Many of our patients are very anxious at the moment; in the worst case scenario this anxiety can manifest as apparent shortness of breath and affect your clinical assessment. In this episode we discuss how to address these issues, what we can say to patients to help and the use of communication skills and empathy in these difficult consultations.

This is episode 4 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.

This episode focuses specifically on triaging a patient with possible COVID-19, including a discussion about how to carry out a verbal examination and what red flags to look for. It also discusses how to assess shortness of breath on the phone, which is a particular challenge for patients who may have COVID-19. 

This is episode 3 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.

Aimed at those coming back to triage after a break, this episode discusses new technology such as video calls and techniques to get started again, such as the golden minute. We also talk about the adaptation of basic communication skills to the triage call and how to handle the patient’s ideas, concerns and expectations. 

This is episode 2 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.

This introductory episode discusses telephone triage from the perspective of a doctor who is new to it. We discuss how to set up a session of telephone triage to maximise success, how to structure and document the call and how to safety net. Some groups of patients can be particularly challenging and we talk about how to manage these challenges and how to know when triage won’t work and the patient has to be seen. 

This is episode 1 in a series about telephone triage during COVID-19.

This EKU2019.3 explores the recent Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare on Combined hormonal contraception with Dr Anne Lashford, a GP in Wiltshire, Vice President of the FSRH and an Assessor for EMBRACE, which audits maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality combined hormonal contraception.

In the UK, there are approximately 146,000 people with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and at least 115,000 people with Crohn’s disease. 

This EKU2019.3 podcast discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease with Dr Kevin Barrett, a GP in Hertfordshire, Chair of the Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology and RCGP Crohn's and Colitis Spotlight Clinical Lead.

In this podcast Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Kamilla Kamaruddin discuss the skills needed to manage a consultation in which a child or adolescent presents as transgender, accompanied by their parent or guardian. We will talk about how to support the parent and cover issues such as referral and which organisations we can signpost to for further support. 

This episode was launched in January 2020. 

In this podcast Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Kamilla Kamaruddin discuss the issue of disclosure of LGBT status, including reasons why patients may not feel comfortable sharing their status. Legal issues are covered, as well as general good practice around language and communication with secondary care.

This episode was launched in January 2020.

Reviewed: September 2023

It is important that all patients feel welcome at their GP and survey data suggests that this is not always the case for LGBT patient. In this podcast Dr Toni Hazell and Dr Kamilla Kamaruddin discuss how you can make your practice inclusive and welcoming for LGBT patients, starting from when they walk through the door into the waiting room. They also discuss the use of pronouns for transgender patients and how GPs can be supportive of LGBT staff.

This episode was launched in January 2020.

Reviewed: September 2023

With thanks to Dr Mike Farquhar for giving us permission to use the NHS Badge image from the @RainbowNHSBadge Twitter page.

There are approximately 1.2 million patients with COPD in the UK with 115,000 new cases each year. However most people are diagnosed in their 50’s or older and a large number remain undiagnosed.

This EKU2019.2 podcast explores the symptoms, investigations, referral, treatment and management of people with COPD with Dr Steve Holmes, a GP in Somerset and Education Lead with the Primary Care Respiratory Society.