23 November 2016

The UK has one of the highest death rates from asthma in Europe (Global Asthma Network, 2014). Every day three people die from asthma, two-thirds of these deaths are preventable (Asthma UK, n.d.). Why asthma still kills: The National Review of Asthma Deaths. Confidential Enquiry Report (NRAD) was published in 2014 by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). It is the largest worldwide study looking into why people die from asthma and the first to adopt a UK-wide focus. The NRAD identified that only a fifth of people with asthma are receiving all the basic elements of asthma care which could help them manage their asthma effectively and reduce their risk of experiencing an asthma attack. It provided valuable insights and clear practical recommendations which, if implemented, could improve care and reduce the number of asthma deaths (RCP 2014).

05 March 2024

This clinical skills series — Think menopause — looks at menopause-related issues to help general practice nurses (GPNs) identify, assess and manage women whose day-to-day lives may be detrimentally affected by this stage in their life. Here, Sue Thomas, advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) based in Leamington Spa, looks at physical activity and the menopause. Sue is also the founder of a local menopause support charity, Action Menopause Warwickshire, which is free for ladies to attend  (https://actionmenopausewarwickshire.org.uk/).

01 September 2020

This article is the second in a two-part series on respiratory assessment. The first article looked at the importance of taking a patient history as part of assessment. This article goes on to address the various stages and techniques involved in physical assessment. It will give an overview of the process, looking at inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation, and provides insight to technique. Integrating the physical assessment outcome with information gained from history-taking is also discussed. Using all of the gathered information and vital signs enables clinicians to process and decide on the patient’s problems. While this two-part series provides an overview of the assessment process, further in-depth training is essential for safe and effective patient outcomes.

19 March 2018

10 July 2023

The patient’s voice is central to health care. Patient and public involvement (PPI) is also important for an intervention, research, innovation, and education (R, I and E) project pathway which the author has developed (Figure 1). In the author’s opinion, consulting and embedding PPI, for example in this cyclical intervention process (Figure 1), can allow for better engagement in an intervention, leading to better outcomes. If PPI is considered in the ideation of a particular intervention, such as digital applications (Apps) to treat skin conditions, patients and the public will be better placed to take ownership and become embedded in the various elements of the cycle. In the author’s opinion, patients are experts in their care and can help shape R, I and E projects in line with the subject matter. Placing PPI at the heart of each stage in the cycle in Figure 1 will only have the potential to better engage participants and promote better patient outcomes.

29 March 2023

Pneumonia continues to cause mortality around the world, despite advances in treatment and prevention. The disease can affect any age and can present with variable degrees of severity ranging from mild to severe, with the worst cases resulting in admission to hospital. While vaccination in the UK has impacted on the severity and death rate of this potentially devastating disease, the condition continues to be the largest cause of mortality in children with the highest death rates seen in under developed countries. This article gives an overview of treatment, management and prevention, as well as a brief insight into the possible long-term effects following recovery from pneumonia in babies and children.

12 December 2019

Pneumonia is an invasive opportunistic infection which can affect any age group. The very young, the very old and those with chronic disease are most vulnerable and to protect these groups there are two types of pneumonia vaccine which are specific for these groups, although there is some overlap. To make learning more enjoyable, here, Kirsty Armstrong, has developed this wordsearch as part of a teaching programme about vaccines and immunisation. As an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) in out of hours (OOH) and lecturer in primary and urgent care, finding new ways of making immunisation schedules memorable is always a challenge.

01 March 2021

The delivery of wound care in the current climate is challenging so effective solutions are more important than ever. It is vital that you are aware of the latest products and innovations that have the potential to improve outcomes.
 
Here, we present PolyMem^®, a unique multifunctional polymeric membrane dressing that is indicated for a wide range of acute, chronic and specialist painful wounds.

09 July 2015

Indications Debrisoft® is a rapid, highly effective, safe and easy method of debridement for acute andchronic wounds. Debrisoft® is also very effective in the removal of hyperkeratosis from the skin.

23 November 2016

Four million — or one in 16 — adults in the UK have diabetes (whether or not they are aware of it), and this figure is predicted to increase to an estimated five million by 2025 (Diabetes UK, 2015). The majority have type 2 diabetes and the focus of this article will be on the role of general practice nurses (GPNs) in managing type 2 diabetes, although an overview of pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, gestational and steroid-induced diabetes will be provided. The author will also discuss the best current dietary advice that GPNs can provide for patients so that they can manage their own diabetes, as well as looking at the support available for GPNs to facilitate self-care in their day-to-day practice.