funded by charitable bodies. The logic behind the strategy is simple. Why should [...]

Tue, Mar 27, 2012

Junior doctors in England to be paid for shadowing

Photo by Cabinet OfficeJunior doctors in England will be Paid for a “shadowing” period from July 2012. NHS trusts across England will now be footing the bill for a minimum of four days “shadowing” of their new posts, in a bid to smooth the transition from undergraduate to Foundation year doctor. Final year medical students [...]

Mon, Mar 26, 2012

6 top tips for your medical CV

Photo by the Italian voiceWith medical jobs becoming increasingly competitive it is essential that you nail your medical CV. Make a difference, stand out and sell yourself, says Charlotte Hudson. Even though it is becoming increasingly out of fashion to request a CV from a doctor during recruitment, some trusts still use a curriculum vitae [...]

Mon, Feb 13, 2012

Management of hypertension: following NICE guidelines

An Incidental blood pressure of 148/94 in a fit and well 50 year old man. What next? Photo by jasleen_kaurManagement of hypertension is becoming increasingly complex. Here our contributors summarise the complex use of BP to measure cardiovascular risk. ¿Its always a case of measuring multiple things. We know we should be aggressively treating BP [...]

A dual duty to patients and society?

Anything said within a doctor¿s surgery should remain confidential between the doctor and patient, following the Data Protection Act. But, can a doctor rightfully disclose a patient¿s personal information? And if so, for what reasons? Photo by Daquella maneraDoctors actually have a dual responsibility ¿ to their patients and to society. The GMC states that [...]

Mon, Jan 30, 2012

Answer to question of the day: Suspected bells palsy?

We asked you about this case of a 37 year old intravenous drug user with suspected bells palsy. And after reading his case, the diagnosis is: d. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Firstly this is a lower motor neuron (LMN) facial (CN VII) palsy: facial weakness of the whole of the face.* Bell’s is a lower motor [...]

Wed, Jan 11, 2012

Tweeting into trouble

Use social networking sites with care, says Sara Williams of the MPS. The saying goes ¿what happens on tour stays on tour¿, but when posting online bear in mind that what happens on Twitter stays on Google forever. Doctors should exercise caution when making entries on social networking sites ¿ the internet is not a [...]

Mon, Jan 09, 2012

Don¿t Tweet me on that¿. Trainees in Hot Water

On the 31st of October 2011, the General Medical Council in the UK launched a consultation to produce guidelines for doctors and healthcare professionals when using social media. Why is this needed, and why now? The simple answer is – to stop you from getting into hot water when using Twitter and Social Media! Top [...]

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

Question of the day ¿ suspected Bells Palsy?

A 37 year old intravenous drug user is referred by his GP for a suspected Bells Palsy. On examining his inner ear there are a number of vesicles visible on his ear drum. His cranial nerve examination reveals a weakness of the whole of the left side of his face. The most likely diagnosis is: [...]