New research led by George Lewith, Professor of Health Research at the University of Southampton suggests doctors’ burnout should be treated as organisation-wide problem There can be little doubt that winter pressures are beginning to mount up in hospitals and GP’s practices around the country testing the strength of even the most resilient medical staff. […]
Empathy in clinical practice is an essential component of the doctor-patient relationship. This is the understanding of how another human being is feeling without going through the emotional rollercoaster yourself. Unfortunately, however, it is often lacking. Indeed, studies of medical undergraduate education reveal some evidence that there is a decline in empathy as students move […]
In the latest Tom Hanks movie, Pilot Sully was a hero as he landed the aircraft on the Hudson River, saving all on board. Crash investigators, however, questioned whether he had made an error of judgement, and whether he could in fact have landed safely at a nearby airport. As nurses, we often have to […]
Not only is it treating more patients than ever before, but A&E performance in the UK has slumped to a 10-year low. Almost one in ten patients visiting A&E are waiting for more than four hours, while the same proportion are waiting longer than 18 weeks to begin hospital treatment, the King’s Fund think-tank revealed […]
Read More… from The NHS is bracing itself for the toughest winter in a decade
A doctor’s eye view of the great fire of London: 350 years ago: Battling with Flames, the plague and noxious fumes – 1666 At the Royal College of Physicians, London, until 16th December, To fetch out the fire: reviving London 1666, marks the 350th anniversary of the devastation of the nation’s capital, taking a doctor’s […]
Christmas is one of the most eagerly awaited events in the whole year, but for many people, Yuletide cheer comes at a price. According to the mental health charity, Mind, one on five adults say that they suffer high stress levels during the festive season. “Although it’s a happy time for many, as the countdown […]
I’ve been resuscitated three times in my life. As a nurse, I’ve attended countless resuscitation attempts. I’ve also attempted to bring members of the public back from the brink of death. Here’s my story. Coming back from the brink As a toddler, I choked on a boiled sweet. I became silent and turned purple. My […]
As a mum of three, I know just how dirty a family car can get. My children are grown up now but I remember long car journeys from where we lived in St Albans all the way to Cornwall on holiday. It was the usual happy chaos, with the kids fighting for legroom, the dog […]
Bonfire night celebrations are great fun for adults and kids alike. Unfortunately, darkness, fireworks, trailing fancy dress costumes and undercooked bangers can be a hazardous combination. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, around 1000 people end up in hospital every year due to injuries caused by fireworks in the four week […]
We all need to sleep, and lack of sleep is linked to depression, behavioural disorders and some of our leading preventable diseases including obesity, heart disease and diabetes. According to a recent poll of 2000 adults by the Royal Society for Public Health, we only get an average of 6.8 hours a night, far less […]