GPnotebook Podcast GPnotebook

In this episode, which has been recorded for Chronic Conditions Month 2021, Dr Peter Bagshaw (Clinical Lead in Dementia and Mental Health, South Gloucestershire CCG) and Dr Rob Hampton (Portfolio GP, Leicester) explore the use of opioids for musculoskeletal pain and examine alternative approaches to treatment. Do opioids have a role in managing musculoskeletal pain? How are guidelines in this area evolving? In what ways is our understanding of psychosomatic contributors improving? What should GPs be looking at in consultations, especially when time is limited?

In this episode, which has been recorded for Chronic Conditions Month 2021, Dr Yassir Javaid (Cardiovascular and Diabetes Clinical Lead, Nene CCG) and Dr Kevin Fernando (GP Partner at North Berwick Health Centre and Education Director for GPnotebook Education) discuss the detection of chronic kidney disease in primary care. What do the different tests tell us? What are the most up-to-date guidelines on investigations for CKD, and what do they recommend we do? How often should we be conducting tests for renal function and albuminuria?

In this episode, which has been recorded for Chronic Conditions Month 2021, Dr Steve Holmes (Clinical Respiratory Lead for NHS Somserset) and Dr Peter Bagshaw (Clinical Lead in Dementia and Mental Health, South Gloucestershire CCG) explore the impact that COVID-19 has had on mental health, including among people who have not been infected. How has self-isolation and shielding affected different people? What is the particular impact on children and younger people? What has the toll been on carers? Which people may struggle with "returning to normal"? How can we support people with "long COVID"? What is the potential role for talking therapies in this area?

In this episode, which has been recorded for Chronic Conditions Month 2021, Dr Steve Holmes (Clinical Respiratory Lead for NHS Somserset) and Dr Anthony Cunliffe (National Lead GP Adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support) discuss cancer as a long-term condition from a primary care perspective. How is the landscape of cancer care changing, with respect to the role of primary care clinicians? Why is accurate coding so important? In what ways can clinicians better individualise care in this area? What resources are available to support difficult conversations?

In this episode, which has been recorded for Chronic Conditions Month 2021, Dr Peter Bagshaw (Clinical Lead in Dementia and Mental Health, South Gloucestershire CCG) and Dr Kevin Fernando (GP Partner at North Berwick Health Centre and Education Director for GPnotebook Education) discuss the interplay between diabetes and severe mental illness (SMI). What exactly is meant by SMI? How prevalent is mental illness in people with diabetes? What is the role of the gut–brain axis? What signs should clinicians be looking out for in spotting depression?

In this epsiode, which has been recorded for Chronic Conditions Month 2021, Dr Peter Bagshaw (Clinical Lead in Dementia and Mental Health, South Gloucestershire CCG) and Dr Yassir Javaid (Cardiovascular and Diabetes Clinical Lead, Nene CCG) discuss the management of palpitations in primary care. How can we identify those patients with palpitations who have a significant cardiac abnormality or are at risk of an adverse outcome? What are the main causes of palpitations – including those that might have a psychological basis? What are the roles of history-taking and investigations? Finally, what red flags do we need to look out for?