03 May 2016

In each issue of the Journal of General Practice Nursing we investigate a topic currently affecting our readers. Here, Binkie Mais asks...

How can we stop Britain from being ‘the fat man of Europe’?

Despite numerous public health campaigns encouraging us to drink and smoke less, eat more healthily and take-up some form of exercise, the UK population is still facing an obesity epidemic. Indeed, one in four British adults are said to be obese, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and, if current trends are not reversed, more than half the population could be obese by 2050.

06 September 2024

At NHS Charities Together, we want everyone in the UK to experience the best healthcare possible.

Right now, the NHS is facing immense challenges. Pressures continue to grow, NHS resources are stretched, the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic is still starkly felt and budgets are squeezed so only the crucial elements of care are delivered. Patients’ needs
are changing — the population is growing and more people are living longer, often with more or multiple long-term conditions. We depend more on technology. Staff must be properly supported to provide a positive, personal experience to patients.

10 August 2018

A woman’s average age for her periods to end, marking the menopause, is 51. Roughly, 80% of women suffer from some menopausal symptoms which last for two years on average. Lowered oestrogen levels are responsible for most menopausal symptoms; the most common in western culture being hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and sleep disturbance. Weight gain that is often associated with the menopause can further add to the development of health conditions, such as heart disease, and make certain symptoms, such as hot flushes, worse. The combination of a healthy diet, in particular with a low glycaemic load, keeping active, and avoiding weight gain can help alleviate or reduce severity of menopause symptoms. Some foods such as soya products, oily fish, oats, possibly probiotics, and milk products or their alternatives, can help with a number of symptoms. More evidence is gathering for how a Mediterranean diet can help with symptoms.

05 September 2022

Covid-19 was a healthcare emergency that affected everyone in the UK to varying degrees. Even leaving out the tragic number of deaths and long-term effects of the infection itself, the restrictions and isolation measures led to huge changes, some of which have continued to echo throughout our lives. Many of us have yet to resume a full social life through anxiety or losing touch with friends, and businesses — particularly those in the hospitality sector — have yet to fully recover, and many workplaces have yet to welcome workers back.

22 June 2017

Anyone working in general practice would not disagree that there are significant challenges, with an increasing workload, an ageing population, and increasingly complex medical problems being diagnosed and managed. In addition, the significant underinvestment of staff working in primary care compared with the secondary care sector is now manifesting in problems associated with GP and general practice nurse (GPN) recruitment and retention (Primary Care Workforce Commission, 2015).

04 June 2025

Here, Callum Metcalfe-O’Shea, UK professional lead for long-term conditions at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), talks to Andrew Power, water wellbeing specialist at Swim England, the national governing body for swimming and aquatic sports in England, about the importance of swimming in providing physical and mental wellbeing benefits and highlighting the crucial role that GPNs play in supporting these conversations.

22 September 2015

Leg ulcers present a common clinical problem for general practice nurses (GPNs). The need for assessment and maintenance can take up a great deal of time and issues such as pain, exudate volume and poorly applied compression bandaging have a serious effect on patients’ quality of life. The ‘gold standard’ treatment for venous leg ulcers has long been multilayer compression therapy (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2012). However, as with any other technique, expertise can vary, meaning that clinicians sometimes do not apply the necessary sub-bandage pressures. Patients can also find multilayer compression ‘bulky’ and uncomfortable, and thus may not concord with treatment (Wicks, 2015).

22 June 2017

Pre-travel vaccine recommendations require a full individualised risk assessment. The traveller should then be informed about the specificity of the vaccines they should consider and told about their benefits and limitations. They should also be made aware of issues around certificate requirements and if these will apply to them. A well-informed traveller will understand that, although important, vaccines do not remove the need for precautions with food, water, insect bites and activities that increase risk. Routine immunisations and those recommended for special risk groups should not be neglected in favour of more rare and exotic vaccines. This article focuses on indications for travel vaccines only.

04 June 2025

Wound care presents a substantial burden on the NHS, clinicians, and patients. Promoting supported self-management has emerged as a key strategy to empower patients in proactively managing their wounds. When implemented appropriately, it can improve treatment adherence, enhance patient wellbeing, reduce the need for clinical appointments, and lower healthcare costs. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this shift by limiting face-to-face care, highlighting the importance of equipping patients with the knowledge, skills, and confidence required for effective self-management. Clear terminology and standardised approaches are essential for enabling the successful implementation of patient selfcare. Products such as Flaminal® (an enzyme alginogel®), with its simplicity and versatility, offers a practical solution that supports patient-led wound care while promoting sustainable healthcare delivery.

05 March 2024

Due to its diverse manifestations, Lyme disease (caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi) can present as a diagnostic challenge. This article will help practitioners to recognise Lyme disease in all its formats, ensure that historytaking and assessment are appropriate, and to consider other differentials while considering Lyme disease as the most likely diagnosis. Additionally, clinicians need to be able to manage the presentation appropriately using up-to-date guidelines. There will also be some discussion about the sequelae of Lyme disease — treated or untreated — and the impact of global warming on arthropod disease generally, including Lyme disease.