Which drugs cause falls in the elderly? Many can, but some do more than others. Therefore, prescribing the tablets below in the frail elderly, needs to be done with some thought and caution. “A fall in the frail elderly can have much worse consequences (e.g. #NOF) than the disease the drug is trying to prevent.” […]
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How to prescribe in the elderly With caution. Think about the risk : benefit analysis before your prescribe. For example, an 89y old does need to be started on a statin. There are 5 principles. 5 key points Treat the disease process rather than symptoms – just because someone has mild oedema, it may not […]
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What happens just before an operation? There are five main stages: 1. Arrival. For most operations you will come in to hospital on the day of surgery. You will be directed to an admission area or day surgery. You will meet your nurse who will introduce themselves and check you in. They will ask you to change […]
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What is a ‘pre-op’? The main purpose of a pre-operative assessment (or ‘pre-op’) is to identify diseases other than the disease about to treated (with an operation) that may lead to complications during the: Pre-anaesthetic (before op), Surgical (the op), Post-operative (after the op) period. It is usually an appointment with a nurse, either in person or virtual (video or […]
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Will I see an anaesthetist before my operation? No, not normally. If you are low risk and the operation is low risk. But if this is not the case, and you’re about to have an operation, you will normally need to see one – ideally the one who will do the operation. This is especially […]
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What is NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)? HS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is free social care available to everyone. It is a quite well kept secret. It can fully-fund the care costs of a range of frail patients including those with dementia or long-term complex health needs. It is just for adults. CHC can be provided in a variety of settings outside […]
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What is a lasting power of attorney (LPA)? If you have difficulties with communication, mobility or forgetfulness, or anticipate that you might suffer from these in the future, it could be worthwhile setting up a registered Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). This is when you ask someone close to you (usually a family member) to look […]
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Good medical record keeping (7 top tips) Write legibly; sign legibly – with your name, rank and number (how will the next person know how to contact you?) Include details – of the patient, date, and time Record them soon after a patient contact, preferably now – as you need to get across the tone […]
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What happens to a biopsy after it has been taken? Once your biopsy has been taken it will go to the pathology laboratory. The biopsy will be processed in the laboratory to stain the tissue and to cut it into very thin slices. These are then looked at under a microscope by a pathologist. A […]
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Should I use hospital transport? Even though its best not to use hospital transport, sometimes its necessary. There are quite a few pitfalls. They are partly because the transport may have to pick up several people, take them to different hospitals, and they are only as good as the information given to them. For example, […]
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