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Balancing your workload as a junior doctor whilst teaching medical students effectively...
Almost every patient admitted to hospital receives IV fluids at some point in their...
There are certain situations where you need to prescribe IV fluids which vary from...
It takes time to get used to the ward round. Particularly, when patients are being...
Each month, your pay and any deductions will be summarised to you in the form of...
Preparing for the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) exam can be quite daunting. It...
Introduction
Clinical Definition
An open fracture is when the broken bone breaks...
FY1s are usually most apprehensive about being on call, but it is also the shift...
Psychiatry, as a specialty is unique in that diagnostic methods, rely very heavily...
As an FY1 doctor, there are different types of leave you will come across during...
Anaesthetics is a very hands-on specialty. Day-to-day work will have a mix of practical...
No matter what time of the day it is, this is an ophthalmic emergency and requires...
Hyperglycaemia is something you will encounter frequently. In this article, we focus...
This article will go over the costs for international medical graduates associated...
As an F1, you will quite frequently get bleeped to review a patient who has had a...
SLEs are supervised learning events that include
Mini-CEX (mini clinical evaluation...
Here we assume you know the basics, and instead we focus on the common pitfalls with...
What is it?
A sudden increase in intraocular pressure, which can present as an...
This article is about claiming tax relief on essential things for your job –...
In this article, we will look at more practical aspects of how to read an ABG and...
Hyponatraemia (serum Sodium <135 mmol/L) is one of the most common electrolyte...
The deteriorating patient is often the worst nightmare for new FY1s. I remember...
As a doctor, you will frequently be called for a drowsy patient. They can vary from...
Cataract Surgery: A Brief Introduction
Cataracts are the leading cause of reversible...
Radiology is a very exciting and innovative field of medicine. Radiologists have...
The advantages of AXRs are far less radiation to patients & that they’re...
Here’s a list of apps that are in order of how essential we find them. There’s...
In this article, we discuss why you should apply to O&G training, how to build your...
As an FY1, you will be called to review hypoxic ward patients. Here we discuss common...
With the recent removal of additional degrees counting for points towards all specialty...
When I left medical school, I thought my only difficulty would be the actual medicine,...
The mental state examination (MSE) is an observational assessment of a patient’s...
When assessing pain, ensure you begin by taking a history to characterise the pain...
When I supervise and teach FY1s, prescribing is in the top three things they are...
Neonatal Jaundice
Jaundice in the newborn is a relatively common presentation,...
Finally earning a wage for all your hard work is great and locum work can be a great...
Introduction
Affects children under the age of 5 years old
There tends to be...
Tachyarrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms with a pulse rate of >100 beats per...
Femoral puncture is typically used to acquire blood from a patient in an emergency...
A blood film looks at our three cell types (erythrocytes, leukocytes & platelets)...
As a junior doctor, you will also often assess patients complaining of chest pain...
As an FY1, you will encounter these either during clerking shifts or you may look...
Writing a discharge summary is a task you are likely to carry out every day, and...
Ophthalmology provides a great deal of variety by combining medicine, surgery &...
AKI is very common affecting around 20% of inpatients & it is important to recognise...
Ascitic aspiration (tap) is routinely performed for every patient admitted with ascites...
Management of low blood sugar in conscious & unconscious patients, finding common...
I’m going to try and be as generic as possible so that hopefully these tips work...
Frequently patients wish to self-discharge from hospitals. This article pertains...
As a junior doctor, you will often be called about patients with raised blood pressure...
Medical documentation should authentically represent every consultation and is primarily...
Scenario: You are bleeped by one of the staff nurses to review a patient on the orthopaedic...
Here we focus on blood tests requests for a variety of common scenarios you might...
As a new F1 in August, it can feel like quite a daunting task to verify a death,...
Surgical training has a variety of work to get involved in as well as having many...
Acute confusion, otherwise known as delirium, is very common in hospitals: 20-30%...
For new doctors, prescribing anticoagulants can be daunting. A few simple rules can...
Requesting scans can be a scary daily occurrence for new doctors. It is one of few...
Being able to use an ophthalmoscope confidently is very important to junior doctors,...
Myocarditis (derived from ‘myocardium’ = cardiac muscle, and -itis = inflammation)...
The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the most common, and important, investigations...
On the one hand, you wear a Disney lanyard, with a pocket stuffed with stickers,...
These patients have the potential to become haemodynamically unstable extremely quickly;...
AF is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia you will encounter. In this article,...
Sepsis is an infection with evidence of organ dysfunction. Septic shock is when a...
Expect many bleeps about hypotension from concerned nursing staff. It is a useful...
As the FY1, you will see patients with liver dysfunction either on the take or deranged...
If the thought of conducting an intimate examination or attempting to wield (without...
The first thing when called is to identify whether the bleeding is truly a lower...
It is important for junior doctors to understand what the discharge planning process...
In this article, we’ll cover the treatments used in Diabetes Mellitus. We’ll...
As a junior doctor, you will frequently look after patients prior to and after their...
As an FY1 you should not be expected to make decisions regarding treatment escalation...
Constipation is one of the most common complaints in hospital, especially on the...
Whilst on call or in A&E you may be asked to assess somebody who is suspected...
At times as a junior doctor, you will be faced with the management of patients displaying...
You will frequently get calls regarding nausea & vomiting: many patients present...
You may well be asked to take blood from a PICC line or be called to see a patient...
Dying is a natural process and unfortunately, something that we all come across in...
Non-invasive ventilation is a way of providing ventilatory support to patients in...
As an FY1 you will frequently see hypokalaemia and most trusts have guidelines that...
Hyperkalaemia can cause life-threatening emergencies particularly cardiac arrhythmias....
Serum calcium concentration is tightly regulated between 2.1-2.6mmol/L. Severe hypercalcaemia...
As an FY1, you are unlikely to be expected to make decisions about long term COPD...
When you are on call, you will often get a bleep about a patient with abdominal pain....
NG tubes are passed from the nose to the stomach. Depending on the material, they...
The general prescribing principles from both Old Age Psychiatrists and Geriatricians...
In the UK, there are different contracts for each of the different regions: Northern...
RCEMÂ has published some clear and comprehensive information which is well worth a...
In this article, we will go through the three most common scenarios you will encounter....
In this article, we focus on the interpretation of a CXR. Have a low threshold to...
Perhaps the most common blood test you will review daily will be the FBC (full blood...
It is common for FY1s to feel anxious & feel like they’re not ready to...
Urinary retention can be acute or chronic. When acute it occurs within a number of...
In this article, we discuss when a catheter might be needed and top tips on male...
What is the MHA?
It is legislation that governs patients’
Compulsory detention
Treatment
Discharge
Aftercare
It...
FY3 refers to time spent out of training after completing the foundation programme...
From the Greek: Syn: together & kopein: to cut - referring to a block in blood supply...
You will regularly see patients with blood in their urine, most often picked up incidentally...
Often one of the scariest things you can do as you will most likely be speaking to...
Determining the risk of harm to the patient, and sometimes to others, is an essential...
Dermatology is a vast topic that junior doctors often find daunting. Do read our...
This article is supplementary to the webinar on the same subject, which you might...
Fragility fractures in the elderly
As a junior doctor on call, in geriatrics or in...
Mental Capacity is the ability to make your own decisions at the time at which the...
Heart Failure is not a diagnosis in itself, rather a collection of symptoms that...
It is quite common for you to need to describe rashes for documentation purposes,...
In this article, we cover the main ENT situations you are likely to encounter either...
This article will discuss how to take blood and cannulate patients in the paediatric...
A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blocked blood vessel in your lungs, most often due...
Congratulations, if you’ve made it this far, that means you have either passed...
A pneumothorax is defined as the abnormal collection of air between the visceral...
After a patient has died you may be asked to complete the death certificate. It may...
Hypernatraemia is defined as a sodium above 145 mmol/L with severe being more than...
Handover occurs between shifts to ensure everyone is up to speed with patients. The...
M&M meetings discuss the outcomes of patients and mortality rates, with the view...
Palpitations can be described as the sensation of an abnormally received heartbeat....
Patients regularly present under the acute take with gallstone disease. The aim of...
GP training is one of the most popular pathways. In this article, we discuss how...
Student loans are a Government-run scheme in the UK and the most recent plan (Plan...
Croup is one of the most common winter illnesses we see in paediatrics and rarely...
Working LTFT in FY1/FY2
Working LTFT can be a great way to improve your work-life...
Work-life balance is a topic that has become increasingly prevalent over the past...
One of the most common A&E presentations is a sore throat, and while sore throat...
In this article, we will focus on more practical concerns when managing a patient...
Getting onto the property ladder is becoming increasingly difficult for first-time...
This article will cover the different types of credit cards, the main things to look...
A lot of your time as an FY1 will be spent on the phone to various other specialities....
Occupation medicine is a fantastic specialty and one with a huge variety of opportunities....
Bowel obstruction is a common reason for admission or complication of patients under...
What is frailty?
A state of increased vulnerability to poor resolution of homeostasis...
In this article, we will present several common scenarios involving Parkinson’s disease...
As we all rotate so frequently between departments, many of us like to get our seniors...
Everyone will receive a complaint – this is inevitable. Usually, these are...
Equipment
Gloves
Hand sanitiser
Alcohol wipe
Tourniquet
Cotton wool/ gauze
Needle
Syringe...
COVID-19 aside, international travel is easier and more prevalent than ever before,...
Acute Compartment Syndrome is one of the few orthopaedic emergencies. If missed,...
As an FY1 in hospital, you will come across lots of patients with dementia. They...
This is a tricky area to cover as it can be challenging to us both personally and...
Diarrhoea is a very common complaint and may be the reason for a patient’s admission,...
You are unlikely to be expected to make decisions about long term asthma management,...
Demonstration video thanks to Geeky Medics
Equipment
Gloves
Hand sanitiser
Tourniquet
Appropriate...
Patients may live or be discharged to a wide variety of social care settings and...
Anaphylaxis is a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction. Features include airway...
Suddenly stopping alcohol intake in patients who have been drinking heavily for prolonged...
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a relapsing and remitting inflammatory...
Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by the irreversible...
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment that has been used in psychiatry since...
As a junior doctor, you will have face situations where you have to convey potentially...
Pancreatitis is a condition characterised by the inflammation of the pancreas. These...
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a mouthful (no pun intended), but you may have...
Please read an overview of the management of sepsis before reading this article.
Neutropenic...
Red eye is one of the most common eye presentations you will encounter. Whilst many...
In this article, I will be discussing the different types of savings accounts and...
Thanks to Geeky Medics for an excellent video demonstration Equipment
Gloves
Alcohol...
There is an increasing prevalence of end-stage kidney disease and it is therefore...
Do you have an interest in human behaviour? Did you go into medicine to speak to...
You will likely encounter an opiate overdose due to the prevalence of opiates for...
A CNS infection is one that involves the central nervous system in some way. This...
Acute headache is a common complaint that you’ll see whilst on the wards or...
Appendicitis is a one of the most common abdominal emergencies worldwide. Your aim...
Bradyarrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms with a pulse rate of <60 beats per...
Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcerations are a significant complication of diabetes...
In this article, we cover the assessment and management of back pain. This article...
FY1 is a great opportunity to explore new specialties and start to gain an idea of...
Within Geriatric Medicine you are always working as part of a multidisciplinary team...
As an FY1 it is likely that you will manage paediatric patients during their admission,...
What is it?
Chemical injuries of the eye are ocular emergencies that necessitate...
Understanding how to do an LP and interpret the results is an essential skill for...
As doctors, you will frequently see patients with opiate dependence. It isn’t...
What does your future hold? Have you thought of a specialty that you want to pursue?...
Hypothermia, whilst an infrequently encountered issue during foundation, is a high-risk...
The groin, also known as the inguinal region, extends from the anterior superior...
This is intended for junior doctors on the ward or in ED, covering how to approach...
Hand foot and mouth disease is a very common illness in children which commonly causes...
There are three joint pain calls you might receive whilst you’re on call or...
Nutrition is an important aspect of a patient’s health and is overlooked during medical...
As an FY1 it is likely that you will manage paediatric patients during their admission,...
One of the most common obstetric/gynaecological presentations in a hospital/GP setting...
A lumbar puncture uses a fine needle inserted between the vertebrae in the lower...
Infective endocarditis (IE) is relatively rare in the UK. However, delays in diagnosis...
In this article, we talk about what the credit score means, how it affects you &...
Sutures are placed to aid with wound healing following a traumatic laceration or...
This article summarises some key tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your...
Febrile convulsions are a common presentation in paediatrics. This article will you...
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a blood clot (thrombosis) forms...
This article aims to give basic information on the assessment of dental trauma to...
Diverticulae can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract but are more common...
As a junior doctor, it is your statutory duty as a medical professional to alert...
As a doctor, you may come across patients with complex airways. They should be found...
As a junior, you will frequently see patients who potentially have thyroid dysfunction....
If you’ve ever wondered how hospitals generate income from the work you do...
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in adults are extremely common in both primary and...
Spinal cord compression occurs when there is compression of the spinal cord or cauda...
Epistaxis is a common presentation, especially amongst the young and elderly population....
Welcome to FY1. In your first few months, you will find your learning curve is steep...
In whichever specialty you work, you will encounter large numbers of patients with...
Vertigo is described as an “abnormal sensation of motion. It can occur in the absence...
Chronic pancreatitis is characterised by repeated pancreatic inflammation. This leads...
It’s important for healthcare professionals to have an understanding of the...
In all specialities of medicine patient clinical recordings, whether this is photographs...
We commonly find ourselves needing to communicate with the next of kin & relatives....
The Duke-Elder Undergraduate Prize Exam is an optional competitive exam run by the...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a species of lentivirus that can infect humans...
Psychosis refers to patients suffering a loss of contact with reality. It affects...
Given how frequently patients present with renal colic, it is helpful for FY1s to...
PEG tubes are used as long term feeding options (and medication administration) for...
The most common place you will see a patient who has self-harmed is in ED, where...
Sharps injuries happen when you least expect them. You can’t always prevent them...
Children are vulnerable. Unfortunately, child abuse does happen, and it has a significant...
A very quick guide to common issues prompting referrals to maxillofacial surgery...
Sickle cell diseases are a disorder of haemoglobin affecting red blood cells. This...
INTRODUCTION
This article covers common gastroenterological presenting complaints...
As an FY1 you will likely manage paediatric patients during their admission, often...
The Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP – formerly known as the AFP or academic...
The UK Medicines Information group have provided excellent guidance on...
Psychotropic medication includes some of the most commonly prescribed medication...
Defined as a collection of electrolyte abnormalities associated with a massive intracellular...
We asked on social media what your favourite podcasts were & these were rated...
As gynaecology issues uncommonly present on the ward, many doctors have difficulties...
Medicines reconciliation is the process of accurately listing a person’s medicines....
Loss of vision can be a scary symptom for patients to experience, and a scary presentation...
The UK Medicines Information group have provided excellent guidance on how to replace...
You will have a total of 10 minutes of interactive time. Prior to the station, you...
The academic station generally begins with a personal question and is your opportunity...
The psychiatric condition obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is estimated to be...
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancer types seen in the western world....
SVC syndrome is an oncological emergency. There is obstruction of the superior vena...
In this article, we cover common benign anorectal pathologies including haemorrhoids,...
The management and review of postnatal women are usually straightforward. There are...
Alongside strengthening bone, calcium is used in the clotting cascade, in muscle...
The rules on consenting children and adolescents can seem a complex business. Putting...
Most of the time, chest pain in children originates from a benign cause. However,...
Anxiety is a commonly experienced symptom as part of the body’s reaction to...
In this article, we give an overview of the most important and serious haematological...
Diplopia, also known as double vision, happens when there is a mismatch in images...
In this article, we cover depressive disorders, bipolar affective disorder and schizoaffective...
There are three joint pain calls you might receive whilst you’re on call or...
Rehabilitation medicine is a holistic specialty in which you spend a great deal of...
Skin cancers have one of the highest global incidences of any type of cancer. Early...
Important things to remember
You will get sick. That is life. You’re surrounded...
Overview of how much junior doctors earn with a broad range of salaries depending...
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adverse drug reactions (ADR) as “any...
Foreign body in eye is a very common presentation seen in the emergency department....
This amazing guide was created by so many amazing doctors like yourself helping each...
Ophthalmology is a hugely popular career. Having the skills and ability to improve...
The Multiple Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) is a computer-based exam increasingly...
Tinnitus is a common and debilitating medical symptom encountered in the field of...
Introduction
With an increase in the ageing population globally, we will be seeing...
A cataract is “a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent...
The impact you have on yourself and the impact you have on people around you
Although...
Covid-19 is taking a huge emotional toll on everyone. The usual work-life balance tips...
Many FY2 doctors spend time in General Practice as part of the Foundation Programme....
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up local, regional and national...
Cortisol is the body’s natural steroid (glucocorticoid) which helps maintain blood...
If you ask most people (medics included!) what they think of when you say plastic...
We’ve created a junior doctor pay calculator which will help you better understand...
What is it?
GCA (Giant cell arteritis) or temporal arteritis is a well known Ophthalmology...
Introduction
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a gram positive cocci usually found...
Written by Dr Rebecca Evans, ST3 Paediatrics
One of the most common presentations...
Audits & QIPs are a way to identify issues, drive changes and assess the effects...
Introduction
Viral infection in children 0-2 years of age (but most commonly <...
If you’re worried about not getting your top choice, you shouldn’t worry....
Our referral cheat sheet is our most popular resource having been downloaded thousands...
Your e-Portfolio is an online tool to gather and store evidence of progression throughout...
The PSA is aimed at final year medical students and those graduating overseas to...
