Welcome to the new Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker.  We're dealing with heavy topics today - the Autumn Statement, how losing continuity is detrimental to patient care, maternal mortality in the UK - but we've tried to keep it light in other ways including our new segment: Just One More Thing In Just One More Thing we interview primary care experts across a range of specialties asking 3 questions: what one thing do we need to know about in general practice regarding...

Welcome to a new NB Hot Topics Podcast with Dr Neal Tucker. Amongst all the political turmoil, healthcare most go on. In this episode we look at  The new government report (someone's still working, for better or for worse) on the Future of General PracticeThe implications practices need to be aware of for Patient Record Access starting 1st NovemberNew research on the best time to take BP meds and whether cardiovascular screen using CTs & more is helpful.References: Future of GP...

Welcome to the new Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker.  After a whirlwind week where general practice has been populistically politicised on all sides, in this episode we stay on safer ground and look at new research. The BMJ highlights the future risk of cardio- and cerebrovascular disease after gestational diabetes, even without overt diabetes, but offers some good news regarding the optimisation of risk factors. JAMA introduces roflumilast for chronic psoriasis, as a...

Welcome back to the new series of the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker.  A sober start with the death of the Queen yesterday and reflecting on the pressures of general practice and the profoundly sad story of Gail Milligan.  But the progress of medicine never stops and there is research to discuss: Papers in the BMJ on whether artificial sweeteners cause harm, and whether supplementing vitamin D really does reduce respiratory and covid infection risk.A Lancet paper on...

Welcome to a new Hot Topics Podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker.  It's the summer holidays! We hope a little pressure is off at your practices and you might even get a break yourself.  In this podcast, we discuss the latest news including whether GPs simply aren't working hard enough and debate a £10 charge for DNAs. In research, we look at new data from JAMA suggesting patients are at increased risk of MI shortly after a flare of gout, a fantastic paper in the BJGP presenting data...

Welcome to another Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker leading you through the latest news and research in general practice.  Of course, we must touch on the demise of Boris Johnson and how he might still be in power if he'd just learned a thing or two from general practice. Meanwhile, in research, we look at prescribing trends in anxiety disorders, whether bariatric surgery can reduce cancer risk in overweight people, and two papers on covid vaccination against Omicron,...

In this new episode of the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical.  Dr Neal Tucker reflects on a busy week in the politics of UK general practice: "plans for change" from the English health secretary, but the head of primary care for NHSE says partnerships aren't going anywhere. Meanwhile, Panorama highlights the challenges for private companies running NHS GP practices. Where will it all end up? Answers on an e-consult, or email us at [email protected]. Meanwhile, there is some research!...

Welcome to the latest Hot Topics podcast with Dr Neal Tucker.  This week we think about monkeypox. Do we need to worry? What do we need to look out for? Can my pet rat give it to me? Beyond a disease very few of us are likely to ever see, we look at new research on improving mobility in people with frailty and sarcopenia - can exercise classes and nutrition make a real-world difference? We consider a BJGP paper on preventative medicine - why don't we do more, what are the barriers and...

In the latest Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical Dr Neal Tucker discusses the latest research important in primary care and interviews two experts in improving asthma care and sustainable healthcare. In new research we examine:  The role of self-monitoring of BP in women with hypertension or higher risk of pre-eclampsia - does it provide early detection?Do ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitor provide additional real-world benefits over statins alone? Which is best?Can an oral biological agent,...

Welcome to another Hot Topics podcast with Dr Neal Tucker. In this busy edition, we discuss whether national guidelines are affected by bias against race or ethnicity, potentially driving health inequalities. GP and researcher Dr Dipesh Gopal joins us for an interview to examine issues around NICE hypertension guidance. In new research, we have papers on whether a 4th covid vaccine dose actually provides additional protection, how long patients remain at increased risk from acute covid...

In the Hot Topics podcast, Neal Tucker discusses the latest primary care news and research. This week: Reflecting on NHS England's PCN stipulations - general practice finds itself in a lose-lose situation. Is it a coincidence it comes just as a think tank backed by the health secretary pushes for all GPs to be salaried? Research:Hamsters can give you covid. What should we do? LancetThe Triple F*** Syndrome - a different way to think about personality disorder? BJGPWhat do young people with...

In the latest Hot Topics podcast with Dr Neal Tucker, we reflect on the government removing covid measures and how this affects general practice.  In research, we have a look at a timely BMJ paper on the accuracy of lateral flow tests? As we prepare to stop testing, does the data provide us with some reassurance? We also have a look at a new way of assessing the risk of DVT and whether it can safely identify low-risk patients and reduce referral rates. And remember Zika? A new paper in the...

After not being out the house for 13 days due to him and the kids having covid, Neal Tucker uses the Hot Topics podcast for a bit of escapism. Apart from singing the blues, in this podcast we discuss the latest medical news including reports of racism in the NHS, government calls for nationalisation of general practice and the negative effects of pandemic priorities on routine care from the National Diabetes Audit. Meanwhile in the journals we look at two papers demonstrating the...

Happy New Year! Welcome to a new episode of the Hot Topics podcast with Neal Tucker. In this episode, we have a look at research that states the obvious (non-covid infections went down during lockdowns) and why we feel the need to formalise it. We also look at new research suggesting a shorter duration of anticoagulation may be appropriate after provoked VTE in younger people. We have new research showing the benefits of thrombectomy after stroke for well beyond a 6-hour window. We also have...

Welcome everyone to the last Hot Topics podcast for 2021!  In this episode Neal Tucker discusses the omicron variant, the cancelling of the festive season for general practice and  the effectiveness of vaccines and boosters. While it doesn't feel like there's much cheer at the moment he also reflects on our achievements this year and reasons for us to hold our heads up high. Plus he tries to write music again - stick around to the end for the Omicron carol - it is Christmas after...

Welcome back to another Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. Everyone in his family has a cold - is this the anticipated surge in respiratory tract infections we've expected to see or could it have a simpler explanation? We also look at the new draft Depression guideline from NICE, asking can we deliver the promises, long covid guidance in the knowledge we can't and new data on the effectiveness of inflatable intragastric balloon bariatric surgery. References RCGP...

In this latest Hot Topics Podcast, Dr Neal Tucker reflects on the NHSE Rescue Package and asks if we are going to strike are we clear what we want general practice to be? Time for us to make up our minds. In research we look at multimorbidity clusters and consultation rates - how should this influence funding? Also a ray of hope for patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction with empagliflozin - but is it as good as it appears to be? And two papers on AF screening including...

In this latest episode of the Hot Topics podcast, Neal Tucker considers why the press have been attacking general practice and who stands to gain. We also look at new research in to giving anti-emetics for children with gastroenteritis, the accuracy of PHQ9 in the assessment of depression and what are safe levels of air pollution. References BMJ Air pollution BJGP Ondansetron in children with gastro BMJ PHQ 9 accuracy

Welcome, to Season 3 of the Hot Topics podcast with Dr Neal Tucker. In this episode, we lament why Health Secretaries appear to hate healthcare. We also look at the rationale for covid boosters with new research on the vaccine response in the immunosuppressed and waning efficacy in the general population. In other research, can a 4-in-1 pill be a helpful 1st line treatment for hypertension?  And should we all be prescribing medical cannabis? The BMJ says yes, but not how. A technical issue...

In this summer holidays episode of the Hot Topics Podcast, Neal Tucker looks at the latest research for the primary care community. Firstly, three treatments for covid-19 in community-managed patients - do they work? Next rotator cuff injury - can progressive exercise beat usual care and is there ANY role for steroid injections? Finally, FIT testing for suspected colorectal cancer - do we now have the data to replace colonoscopy? References NHS England Blood Bottle Guidance Community...

In this episode, Neal Tucker squeezes in a podcast between childcare during self-isolation. When he's let out there will be a new sort of Freedom in England, should the rest of the UK be jealous? We think about rising covid numbers, how this impacts general practice (and the rest of the health service), and what role vaccination for children should play in this complex situation. Also, we look at new research on evidence-based drug optimisation strategies in multimorbid and question why...

In this episode of the Hot Topics Podcast, Neal Tucker considers if there is a crisis of identity in GP and how the ever-increasing workload has changed the traditional role of a GP. Is there a solution? Possibly, but not everyone will agree. In new research, we focus on new technology. Are implantable rhythm monitors helpful after stroke? Do wearable glucose monitors improve diabetes care? Is more data always better? References: BJGP Editorial from Euan Lawson BJGP Editorial from Clare...

Approach a wounded animal with caution. Someone should have told this to NHS England before they wrote THAT letter. In this podcast in classic GP style we reflect on how this makes us feel and come to the only obvious conclusion. (We've kept it family friendly...) Meanwhile, Neal Tucker has a look at new research on COVID vaccinations and their efficacy against variants from around the world. New data on long covid which begs the question where id the tsunami we were expecting? Also getting...

Welcome back! Neal Tucker takes you through the latest Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical. In this edition after a "cry for help" from a UK practice written in a 16-page letter to patients we look at new research in the BJGP on remoting consulting and ask for your thoughts on the state of general practice. Are we complicit in pathologising normal life? 8% of the population are on anti-depressants - what does new research tell us about how to withdraw them? We also explore new research on...

The big news this week has been the risk of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis post-AZ vaccine and it's been giving us all a headache, but this has overshadowed further new data confirming benefit of inhaled corticosteroids for acute mild covid and...