Clin Med
-
Herpes zoster or shingles is the reactivation of dormant varicella zoster virus (VZV) in the dorsal root ganglia. Segmental motor paresis is rare and only few cases of brachial plexitis have been reported in the literature. ⋯ The patient was treated successfully with aciclovir, gabapentin and physiotherapy with good recovery. Radial neuritis secondary to active herpes zoster has been rarely reported in the past.
-
The Foundation Programme curriculum describes 'generic skills' for doctors, which illustrate many of the attributes of medical professionalism. Educators from the Dorset acute trusts have worked with faculty members of the School of Health and Social Care at Bournemouth University to create a course in professionalism for Foundation Programme Year 2 doctors. The course, held away from the hospital setting but facilitated by consultants as well as university staff, has six themes taught on different days: professionalism and judgement, relationship with society, accountability, teamworking and leadership, relationship with patients, and excellence and continuous improvement. The emphasis is on group discussion between the participants, and feedback to the whole group, rather than didactic lecture-based teaching, with the aim of encouraging Foundation Programme doctors to become more reflective in their practice, and to discover their own answers to their queries.
-
Postgraduate medical training has changed. There is a significant reduction in hours of experience and training time due to the European Working Time Directive, a relative lag in substantive consultant post expansion and a resulting 'bulge' of trainees joining the specialist register having attained a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). ⋯ Traditional historical alternatives for career progression at this point have been a locum consultancy, a period of research or an overseas fellowship. This article discusses the pros and cons of another more controversial alternative: a post-CCT fellowship.