Clinical Update

The traditional approach to up-titrating medication in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been slow and cautious, meaning that many patients do not attain maximal benefits, and this is something ‘we need to change’, Dr Andrew Frankel says in a new three-part podcourse on CKD.

This series is exclusive to MIMS Learning subscribers and follows the case of a patient with CKD, from initial diagnosis to the management of end-stage disease. Learners will be able to read and download practical worksheets and test their knowledge with multiple choice quizzes. 

Ensure you are up to speed with all the key points primary care professionals need to know about CKD at mimslearning.co.uk.

Click here to sign up and listen now. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

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Podcourse: part 1 - diagnosis and classification of CKD with Dr Andrew Frankel

Podcourse: part 2 - monitoring and management of CKD with Dr Andrew Frankel

Podcourse: part 3 - advanced management of CKD with Dr Andrew Frankel

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The Government’s 10-year plan for the NHS (‘Fit for the future’) has a dedicated section on prevention, including a ‘moonshot’ to end the obesity epidemic. But what is the role of GP in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD)?

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, the MIMS Learning editors explore NICE recommendations for combination therapy to help patients achieve lipid targets for secondary prevention, the promotion of SGLT2 inhibitors to first-line options for both heart failure and type 2 diabetes, and the differences between UK and international guidelines on hypertension. 

Additionally, given obesity is a huge risk factor for CVD, the editors review how the management of obesity must encompass more than just GLP-1 medications.

Educational objectives

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: 

• Outline the prevention steps proposed in the NHS 10-year plan
• Discuss additional therapeutic options for achieving lipid targets
• Review revised recommendations for heart failure and type 2 diabetes
• Understand the differences between UK and international hypertension targets

You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

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Guidance update: latest NICE guidelines on cardiovascular disease risk assessment and reduction

Guidance update: NICE guidelines on hypertension

Obesity in adults

Podcast: Dr Toni Hazell on weight loss injections and women’s health

Podcast: stress and its effect on the heart

MIMS

NICE confirms first-line role of SGLT2 inhibitors in final heart failure guidance

Monitoring requirements for hyperlipidaemia treatments

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The updated NICE guidance on asthma is ‘absolutely superb’, advanced nurse practitioner Beverely (Bev) Bostock tells Dawn Liz Powell in this episode of the Clinical Update podcast. 

She explains that the guidance could help to improve asthma outcomes in the UK. ‘We’re right at the top of the league for poor outcomes with asthma, and I suspect that that’s about to change because we’ve finally taken on the approach that has been used in other countries,’ Bev adds.

She also talks about identifying occupational asthma, the diagnosis and management of COPD, the NHS lung cancer screening programme, and the need to keep the lungs clear of sputum in people with bronchiectasis.

You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning — and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Educational objectives

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: 

• Identify the triggers for occupational asthma
• Discuss the key recommendations of the 2024 update to the NICE asthma guidance
• Review the different subcategories of COPD, according to the GOLD guidelines
• Understand how the NHS lung cancer screening programme has led to incidental findings of emphysema

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

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Guidance update: BTS/NICE/SIGN guidelines on diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management

Podcast: Dr Cara Bossley on asthma in children

COPD pathology and diagnosis

MIMS

Combination inhalers for the treatment of asthma

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In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editor Pat Anderson and medical editor Dawn Liz Powell discuss common and less common presentations of nasal problems.

This podcast draws on the expertise of MIMS Learning’s professional clinical writers and speakers, to bring you key learning points on nasal problems.  Potential problems include loss of sense of smell, obstruction, discharge and pain, with a large variety of potential causes. Some patients, including older people and those of Chinese heritage, may be more at risk of malignancy.

Educational objectives

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: 

• Recall red flag symptoms associated with nose problems
• List causes of loss of sense of smell
• Recall management of nosebleeds and their possible causes
• Reflect on hayfever management and the role of immunotherapy
• Consider increased risk of malignancy in key patient groups

You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

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Nasal problems - red flag symptoms

Guidance update: latest NICE guidelines on neurological conditions

ENT emergencies

Epistaxis - red flag symptoms

Hayfever: clinical review

Facial pain - red flag symptoms

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In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, GP and RCGP safeguarding lead Dr Joy Shacklock talks to medical editor Sangeeta Krishnan about safeguarding children in primary care. 

She shares insights into the roles and responsibilities of GPs and other healthcare professionals, , the importance of accurate documentation, and steps to take when a safeguarding concern arises.

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:

• Recall the legal and professional responsibilities of GPs in safeguarding children
• Recognise the potential indicators of abuse and neglect, including both physical injuries and behavioural changes in children
• Outline the core principles of the RCGP safeguarding standards and how to use the associated toolkit
• Discuss the appropriate next steps when child abuse is suspected, including when to make a referral
• Adopt a proactive, child-first approach to safeguarding in daily clinical practice

You can access the website version of this podcast on MIMS Learning to make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

MIMS Learning

Podcast: skin conditions in infants and children

Faltering growth

Neonatal dermatology

Paediatric dermatology in skin of colour

Resources on adult safeguarding

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Sexual difficulties are common — around 50% of women and 40% of men in Britain experienced sexual difficulty in the past year, according to the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. However, both patients and clinicians can find it difficult to initiate discussions about sexual function, and these issues often go unmentioned in primary care. 

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, the MIMS Learning editors highlight communication techniques and consultation skills. They also discuss key presentations in both men and women in primary care, including painful intercourse, low libido, and premature ejaculation, as well as the important link between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular risk.

You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Educational objectives

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: 

• Create a safe and non-judgmental space to encourage patients to discuss sexual problems
• Recall communication models like ‘LOFTI’ and ‘PLISSIT’ to help structure consultations.
• Differentiate between superficial and deep dyspareunia 
• Recognise the red flag symptoms associated with dyspareunia
• Take a holistic approach to diagnosis and management of low libido, considering psychosocial factors
• Recognise erectile dysfunction as a significant risk marker for cardiovascular disease
• Describe the diagnostic criteria and management options for premature ejaculation

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

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Psychosexual disorders in women

Premature ejaculation: clinical review

Dyspareunia in women — red flag symptoms

Understanding sexual dysfunction in women with diabetes

Sex and the heart

Vulval pain: clinical review

Erectile dysfunction - red flag symptoms

Podcast bonus episode: Dr Olivia Hum on the latest in menopause management

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) kills more women each year than all types of cancer combined, yet it may be under-recognised and under-treated in women. GP Dr Suneeta Kochhar offers practical advice on how GPs can address this.  

Speaking to MIMS Learning medical editor Dawn Liz Powell, Dr Kochhar explains that the reasons for this include women continuing to be under-represented in clinical trials, certain symptoms presenting differently in women compared with men, and women themselves being unaware of their risk of developing CVD.

Other topics discussed in the episode include how risk factors such as type 2 diabetes play a greater role in the development of CVD in women than in men and how chest pain — the most common symptom of myocardial infarction in both men and women — may be more diffuse in women. 

You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning — and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Educational objectives

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: 

• Discuss the prevalence of CVD in women
• Understand how historic under-recognition has led to poorer outcomes in women
• Review the differences in presentation of CVD between women and men
• Target lifestyle interventions to women

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

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Chest pain - red flag symptoms

Coronary artery disease in women

Ischaemic heart disease: clinical review

Podcast: causes of stable chest pain

MIMS

‘We’re perpetuating the increased risk’: Addressing unequal lipid management in women with CVD. October 2024.

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Not all people who present to their GP with low mood will meet the threshold for clinical depression, given distress or sadness can be a normal, even expected, response to a difficult life event (such as bereavement).

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, the MIMS Learning editors look at how to distinguish distress from more severe forms of depression, and how management of depression depends on the severity. They explore the role of antidepressants and how/when they should be withdrawn. 

The effect that more severe depression can have on a person’s life is also reviewed, including how GPs can sensitively identify if a person with depression is experiencing thoughts of self-harm.

You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: 

• Understand the NICE recommendations on diagnosing depression
• Review the treatment options for depression, and how these differ depending on the severity of depression
• Discuss the latest evidence and advice on withdrawing antidepressants
• Sensitively assess the risk of self-harm in a person with depression

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

THIS PODCAST IS INTENDED FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THOUGHTS OF SELF-HARM OR SUICIDAL IDEATION, PLEASE SEEK HELP FROM THESE RESOURCES:

• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
• Papyrus UK
• Samaritans

MIMS Learning

• Case study: distinguishing distress from depression
• Depression: clinical review
• Depression and anxiety in people with chronic pain
• Exploring the risk of self-harm and suicide in primary care
• Guidance update: NICE guidelines on depression in adults
• Strategies for the safe deprescribing of antidepressants

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In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, GP and associate specialist in dermatology Dr Angelika Razzaque delves into the most common acute skin conditions seen in general practice. 

She shares her valuable insights on diagnosing and managing a range of these conditions, from impetigo to topical steroid withdrawal and severe drug reactions. 

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:

• Identify and manage common acute skin conditions
• Recognise seasonal variations and red flag symptoms in children requiring urgent referral
• Diagnose and manage acute contact dermatitis
• Review the initiation of appropriate topical treatments and patient education
• Address concerns regarding topical steroid withdrawal, and recognise the influence of social media on patient perceptions
• Assess and manage urticaria effectively in primary care
• Optimise diagnostic practices for skin infections and fungal conditions 

You can access the website version of this podcast on MIMS Learning to make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

MIMS Learning

Case study: topical steroid withdrawal

Skin rashes - red flag symptoms

Eczema management: latest therapies

Skin conditions: it’s all about the face

Common conditions in skin of colour

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In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, the MIMS Learning team discusses red flags and risk factors for gynaecological cancers.

Over 22,000 women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer in the UK every year. In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, the MIMS Learning editors consider when to investigate  postmenopausal bleeding, the impact of  combined oral contraceptives on cancer risk, and counselling those with a positive HPV result on cervical screening.

You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

This podcast forms part of MIMS Learning’s 2025 editorial campaign: Patient, Presentation, Pathway for Cancer, featuring free, cancer-related CPD.

Educational objectives

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: 

• Recall red flags for endometrial cancer 
• Understand the strong link between obesity and endometrial cancer
• Determine when urgent referral is needed for women with postmenopausal bleeding
• Recognise persistent symptoms suggestive of ovarian cancer
• Explain how health inequalities affect diagnosis of gynaecological cancers
• Recognise specific symptoms requiring urgent gynaecology referral
• Understand the effect of combined oral contraception on cancer risk
• Recall the key points to explain to patients who have a positive HPV result on cervical screening 

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

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Cervical cancer: clinical review

Abnormal uterine bleeding

Ovarian cancer: clinical review

Menstrual disorders: endometriosis, postmenopausal bleeding and gynaecological cancers

Research round-up: ovarian cancer

Addressing patient concerns around cervical cancer

Further resources

Target Ovarian Cancer

The Eve Appeal

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