The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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NICE guidance states new patients aged 15-59 registering at a primary care centre in a high-risk area for HIV, should be offered testing. First, this allows for prompt initiation of antiretroviral therapy, improving the individual's morbidity and mortality while reducing community transmission. Second, increasing the breadth of the population offered tests would help normalise testing, reducing stigma and increasing uptake. AIM: To retrospectively audit adherence to HIV testing guidance in new patients registering at a GP in Walsall, where HIV risk is categorised as high, and to make recommendations based on the results. ⋯ The guidance for screening for HIV in this primary care centre is therefore not followed due to a lack of awareness of the guideline and HIV risk in the area. We recommend that this audit is conducted across more primary care centres in HIV high-risk areas to assess if this outcome is representative of general adherence to guidance.
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Comparative Study
A retrospective, comparative analysis of A&E attendance paserns in Irish Traveller versus non-Traveller general practice patients.
Very little is known about Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller health, or access to and utilisation of health care. They are not coded in NHS data systems and there are multiple barriers including illiteracy, digital exclusion, and discrimination. ⋯ This work throws light on health service utilisation patterns by Irish Travellers. A&E attendances may have been more suited to a non-emergency setting and there may have been missed opportunities for contact with primary care or NHS 111, which may have an impact on continuity, onward referral, and quality of care.
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The underrepresentation of ethnic minorities and low-income groups in primary care (PC) research hinders the development of effective treatments for diverse populations. ⋯ This study provides insights into poor recruitment of specific ethnic minorities into primary care studies. The authors identified adaptations to research engagement activities, which are required to ensure that participation is improved.
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Older adults with multimorbidity are at high risk of mortality following COVID-19 hospitalisation. However, the potential benefit of timely primary care follow-up on severe outcomes post-COVID-19 has not been well established. ⋯ Timely primary care consultations after discharge may improve survival following COVID-19 hospitalisation among older adults aged ≥85 years, with multimorbidity. Expanding primary care services and implementing follow-up mechanisms are crucial to support this vulnerable population's recovery and well-being.
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Long-term opioid prescription to manage chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is rapidly rising, despite the lacking evidence supporting their safety and efficacy. Co-prescribing opioids with other dependence-forming medications (DFMs) causes fatal side effects. Clinicians are advised to avoid combinations of DFMs and, where suitable, deprescribe to improve patient safety. ⋯ This QIP addresses a pressing need to reduce the usage of DFMs. The interim results will guide the change model in the Grange Medical Centre GP surgery and inform scoping of relevant clinical questions to improve patient safety.