Doctor articles from December 2005

Doctor archives from December 2005

Doctors in dark over changes to GP 'bible'.
December 6, 2005... Regulation Paul Stephenson Many GPs are unaware of 'dangerously confused' proposed changes to the 'doctor's bible' Good Medical Practice. The warning comes from an LMC submission to the GMC's consultation on the changes which closed...

Demise of co-op group marks end of an era for GPs.
December 6, 2005... Out-of-hours THE BODY set up to represent GP co-operatives, whose members used to deliver out-of-hours services for around two-thirds of GPs, has gone into liquidation. The National Association of GP Co-operatives (NAGPC), which...

GP cleared in polio jab case appeal.
December 6, 2005... Legal The Court of Appeal has overturned a negligence claim made against a GP for a polio vaccination which left a child disabled. Devon GP Dr Hugh Bradford challenged a High Court ruling that he had breached a duty of care when he...

New warning on antipsychotics.
December 6, 2005... Dementia Older antipsychotic drugs are at least as dangerous as newer drugs when prescribed to older people for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, according to a large US study. In March last year, the UK's Medicines...

More children on high steroid doses.
December 6, 2005... Specialists advise GPs to review children on very high-dose inhaled corticosteroids as figures show jump in prescribing Adam Legge The number of UK children prescribed very high doses of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in primary care...

Abortion pill safety assured.
December 6, 2005... Terminations Specialists have played down safety concerns about the medical abortion pill. Medical terminations using mifepristone have been associated with four fatal bacterial infections in US patients, which occurred within a week...

Cut risk, not weight in obesity.
December 6, 2005... Guideline GPs should prioritise risk factor reduction in weight management, rather than a return to an 'ideal' or healthy weight range, according to draft guidance from the Department of Health. The Government has published a...

DoH gives green light to slash PCT numbers.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2005... Trusts The government has given all strategic health authorities (SHAs) the go-ahead to start local consultations on the future shape and number of PCTs in their area. The 14-week consultation will run from 14 December. No boundary...

Commissioning to be an enhanced service.(practice-based commissioning)
December 6, 2005... But Government's PBC incentive plan fails to win over sceptics Cathy Comerford GPs look set to be paid for taking up practice-based commissioning (PBC) as a directed enhanced service (DES). An announcement is expected from ministers...

GPs battle PCT expansion.
December 13, 2005... PCT mergers GPs in Bath are fighting proposals to merge their PCT with four others in neighbouring county Wiltshire. Ministers have given all strategic health authorities (SHAs) the go-ahead to begin negotiating mergers locally. Avon,...

Trainees forced to pay over [pounds sterling]1,000 to qualify.
December 13, 2005... Training Paul Stephenson Registrars will have to pay more than [pounds sterling]1,000 to complete their GP training under latest proposals from the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB). The body wants to triple...

GMC to publish more data on GPs.
December 13, 2005... Medical register GPs could have information about their specialist areas included on the new GP register, due to go live in March next year. GMC members agreed at a council meeting last week to consider including much wider information...

Multinational moves in on inner-city practices.
December 13, 2005... Services Cathy Comerford A GIANT private company has been awarded the contract to run a practice left vacant by a retiring single-handed GP, in what is thought to be the first such deal involving a major private provider. The contract...

Dummies may cut cot death risk.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2005... Neonatology Infants who are given a dummy when sleeping appear to have a much smaller risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than other children, Californian researchers have found. They interviewed the mothers or carers of 185...

NICE could deny drugs to smokers.
December 13, 2005... Services NICE SAYS its future guidance may in certain circumstances recommend against treating patients who smoke or are obese. A patient's individual circumstances may only be taken into account when there will be an effect on the...

BP guidance 'wrong' on renal protection.
December 13, 2005... Review disputes benefits of ACE inhibitors in renal disease Adam Legge There is little justification for using ACE inhibitors as the first-choice antihypertensive for renal protection, despite them being recommended by NICE, say UK...

Seroxat birth defect risk to be investigated.
December 13, 2005... Mental health The ANTIDEPRESSANT paroxetine (Seroxat) may be associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations in newborns, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has warned. The agency is investigating...