Contents April 2001
News
SIGN recommends treating raised BP in all older people
Editorial
Education is the key to better management of RA
Dr Gillian Hosie, past President of the Primary Care Rheumatology Society and a GP in Glasgow
Personal View
NSF for Older People poses a challenge for GPs
Dr Chris Barclay argues that without extra resources, GPs will not be able to implement the latest national service framework
In Reply
Not enough evidence to support treatment of obesity by GPs
Dr Matthew Lockyer explains why he believes that primary care guidelines on obesity are unlikely to improve outcomes
Guideline Development
RA guideline advocates early intervention with DMARDs
Drs Elaine Morrison and Hilary Capell explain why the SIGN guidelines on management of rheumatoid arthritis recommend early therapy with disease-modifying drugs
Guideline Development
Smoking cessation guidelines updated to clarify strategies
Smoking cessation guidelines from the Health Development Agency incorporate new evidence and initiatives, as Dr Martin Raw, Professor Robert West and Dr Ann McNeill explain
Beacon Awards
Practice devises an effective strategy for venous leg ulceration
Dr Kevin Ilsley describes the benefits for patients and staff of introducing evidence-based management of venous leg ulcers using compression therapy
Beacon Awards
Practice-based guidelines enable GPs to manage heroin users
Dr Dougal Darvill describes how a locality commissioning group, led by his practice, devised successful guidelines for the management of heroin users within primary care
Locality Initiative
Successful cataract referral protocol uses 'bottom-up' approach
Dr John Orchard describes a locality initiative from general practice which has vastly improved the waiting time and accuracy of referral for patients with cataract
Practice Initiative
Guidelines for making practice away days worthwhile
Dr Tim Harlow shares his practice's experience of away days to illustrate their many benefits and discusses how they are best organised to ensure success
Electronic Communication
Why every practice needs a computer development plan
In the fourth article in this series, Dr Nigel Watson discusses the issues to consider when drawing up a computer development plan for your practice
Medico-legal Issues in Practice
Following up patients who have received advice from NHS Direct
In the fourth article in this series, Dr Gerard Panting, of the MPS, discusses the implications for GPs of using NHS Direct to receive and process out-of-hours calls
Key Organisations
Clinical Effectiveness Forum for Allied Health Professions
Judy Mead, Head of Clinical Effectiveness, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and Christine Sealey-Lapes, Clinical Effectiveness Officer, College of Occupational Therapists
eGuidelines
eGuidelines update
CLIP Database
Clinical Improvements Online Database
Notes for Authors
Writing for Guidelines in Practice: Instructions for authors
Out of Hours
Guidelines on holidays for you to cut out and keep
Dr Phil Hammond, GP, lecturer and presenter of BBC2's Trust Me, I'm a Doctor
