Contents June 2001
News
Early action urged in angina
Adding reminder messages to X-rays cuts inappropriate requests by a fifth
Guidelines on infertility alter GP management but not secondary care
Editorial
New guidance on COPD helps GPs to identify early disease
Dr David Bellamy, GP, Bournemouth, and a BTS member
Personal View
Controlling BP in the elderly poses a challenge to GPs
Dr David Brodie argues that the SIGN hypertension guideline for older people is sometimes difficult to apply in practice
Personal View
Improving ethical decision making in primary care
Dr Anne Slowther discusses how PCG/Ts can ensure the delivery of high standards of ethical as well as clinical care
In Reply
PGDs can help GPs meet standards in travel health
Jane Chiodini's article on travel vaccination PGDs boosted Dr Chris Barclay's confidence in providing travel health advice
Beacon Awards
Practice protocol optimises antibiotic prescribing by GPs
Dr James Larcombe describes how an evidence-based antibiotic policy developed by his practice led to a fall in prescribing rates and increased patient satisfaction
Guideline Development
Treating hypertension in older people could reduce strokes and CHD
New SIGN guidance emphasises that treating hypertension in the over-60s effectively can reduce cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events, explains Dr Ron MacWalter
Electronic Patient Records
Electronic health records strengthen the doctor-patient partnership
In the first of a new series, Dr Richard Fitton describes how giving patients on-line access to their records in a pilot project benefited patients and health professionals
Beacon Awards
Vascular disease programme reduces inequities of care
GP Dr David Whitford and Liz Brittlebank describe a comprehensive and structured programme of care for all patients with or at high risk of vascular disease
Audit
Practice nurse input improves care of depressed patients
Dr Phillip Bland explains how practice audit highlighted the benefits of sharing the care of patients who were newly diagnosed with depression with the practice nurse
Electronic Communication
NHSnet revolutionises information exchange in the new NHS
In the sixth article in this series, Dr Nigel Watson explains how NHSnet aims to provide fast, secure and effective communication of data within the NHS
Medico-legal Issues in Practice
Why GPs should report and audit critical events
In the sixth article in this series, Dr Gerard Panting explains how having a system in place for reporting and auditing critical events can reduce their occurrence
Key Organisations
The Centre for Innovation in Primary Care
Rosalind Eve, Director, Centre for Innovation in Primary Care
eGuidelines
eGuidelines update
Guidelines summaries and Guidelines in Practice online at eguidelines.co.uk
CLIP Database
Clinical Improvements Online Database
The CLIP database is now online and available to registered users of eGuidelines at eguidelines.co.uk/clip
NEW SERIES: Your Problems Solved IT
We answer your questions on information technology
In the first of a new series of Q&As, Dr Nigel Watson answers some frequently asked questions on IT in general practice
Index
Index to Guidelines in Practice Vol 3, Jan to Dec 2000
Notes for authors
Writing for Guidelines in Practice: instructions for authors
Authors are advised to follow these instructions carefully to ensure that their article is processed smoothly and quickly
Out of Hours
Guidelines on staying out of trouble
Dr Phil Hammond, GP and atheist presenter of BBC1's Heaven and Earth Show
