Contents – June 2004

News

RCP's revised national guidelines for stroke will include TIA

Doctors making a difference

Personal View

GP contract fails patients with peripheral vascular disease

PAD must be included alongside CHD when the GP contract is revised, argue Dr Alan Begg and Ms Julie Brittenden

New Guidelines: Development

New guideline will aid management of BPH in primary care

Lower urinary tract symptoms are common in older men and many more are seeking help. Recent guidance will support GP management, says Professor Roger Kirby

New Guidelins: Review

BTS revises guidelines on community acquired pneumonia

Updated BTS guidelines on community acquired pneumonia will simplify the assessment of disease severity in primary care, as Dr Peter Saul explains

New GP Contract

GMS indicators set baseline for care of patients with cancer

The GMS contract’s cancer indicators underline the importance of the GP’s role in providing support and coordinating care for these patients, says Dr John Donald

Contract encourages practices to be more patient-friendly

The new contract’s indicators for patient experience should afford valuable points for practices that make time to listen to their patients, says Dr Nigel Watson

Local Initiative

Primary care mental health service ensures fast access for patients

Dr Liz Howells, winner of the mental health category of the 2003 Guidelines in Practice Awards, explains how an innovative scheme ensures early intervention in patients with common mental health problems

Medico-legal Issues in Practice

Must clinical autonomy always take second place to a guideline?

In his second article on clinical guidance, Dr Gerard Panting considers when it is legitimate for doctors to follow their own judgement instead of a guideline

Focus on CME

Guidelines in Practice CME questions: 34

Download the PDF, write the answers in the spaces provided, then put the pages in your personal development plan

Patient Information

Notes for discussion with patients 16. BTS/SIGN asthma guideline

Out of Hours

Keeping Dr Ten-thumbs away from patients

Dr Phil Hammond, GP and broadcaster