The FCP Podcast

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In this episode of The FCP Podcast, Richard is joined by Dr Fiona McKevitt to explore three challenging neurological presentations commonly encountered in primary care: transient loss of consciousness (TLOC), facial droop, and suspected multiple sclerosis (MS).

Using patient cases, we discuss a practical approach to assessment, key history and examination findings, appropriate investigations, recognising red flags, and knowing when urgent or specialist referral is required.

A clinically focused episode designed to help frontline primary care clinicians build confidence when assessing patients with potentially significant neurological symptoms.

Hope you enjoy the episode!

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg109

NICE guidelines for transient loss of consciousness ('blackouts') in over 16s

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/bells-palsy

Advice on management of Bell's palsy

www.facialpalsy.org.uk

Patient information for facial palsy

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Richard is joined by Consultant Neurologist Dr Fiona McKevitt for a practical discussion around two common neurological presentations in primary care: tremor and headache.

Using two patient cases, we explore the clinical assessment, key examination findings, appropriate investigations, neurological red flags, and when referral to specialist services is indicated.

A clinically focused episode designed to help frontline primary care clinicians approach neurological presentations with greater confidence.

Hope you enjoy the episode!

Home - Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub

https://www.cwtraininghub.co.uk/

https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/

Association of British Neurologists

https://www.theabn.org/

BASH  - The British Association for the Study of Headache. National guidelines on the management of headache. 

https://bash.org.uk

An example of advice of local migraine management advice (plus red flag headache symptoms) is here

South Yorkshire Guideline Neurology Migraine Management.pdf

www.migrainetrust.org

A patient support website for tremor. 

Tremor

Neurology – Primary Care Sheffield

A video that helps explain the difference between essential tremor and idiopathic Parkinson's disease tremor.

www.tremor.org.uk

A patient support website for tremor. 

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In this episode of The FCP Podcast, Richard is joined by Emily Styles to discuss the MAGIC project — a programme designed to help general practice teams prepare for and manage medical emergencies.

We explore where the MAGIC project came from, the challenges it was developed to address, and how an initial idea evolved into a national programme.

Emily explains the GP Quick Reference Handbook, including the clinical checklists designed to support teams during rare but high-pressure emergencies. We discuss how these resources can improve patient safety, support team performance, and provide a structured approach when every second counts.

We also hear about feedback from practices using the handbook and MAGIC training, examples of its impact, and how GP practices and Primary Care Networks can access the resources and get started.

A practical episode for anyone working in primary care who wants to improve their team's preparedness for managing emergencies in general practice.

Hope you enjoy the episode!

Home - Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub

https://www.cwtraininghub.co.uk/

MAGIC Project

https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/cop/ProfessionalDevelopment/MAGIC%20Project.aspx

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Richard is joined by Occupational Therapist LIzzie Mattacola to discuss her service improvement  project she developed withing her General Practice role. 

We discuss how the project idea originated, the problem it aimed to solve, and what success looked like from the outset. We explore the planning process, including identifying the target patient population, selecting the right location, and deciding how best to introduce the service.

We also delve into the practicalities of measuring impact—covering data collection, outcome measures, evaluation tools, and how meaningful metrics were chosen. Reflecting on the results, we discuss what worked well, what didn't go to plan, and the key findings that shaped the future of the service.

Whether you're involved in quality improvement, service development, or looking to introduce change within your own organisation, this episode provides valuable insights, lessons learned, and practical advice for turning an idea into a sustainable service.

Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub

Home - Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub

College of Paramedics 

https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/

Home | British Geriatrics Society

https://www.bgs.org.uk/

Overview | Dementia, disability and frailty in later life – mid-life approaches to delay or prevent onset | Guidance | NICE

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng16

Leadership Academy – Better Leaders, Better Care, Brighter Future

https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/

10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future - GOV.UK

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-future

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Richard is joined by ED Paramedic ACP Greg Markham to explore emergency presentations in general practice — and what truly constitutes an emergency in the primary care setting.

Through case-based discussion, they work through presentations of syncope and angioedema, focusing on structured history-taking, clinical assessment, immediate management within general practice, and clear thresholds for hospital referral.

With practical insights and real-world application, this episode is designed to build confidence in recognising and managing high-risk presentations safely and effectively in primary care.

Enjoy the episode.

Thank you for your support Scott

Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub

Home - Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub

College of Paramedics 

https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/blackouts-syncope/

Syncope toolkit | RCGP Learning

 https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=12386

Overview | Transient loss of consciousness ('blackouts') in over 16s | Guidance | NICE

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg109

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Richard is joined by ED Paramedic ACP Greg Markham to explore emergency presentations in general practice — and what really counts as an emergency in the primary care setting.

Greg shares a structured approach to recognising and assessing the acutely unwell patient, including practical tools and resources that can support safe, confident decision-making under pressure.

Through case-based discussion, they work through suspected sepsis and acute shortness of breath — covering clinical assessment, immediate management options within general practice, red flags, and when escalation is essential.

A focused, clinically grounded episode designed to support frontline practitioners managing high-risk presentations in primary care.

Enjoy the episode.

As always - Thank you Scott for you support

Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub

Home - Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub

College of Paramedics 

https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/

JRCALC – Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee

https://jrcalc.org.uk/

Healthcare professionals - The UK Sepsis Trust

https://sepsistrust.org/healthcare-professionals/

Emergency Oxygen | British Thoracic Society | Better lung health for all

https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/clinical-resources/guidelines/emergency-oxygen/

Scenario: Acute exacerbation of asthma | Management | Asthma | CKS | NICE

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/asthma/management/acute-exacerbation-of-asthma/

Scenario: Acute exacerbation | Management | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | CKS | NICE

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/management/acute-exacerbation/

The Resus Room - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-resus-room/id1090433226

GP mythbusters: recently updated - Care Quality Commission

Home | Resuscitation Council UK

https://www.resus.org.uk/

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Richard is joined by renal consultant Dr Debasish Banerjee for a practical deep dive into sodium disorders and what those blood test results really mean in clinical practice.

In this episode, we break down the interpretation of sodium levels — from hyponatraemia to hypernatraemia — and move beyond the numbers to focus on real-world decision making. Through case-based discussion, we explore key elements of history taking, red flags you shouldn’t miss, and when sodium levels become genuinely concerning.

We also cover appropriate further investigations, common pitfalls, and how to manage these patients safely in primary care — including when it’s time to escalate.

A must-listen for clinicians who want to get sodium right… because getting it wrong can go south fast.

As always thank you to Scott for your support

Hyponatraemia | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hyponatraemia/

Hypernatraemia Algorithm – GP Gateway

https://www.coventryrugbygpgateway.nhs.uk/resources/hypernatraemia-algorithm/

Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub

Home - Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub

College of Paramedics 

https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/

UK Kidney

UK Kidney Association | The leading professional body for the UK kidney community

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Richard is joined by renal consultant Dr Dabashish Banerjee for a practical deep dive into renal function tests and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In this episode, they break down what CKD actually is, how it’s diagnosed in primary care, and what the numbers really mean for your patients — beyond just the eGFR.

Through case-based discussion, we explore a new diagnosis of CKD and a patient with worsening renal function, covering interpretation, red flags, progression, and when to escalate or refer.

Clear, clinically focused, and designed for frontline practitioners — this episode will sharpen your confidence in managing kidney disease in everyday practice.

Enjoy the episode.

As always thank you for your support Scott

UK Kidney CKD staging

https://www.ukkidney.org/health-professionals/information-resources/uk-eckd-guide/ckd-staging

Kidney Failure Risk Calculator 

https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10045/kidney-failure-risk-calculator

NICE - Chronic Kidney Disease

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chronic-kidney-disease/

FLOW Study

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2403347

Proteinuria UK Kidney

https://www.ukkidney.org/sites/default/files/education/Proteinuria%20quick%20reference.pdf

Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub

Home - Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub

College of Paramedics 

https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/

UK Kidney

UK Kidney Association | The leading professional body for the UK kidney community

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Richard is joined by renal consultant Dr Dabashish Banerjee to break down the interpretation of renal function tests — without the nephrology-induced headache.

In this episode, we explore when renal function tests should be requested, what they actually include, and how to interpret results confidently in clinical practice.

The conversation then focuses on potassium disorders, using real-world cases to unpack hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. We discuss key history points, relevant investigations, red flags not to miss, and when referral.

A practical, case-based episode aimed at clinicians working in primary care, urgent care, and acute settings.

Hope you enjoy the episode 

As always massive thank you to Scott

Richard Tennant - [email protected]

Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub

Home - Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub

College of Paramedics 

https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/

UK Kidney

UK Kidney Association | The leading professional body for the UK kidney community

Overview | Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate for treating hyperkalaemia | Guidance | NICE

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta599

ABCD-UKKA joint finerenone consensus statement | UK Kidney Association

https://www.ukkidney.org/about-us/news/abcd-ukka-joint-finerenone-consensus-statement

Increasing the Potassium Level in Patients at High Risk for Ventricular Arrhythmias | New England Journal of Medicine

https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2509542

Diabetes management in chronic kidney disease: a consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)

https://kdigo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Diabetes-Management-in-Chronic-Kidney-Disease-Consensus-Report-by-the-ADA-and-KDIGO.pdf

UKKA Clinical Practice Guideline – Management of Hyperkalaemia in Adults – October 2023

https://www.ukkidney.org/sites/renal.org/files/FINAL%20VERSION%20-%20UKKA%20CLINICAL%20PRACTICE%20GUIDELINE%20-%20MANAGEMENT%20OF%20HYPERKALAEMIA%20IN%20ADULTS%20-%20191223_0.pdf

Optimization of RAASi Therapy Toolkit - International Society of Nephrology

https://www.theisn.org/initiatives/toolkits/raasi-toolkit/#Challenges

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Richard is joined by consultant ophthalmologist Dr Stella Hornby for a practical deep-dive into eye assessment in general practice.

In this episode we break down real-world cases including:
 👁️ Acute vision loss
👁️ Eyelid swelling
👁️ Foreign bodies

Together we cover structured history taking, focused clinical assessment, red flags you absolutely can’t miss, and — crucially — when, where, and how urgently to refer.

If eyes make you nervous… this one’s for you.

As always big thank you to Scott for your support.

Richard Tennant - [email protected]

‎Eye Handbook

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/eye-handbook/id335546959

Primary Care Eye Service

https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/