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Contents May 2002

News

SIGN guideline aims to improve management of LRTIs in the community

Scotland plans world's first national diabetic retinopathy screening programme

View

Scots show the way forward on retinopathy screening

Dr Matthew Lockyer applauds Scotland's plan to introduce a national screening programme for diabetic retinopathy

View

Helping GPs to improve the management of IBS

Dr Mark Cottrill evaluates PCSG guidance on diagnosing and treating patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Guideline Development

NICE sets out national strategy for reducing diabetic retinopathy

The first guideline on type 2 diabetes from NICE aims to reduce sight loss due to retinopathy by early detection and effective treatment, explains Professor Richard Baker

Guideline Development

NICE guideline aims to reduce diabetic renal disease

Dr Sally Marshall explains how practical recommendations from NICE on prevention and early management of renal disease in type 2 diabetes should reduce morbidity

Beacon Awards

Primary care initiative succeeds in helping smokers to quit

A smoking cessation programme is providing much-needed local support for smokers who want to stop. Dr Kevin Lewis reports on its success

Locality Initiative

Screening for patients at risk of osteoporosis in primary care

Geraldine Carter describes an NOS pilot project that was set up to identify patients at risk from osteoporosis

Patient Group Directions

Drawing up a patient group direction for tetanus vaccine

Jane Chiodini explains the importance of tetanus immunisation and describes how to set up a patient group direction for administering the vaccine

Focus on CME

Guidelines in Practice CME questions

Write the answers in the spaces provided, then cut out the pages and put them in your personal development plan

Electronic Communication

The new GP contract: implications for IT

Quality payments lie at the heart of the proposed new GP contract but good IT systems will be vital to maximise practice income, says Dr Nigel Watson

Medico-legal Issues in General Practice

Understanding the new GMS regulations

In which circumstances can doctors be removed from a PCT's medical list? Dr Gerard Panting explains what the new GMS regulations mean for GPs

Guidelines in Practice Awards 2002

The Guidelines in Practice Awards 2002: last call for entries

Our annual Awards reward excellence in primary and shared care initiatives relating to national guidance in the NHS. For a chance to win £3000 send in your entry by 31 May

eGuidelines

eGuidelines update

Guidelines in Practice, Guidelines, the CLIP database and related information online at eguidelines.co.uk

NICE Referral Guide

NICE referral advice: 5. Osteoarthritis of the hip

WHO Patient Guideline

WHO guide to mental health

Interactive summary cards for use with patients

Your Problems Solved: Information Technology

Our panel of experts answer questions on IT

Dr Nigel Watson answers questions on the use of information technology in general practice

Out of Hours

Red faces all round

Dr Phil Hammond, GP and broadcaster