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Welcome News


Welcome to your


WITH more than 300 languages spoken across the UK, society is more multicultural than ever. This means GPs are increasingly likely to see patients with so-called “limited English proficiency”. My article on page 12 offers advice on overcoming communication issues and potential cultural differences with this growing patient group.


Understanding healthcare


information isn’t just a challenge for non-English speakers. Poor health literacy affects nearly half the population and GP Graham Kramer shares ways doctors can “make it easy” for patients on page 6.


Is the traditional 10-minute


consultation fit for purpose? Dr Roopinder Brar discusses the need for longer appointments at a time of intense pressure on practice resources on page 4. On page 10 GP Fiona Kinnon talks about life in the media spotlight offering advice on a


COVER PHOTOGRAPH: AMIE IGOE


phone-in radio show. Saying sorry is regarded by


some doctors as an admission of guilt or a sign of weakness. But in many cases a sincere apology is not only the right thing to do, it can help resolve complaints early and prevent them from escalating to a negligence claim. Find out more in our article on page 7.


Names such as Victoria Climbié, Daniel Pelka and Baby P are familiar to many and serve as a stark reminder of the work that needs to be done to keep children safe, Our career article on page 8 looks at how GPs can develop an interest in safeguarding children and young people.


And in our case study on


page 14, an asthmatic smoker presents with a persistent cough and a dark spot on his lung.


• Dr Susan Gibson-Smith Editor


EXPANDED ROLE FOR PHARMACISTS TO EASE


BURDEN ON GPs PLANS have been unveiled to ease the burden in both primary and hospital care delivery in Scotland by further enhancing the role of pharmacists. Achieving Excellence in Pharmaceutical Care sets out the Scottish


Government’s priorities for a new national framework. Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison said the strategy would enable more people to be treated at home or in the community and ease pressure on other services. She pledged that every GP practice will have access to a pharmacist with advanced clinical skills by 2021. Among other commitments set out is a planned expansion in the


number of community pharmacists undertaking independent prescribing and advanced clinical skills training. It will widen a national minor ailments scheme (MAS) to cover more conditions such as impetigo, uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women and shingles, following a pilot scheme in Inverclyde during 2017. A chronic medication service will be further developed to incorporate


a more formalised role for community pharmacists in managing people with long-term conditions, building in medication review, prescribing, monitoring and dose titration. The strategy also includes plans to transform the delivery of hospital


pharmaceutical services and care during weekdays and at weekends, and improve all pharmacy-related aspects of the hospital discharge process utilising integrated models of care.


QUARTER OF MEDICAL EDITOR: Dr Susan Gibson-Smith


ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Joanne Curran Jim Killgore


DESIGN: Connect Communications connectmedia.cc


PRINT: 21 Colour 21colour.co.uk


CORRESPONDENCE: GPst Editor MDDUS Mackintosh House 120 Blythswood Street Glasgow G2 4EA


t: e: 0333 043 4444 jcurran@mddus.com w: www.mddus.com


STUDENTS TEETOTAL NEARLY a quarter of UK medical students asked about alcohol consumption claimed to be teetotal in an average week. An online survey sent to BMJ Student subscribers asking about health


and lifestyle habits found that among the 823 respondents just over 10 per cent consumed more than the recommended maximum 14 units per week.


Drinking was found to be heavier in the early years at university but


the survey also found that 23.8 per cent of medical students reported that on average they drank no units of alcohol each week. These findings correspond with data from the wider population compiled by the Office for National Statistics which found that 21 per cent of 16-24 year olds drink no alcohol. The proportion of young adults


GPst is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered in Scotland No 5093 at Mackintosh House, 120 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EA. The MDDUS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MDDUS are discretionary as set out in the Articles of Association. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in GPst are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.


claiming to be teetotal has increased steadily over the last 10 years, with a 40 per cent rise between 2005 and 2013.


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