I have a fantastic nurse colleague who runs our rapid access chest pain service. She was upset by a comment made by a patient last week 'you are not a doctor - I want the opinion of a consultant'. In the NHS we have adopted Agenda for Change -we band people (not doctors ) by the skills they have rather than the titles they ... Read More »

The title of this blog comes from the GMC's guide 'Good Medical Practice'. I was reminded of this today when I saw a gentleman on the ward who has a diagnosis of alcohol related cardiomyopathy and has presented with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. The issue came up as to whether he should be considered for an ... Read More »

we are all 'medical' relatives - by that I mean we run interference in the health care of our loved ones by choice/duty/request. I have had the privelige of looking after the relative of a fellow consultant (different specialty and trust) this week and it has got me thinking about this role. I've decided that this is a ... Read More »

I've been busy for the past couple of days teaching on a course. As many of you who read this probably do I always try to collect / look over any feedback (self-congratulation or self-flagellation you can decide!). I've been thinking about what makes a good teacher and in particular those teachers who have influenced ... Read More »

I've seen two patients in the last 24 hours where the issue fo fee for service versus targetted investigations has come up. My first patient is of Indian extraction and is 34 with left bundle branch block secondary to aortic regurgitation who was in India for a wedding. After a few nights of well-lubricated hard partying he ... Read More »