Clinical medicine (London, England)
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A robust treatment paradigm for spontaneous intracranial hypotension has yet to be agreed upon. We present retrospective data from the patient cohort at our UK regional neurosciences centre from 2010-2020 and describe our locally developed treatment pathway. Seventy-three patients were identified: 31 men and 42 women; mean age was 42 years. ⋯ The outcome data for our diverse patient cohort shows the success of a staged approach to treatment. Relapse rates are low, and surgery is only rarely required. We use these data to inform our discussions with patients, and present them here to enable other centres to develop robust investigation and treatment paradigms of their own.
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Working on a COVID-19 ward presents a number of challenges to staff, with communication between families, patients and staff being highlighted as a key challenge. Novel methods are needed to overcome the barriers presented by COVID-19, with many turning to technology to offer solutions. Recognising these challenges as an area for improvement on our own ward, we sought to introduce new methods of communication to improve patient, relative and staff understanding and wellbeing. Through our own experiences and a discussion of the literature on this topic, we have identified some key themes which we believe can assist in the development of communication strategies in the developing pandemic.
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Employment, along with education, is central to the promotion of social mobility and the reduction of health inequalities. For the most part, however, physicians have limited exposure to occupational medicine during their training and rarely receive much in the way of formal training about occupational issues except those that fall commonly within their area of specialisation. Here, we illustrate why work and good employment can be so important for health and, therefore, why it should matter to all physicians. ⋯ There is an important relationship between unemployment and poor health which will be discussed, illustrating the importance of being able to support people with long-term conditions and disabilities to remain in work for as long as they wish to do so. Patients expect to be able to seek advice from their physician about taking time off work because of ill health, planning a return to work after sickness absence and whether or not they need to change their work status because of their health condition. Therefore, we describe the fitnote: what it is for, how to complete one well and what core principles are needed in order to give patients good advice about working.