In the latest in our series dispelling common healthcare myths, GP Dr Toni Hazell explains why most patients with eczema don’t need allergy testing – and should avoid having the tests if possible Eczema is common – it affects up to 30% of children and 10% of adults.1 It is an atopic (allergic) condition, associated…
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In the latest in our series exploring misconceptions in health, GP Dr Toni Hazell dispels the pervasive myth that today’s routine childhood vaccinations are ‘overloading’ children’s immune systems Vaccines are a good thing. There’s no doubting that statement. Approximately 20 million cases of measles (and 4,500 deaths) have been prevented by vaccination,1 and 29 million…
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A petition calling on politicians to stop GP practice closures has gained over 54,000 signatures in just 24 hours. It was launched by Lancashire and Cumbria Consortium of Local Medical Committee’s chief executive Dr Adam Janjua and demanded political leaders ‘come up with a serious plan to fix the impending crisis’. Partnering with activist organisation…
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Parents continue to bring their coughing children to the practice, often repeatedly, even though every visit results in the same advice: ‘This is viral. Over-the-counter medicines may or may not manage symptoms, and there is no need for treatment with antibiotics.’  Parents’ concernsVarious studies have looked at parental beliefs on cough and other ‘minor’ childhood…
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Nurse specialist in sexual health Sara Strodtbeck explains what nurses in primary care need to know about a sexually transmitted infection that experts have warned requires careful management in the community to prevent it becoming resistant to treatment What is Mycoplasma genitalium M. genitalium is an emerging sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is the most…
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Cellulitis can often be the reflex diagnosis when a patient presents with red leg in primary care. Elderly patients can sometimes end up having repeated courses of antibiotics over years for supposed cellulitis. These are often requested by relatives or care home workers on the basis of a previous diagnosis for similar symptoms, often in…
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Amid the ongoing discussions about the regulation of advanced practice, Helen E Lewis describes what working as an advanced nurse practitioner in primary care means to her, and how she sees the role developing in the future The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is currently discussing the regulation of the advanced practice role. If this…
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The UK’s chief nursing officers (CNOs) have responded to a series of ‘birthday wishes’ from the profession, collated by Nursing in Practice, to mark the 75th birthday of the NHS this month. The CNOs across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have provided exclusive comments to Nursing in Practice setting out their commitments to improving and…
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To mark the 75th birthday of the NHS, Nursing in Practice has sought a selection of ‘birthday wishes’ from across the profession and is encouraging others to join the conversation on Twitter using #NHSBirthdayWish. We have asked those working across a variety of settings to share their hopes for the future of the NHS, as…
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On Rishi Sunak’s 100th day as Prime Minister (2 February), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has delivered a petition with over 100,000 signatures to Downing Street, calling for a new pay deal for nurses. ‘Without nursing staff, there will be no NHS’ warned a letter signed by members of the college, calling on the…
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