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Contents February 2002

News

SIGN launches guideline on cardiac rehabilitation to boost poor uptake

Patient information leaflets lead to cut in antibiotic use

DoH announces risk sharing scheme for MS drugs

Enter the Guidelines in Practice Awards

Personal View

NICE referral advice will improve patient care

Recommendations from NICE should benefit those patients who need to be referred and those who do not, says Dr Chris Barclay

In Reply

Manpower the key to raising diabetes standards

More diabetologists and specialist nurses are needed if we are to achieve clinical targets, says Dr Matthew Lockyer

Linking Evidence to Practice

Selecting effective treatments for knee osteoarthritis

Which are the most beneficial therapies for osteoarthritis of the knee? Dr Kelsey Jordan and Dr Nigel Arden examine the evidence

Guideline Development

Revised ESC guidelines aim to improve the management of CHF

The ESC's updated heart failure guidelines are timely and authoritative and should help promote evidence-based practice, says Dr Andrew Clark

Focus on CME

Download the questions, write the answers in the spaces provided and keep them in your personal development plan
You can see all the CME questions in the series by clicking on Resources then CME in the blue navigation bar on the left of the screen

Beacon Awards

GP and practice nurse collaborations prove popular with patients

Dr David Kernick describes how GPs and nurses in his practice combined their skills to develop a nurse-led dermatology service and a minor illness clinic

Patient Group Directions

Setting up a PGD for the MMR vaccine

Jane Chiodini, immunisation nurse specialist, explains how to draw up a patient group direction for the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine

Electronic Communication

What EHRs and EPRs will mean for GPs

Dr Nigel Watson explains the difference between electronic health records and electronic patient records and the implications for general practice

Medico-legal Issues in General Practice

How can you avoid a claim of failure to refer or to follow-up?

Good practice protocols and clear communication are key to avoiding the simple errors that can lead to claims of clinical negligence, as Dr Gerard Panting explains

NICE Referral Guide

NICE referral guidance: 2. Acute low back pain

NICE Referral Guide

NICE referral summaries

WHO Patient Guideline

WHO Guide to Mental Health

Interactive summary cards for use with patients

Your Problems Solved: Audit

Our panel of experts answers questions on audit

Notes for authors

Writing for Guidelines in Practice: instructions for authors

Out of Hours

Getting it off your chest

Dr Phil Hammond, GP and broadcaster