Clin Med
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Clinical leadership has become a primary focus of the NHS with many leadership programmes, particularly those aimed at junior clinicians, being developed. This article illustrates the potential of these programmes but also urges caution when assessing the success of these schemes both from an individual and organisational perspective.
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Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has become the standard of care for most patients with ventilatory failure due to an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In all but a small minority, even of the very sickest, there is little to be lost by at least a short trial of NIV. ⋯ There are no randomised controlled trials of NIV in patients with acute ventilatory failure due to obesity but the outcome from invasive ventilation is poor and the results of NIV encouraging. Finally, NIV may have a role during the transition from active care, aimed to extend life, to palliative care.
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This study aimed to ascertain the value of posters at medical meetings to presenters and delegates. The usefulness of posters to presenters at national and international meetings was evaluated by assessing the numbers of delegates visiting them and the reasons why they visited. Memorability of selected posters was assessed and factors influencing their appeal to expert delegates identified. ⋯ Factors increasing posters' visual appeal included their scientific content, pictures/graphs and limited use of words. Few delegates visit posters and those doing so recall little of their content. To engage their audience, researchers should design visually appealing posters by presenting high quality data in pictures or graphs without an excess of words.
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The National Service Framework for Older People resulted in the widespread introduction of intermediate care (IC) services. However, although these services have shared common aims, there has been considerable diversity in their staffing, organisation and delivery. ⋯ This paper presents the results of a national pilot audit of IC services focusing particularly on clinical governance issues. The results confirm these concerns and provide support for a larger scale national audit of IC services to monitor and improve care quality.
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The objective of this study was to describe the provision of consultant rheumatology services and the pattern of inequalities in UK rheumatology service provision, and to summarise the five-year impact of the new NHS consultant contract and the Musculoskeletal Services Framework in England and Wales. All consultants on the British Society for Rheumatology/Arthritis Research UK Consultant Workforce Register in January 2007 and January 2009 were sent questionnaires about timetable and working conditions and the personal and job-related details currently held about them on the register. ⋯ Levels of provision in 2009 were lower in Scotland (1 WTE per 113,286 population) than the rest of the UK. There are now few regional variations in rheumatology consultant provision within the UK, and the number of WTE consultants is approaching recommended levels.