Many people are surprised by the range of what they have to write: reports, letters, applications, minutes, essays, protocols, policy statements, articles...the list goes on. They also have to face a constant procession of emails, which people tend not to count as 'real writing', but which are every bit as important - and which even the decisive can take two hours or more a day to deal with.At the same time we seem particularly ill-prepared for all this writing. The task is badly defined, time-consuming and difficult.Courses on how to do it are rare. Agreement on 'good writing' seems to be rarer still and the whole process often appears to be more about internal power squabbles than external communication. Not surprisingly, many writers in the health services dislike it and avoid it whenever possible. Others proceed reluctantly, without confidence - and without any satisfaction at the end of each writing task. This book sets out to help you by showing you what writing is all about. It will give you some tools that will enable you to do it with confidence. I would be lying if I said that you will come to enjoy writing (some suffering is inevitable, even desirable), but as you go through this book you should be able to approach each writing task in a more confident manner, and therefore your output should be more effective. More important, you should be able to take control of your writing, and once you have grasped the essentials you will have a powerful tool to help you achieve your goals.

The Diploma in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (DOHNS) is now an intercollegiate examination, and can count towards membership of one of the surgical colleges of Great Britain. The DOHNS has evolved to fit its new role, leaving little up-to-date material available for candidates preparing for the written component. This book by former DOHNS candidates meets that need, focusing on topics that are likely to be examined. Each answer is accompanied by an explanation using current evidence-based research wherever possible. This will be an essential revision text for all DOHNS candidates. 'Applicable to medical students and trainee doctors in general practice as well as ENT and related head and neck disciplines such as neurology and neurosurgery. Each question is followed by the correct answer and clear and concise explanation. Indeed, it is the quality of this additional information that makes this book stand out from its competitors. It provides the student with experience and examination technique in answering these questions, but additionally it is a teaching volume in its own right. It is a credit to its enthusiastic and very competent young teachers in its content, design and clarity, and is another excellent contribution to our thriving specialty.' - from the Foreword by David Howard

Specifically designed for health visitors, general practitioners, nurses, dietitians and nutritionists, this is the first book to clarify the suggested balance of different foods and food groups needed to provide a healthy diet in infants.
It interprets government recommendations and current research to give health professionals completely up-to-date, highly detailed advice in a practical, easy-to-read format. Tables and figures are widely used to illustrate complex concepts and aid understanding. It is ideal as a daily reference. Healthcare policy makers and shapers will also find much of interest to assist in the provision of new guidance.

'The study of disease and its treatment is a life-long intellectual journey which has engaged some of humankind's finest minds and kindest hearts. We are still on that fascinating voyage. Every journey begins with a single step, and that step is the purpose of this book. It is short enough to be read from cover to cover, re-read, studied and learnt. Those who do that should find that they understand much that they encounter in patients, whether in the wards, outpatients or in primary care. [It] should also ease the student clinician's passage to more comprehensive texts, which can be intimidating in their volume and complexity, if there has been no prior introduction.' - Hugh McGavock and Denis Johnston, in the Preface. The study of disease and its treatment is a life-long intellectual journey which has engaged some of humankind's finest minds and kindest hearts. We, the authors, are still on that fascinating voyage. Every journey begins with a single step, and that step is the purpose of this book. It is short enough to be read from cover to cover, re-read, studied and learnt...This concise and practical introduction to the vast and complex subject of medical treatment is jargon-free and easy to read. It aids in the understanding of everyday situations on the wards, in out-patient clinics and in the primary care setting. The handy format is ideal as a ready reference along with its companion volume How Drugs Work, Second Edition, by Hugh McGavock. It is highly recommended as an undergraduate textbook for students of nursing and medicine, especially those embarking on clinical training, and is also useful for Nurse Practitioners. Primary care nurses with diagnosis and treatment responsibilities will find the guidance invaluable.

Every health professional interacts with patients from different cultures to their own, not just those from different countries, ethnic or religious groups, but also those with cultural differences due to sexual orientation, lifestyle, beliefs, age, gender, social status or perceived economic worth. The potential for confusions in communication and consequent problems are even greater in primary care mental health than in other areas.This guide for all health professionals provides a model for working in mental health across cultures, and outlines practical ways of using psychotherapy skills across cultures. It can be used as personal preparation by individuals in any primary care setting at home or abroad, or as a teaching tool for use with health professionals travelling to another culture, including overseas aid workers and those moving to a new country. It is also of great value to everyone interested in transcultural medicine. 'Wherever we work, whoever we are, we are working across cultures, often without realising it. The first step is to become conscious of this fact. The next step is to read this book' - Jill Benson and Jill Thistlethwaite.

The FRCR Part 2B is a demanding examination consisting of an oral examination, a rapid reporting session and a reporting session (also known as the 'long cases'). Preparation can prove very stressful - the multiple parts of the examination rely on different and distinct techniques. This succinct examination guide and DVD contain over 4700 radiological images allowing for many more opportunities, using the print-off examination format sheet and digital images, to recreate examination conditions. Model sample answers are provided for each question to aid in self-marking and revision. With a complete introduction to the examination including the marking scheme and top tips for success, candidates will welcome the chance to practise papers and check their examination technique in this unique guide. 'This examination is the culmination of years of hard work and training, and the RCR rightly makes it a difficult and robust examination to challenge trainees and ensure they have reached an appropriate standard. Preparation is absolutely vital for success.' Jennifer Davidson, Beth Shepherd and Sunderarajan Jayaraman, in the Introduction

Many counsellors who work in primary care find it difficult to explain to colleagues in the primary care team what they actually do with clients behind the closed door of their room. In this book the author brings to life in a gripping way what really does go on when a counsellor sees a patient in the primary healthcare setting. It's good to read for once a book that describes so realistically and movingly the minute-by-minute account of what actually happens, not a book describing clever therapists getting it right all the time. The book should be required reading for newly appointed non-clinical managers of counselling services and for primary healthcare staff about to start working with a counsellor as a member of their team.
-- Graham Curtis Jenkins in his Foreword

A commonly-held model of the doctor-patient relationship casts it as a subject/object relationship: broadly the patient is a 'text', and the doctor the reader or interpreter of that text. However, recent critical models preset notions of text and reader as complex and unstable, and the relationship of doctor and patient as similarly complicated. Explorations of psychiatry and 'madness' by critics such as Michel Foucault present a further background of complex ideological change. In The Patient as Text, Petter Aaslestad explores selections from over a century of psychiatric notes from Gaustad Hospital, Norway against this critical background, exploring the impact of ideological and medical changes surrounding the psychiatric clinical relationship and psychiatric professionals as constructors of narratives. This book will be of interest to researchers in the medical humanities, psychiatric practitioners, and those with an interest in medical history and critical theory.

For the vast majority of children acquiring speech and language skills is an effortless process. However there is a sizeable proportion of children for whom this is not true. Difficulties they experience may be associated with other conditions such as cleft palate or hearing loss or they may have no obvious cause. This book provides a comprehensive picture of the difficulties that occur when speech and language does not develop in the young child. Divided into two sections the first focuses on how such children should be identified and assessed. The second section provides specific insights into communication difficulties in different conditions. Each is written by an expert practitioner and is illustrated with specific examples. Based on best clinical practice and research-based evidence it is a practical guide fully referenced for those who wish to develop knowledge further. It is essential reading for all professionals who work with children particularly those who work in community settings.

Companion volume to Cinemeducation Volume 1 Cinemeducation, Volume 2 outlines a comprehensive approach to using film in graduate and medical education. It provides readers with a wide array of film excerpts ready for immediate application in the classroom. Each excerpt includes the counter time, year of release, names of actors, a short description of the movie and the scene being highlighted as well as discussion questions. Entire chapters are dedicated to reality television, mainstream television, music videos, documentaries and YouTube. Clearly structured, this second volume dives deep into human experiences. Authors from five continents have composed 49 chapters devoted to a wide assortment of new topics relevant to medical and postgraduate healthcare education. Some of the specific issues covered include substance abuse, gambling, dealing with tragedy, diabetes, heart disease, chronic illness and obstetrics as well as mental health problems. Some films portray health care professionals both positively and negatively and these are presented with rich detail. A wide variety of specialties and different health careers are covered. All of these areas converge on the common ground of compassion in the medical experience. This book is ideal for the undergraduate or postgraduate classroom. All healthcare educators will appreciate its comprehensive scope and innovative approach, including those in psychology, social services, dentistry and veterinary science.

This practical toolkit informs readers of ways to ensure the right medication in the right dose, for the right patient at the right time. It covers every aspect of looking after and delivering medicines in the care home environment. The easy-to-read format, with questions and exercises for individuals and groups, makes the text ideal as a framework for teaching and accredited learning. This handbook is vital for care professionals working in residential and nursing homes, their managers and supervisors. It is also invaluable for trainee care and nursing assistants including students in further education. 'When inspectors said thousands of care home residents were being given the wrong medication - the image of a grotty, poorly run nursing home reared its stereotypical head. How could something so simple as giving a patient their daily dose of tablets be going so wrong, so many times over? But according to care professionals, management of residents' medication is one of the most complex areas of running a nursing home, and unless fail-safe practices are adhered to, the results can be very damaging to both the resident and the care worker. Clearly, it's time to sort this out ' - Roy Lilley and Paul Lambden with Alan Gillies, in the Introduction.

Winner of the Medical Journalists' Association Specialist Book of the Year Award 2006 Cynical Acumen approaches medicine in the real world, dealing with issues ignored by other books. It is a unique, 'what you really need to know' textbook designed to help medical students and senior house officers look slick and pass their exams against all odds. The book entertainingly considers the world outside medicine with anecdotes on the important things in life such as sport, literature, Thai cooking and the dissolution of the monasteries. It has been aptly described by the author as 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to Medicine'. Medical students will find this underground resource invaluable, as will medical professionals including junior hospital doctors, particularly those sitting the MRCP examination.

This straight-forward guide to taking patient history comprehensively covers all of the commonly seen OSCE scenarios within the current undergraduate medical curriculum. Focused History Taking for OSCEs includes an introductory chapter with general OSCE guidance, including tips from recently qualified doctors and highly respected physicians and surgeons who commonly examine OSCEs. It covers over 50 histories based on presenting complaints - more than any other text on the market - thoroughly testing both knowledge and examination technique. Each history is based around what the candidate is required to consider, with mnemonics and list-based breakdowns to aid prompt recall. It then concludes by outlining key aspects for each differential diagnosis as well as a list of investigations and management options.

'This book effectively bridges the gap between dietitian doctor nurse and pharmacist and there is much in it to educate even the more experienced practitioner. I recommend the book highly and feel confident that well-thumbed and battered copies will soon be found on wards everywhere.' Alastair Forbes Chairman of the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 'This book will help non-specialists to make appropriate choices regarding nutritional care for their patients. It should prove to be a valuable resource for all professions in many areas of practice.' Lynne Colagiovanni Chairman National Nurses Nutrition Group 'This is a much needed comprehensive clinical nutrition guide for busy healthcare professionals. It covers all aspects of nutritional care in a logical and systematic way and will aid clinicians in making reasoned judgements on the nutritional care that their patients require.' Vera Todorovic The Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group of the British Dietetic Association 'This handbook will be an invaluable resource as it provides a concise practical guide covering all aspects of clinical nutrition both for adults and paediatric patients.' Rebecca White and Vicky Bradnam British Pharmaceutical Nutrition Group

This book is a practical toolkit for every doctor, tutor and manager in hospitals, medical schools and primary care who gives formal or informal advice to students, juniors and colleagues. Guiding Doctors in Managing their Careers incorporates, in a practical way, all the key concepts in Modernising Medical Careers, the NHS Priorities, the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework, and new variations in career pathways. It also distinguishes between career information, guidance and counselling and explains the required competencies for each.

Patient-Centered Care Series Series Editors: Moira Stewart Judith Belle Brown and Thomas R Freeman Primary care clinicians are often unfamiliar with new and effective methods for detecting substance abuse problems in their earliest stages and the majority of patients with substance abuse problems remain undiagnosed. Substance Abuse is written by primary care clinicians and focused to meet the needs of primary care providers demonstrating how the patient-centered clinical method can assist clinicians in learning how to diagnose this complex psychosocial disorder. This book describes how to use state-of-the-art screening techniques and how to understand and motivate patients to decrease or eliminate harmful use of alcohol and drugs. It presents the latest scientific findings and gives examples of using a patient-centered approach as well as describing specific communication skills with samples of dialogue illustrating their use in helping substance-abusing patients. This is essential reading for all family doctors paediatricians gynaecologists psychiatrists nurses social workers psychologists and all clinicians whose practices include substance abusing patients. It will also appeal to counsellors education personnel and all professionals working with substance abusing individuals. For more information on other titles in this series please click here

This is a concise guide to getting into medical school. It covers everything you need to know without the long-winded explanations found in other books and online. The Essential Guide to Getting into Medical School prepares you for all eventualities, so you can be ready for every aspect of your application and address any shortcomings you may have which may otherwise hinder your chances. It offers helpful tips, tactics, questions and warnings to assist with decision making and personal preparedness. This book is ideal for students of any age, from GCSE onwards, including those applying as postgraduate students. It is also highly recommended for international students wanting detailed advice on how to secure admission.

This featherweight volume packs a heavyweight punch. It's a how-to guide to emergency general medical practice, which omits no important subject - the most practical book ever for general practitioners...the ideal book to keep by your side when on call. Update, 1997 Here is the fully revised fourth edition of this unique book that provides general practitioners with an easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide to the management of the vast majority of emergencies. The first contact a GP has with an emergency case is almost always a telephone call, and the advice given here by the doctor is of paramount importance in the subsequent management of the case. A unique feature of the book is that each topic begins with advice on how to handle the initial telephone call. Each presenting problem is then approached logically with concise notes on assessment, advice and management necessary when the patient is seen. The emphasis is on practical primary care, with discussion of differential diagnosis taken as far as is needed to decide the best immediate course of action. Tables are used liberally to summarise useful information.For each emergency, the ultimate advice and strategy is emphasised within heavy horizontal lines. Emergencies in General Practice is an indispensable book for the practising GP, whether in the practice, on call, or working for the co-op or deputising service. It is also a valuable teaching text for GP registrars.

Greatly expanded, revised and updated, with an entirely new chapter on disability, The Social Context of Birth, Second Edition provides an essential understanding of how social issues affect midwives, the birth process and motherhood. Childbirth is much more than a biological event or a set of case notes. No-one has an uneventful pregnancy, and women seek narratives through which they can explain and try to make sense of what has happened to them. This is often neglected in the relentlessly technocratic modern culture of childbirth. Appreciating the social context surrounding an individual enriches the understanding a midwife must have if she is to work successfully alongside a woman and her family throughout a pregnancy and birth in an insightful, intelligent and informed manner. This comprehensive guide provides countless valuable insights for midwives, nurses, obstetricians and health visitors into the many different lives, experiences and expectations of women in their childbearing years, their babies and families in the 21st Century. Written by a team of highly experienced health professionals, it also covers contentious areas of maternity care, such as new reproductive technologies and fetal surveillance.

'In these pages you will find a rich mixture of the best in leadership and organisation development practice and theory, based on a lifetime of studying and applying the principles of why some healthcare organisations succeed and why some fail.' This inspirational book analyses the attitudes and disciplines which make people and the organizations for which they work more effective, more productive and generally more successful. The author, who has experience of working in healthcare and manufacturing and with senior civil servants, and is also familiar with key academic literature, sets out a highly practical combination of practice, theory and policy applicable in a wide variety of healthcare situations. Now revised, including an entirely new chapter on being patient-focused, this remains an invaluable resource for health service leaders and future leaders including managers, clinicians, policy makers and academics.