Deconditioning refers to the loss of physical, functional, and cognitive abilities that can occur during hospital admission, particularly in older patients with frailty. It can begin within hours of bed rest and is associated with longer hospital stays, increased dependency, and higher rates of discharge to care homes. Up to 65% of older patients experience
Falls are one of the most common causes of harm to hospitalised patients, particularly in older adults. They can lead to significant morbidity, including fractures, head injury, prolonged admission, and loss of independence. Preventing falls is therefore a key patient safety priority. Effective falls prevention requires a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach, involving doctors, nurses, physiotherapists,
Key Points Introduction Optic neuritis is an inflammatory disorder of the optic nerve (CN II), disrupting its ability to transfer information from the retina to the brain. It leads to acute, central vision loss with ocular pain made worse on eye movement. Risk factors2 for typical optic neuritis include: Around 50% of all patients with MS
Contrast agents are an essential part of modern medical imaging. This guide highlights essential principles any doctor should know about contrast – how it works, when to use it, and how to manage risks – so you can make safe clinical decisions and answer patients’ questions with confidence. What is contrast? Contrast refers to a
Head injury remains a common reason for presentations to the emergency department in the UK and, akin to trauma as a whole, represents a significant cause of death and morbidity in those aged 1 to 40 years of age. Whilst over 1 million patients will present each year, head injury is by no means a
A fascia iliaca block (FIB) is a regional anaesthetic technique where local anaesthetic is deposited beneath the fascia iliaca to block the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and often obturator nerves. It is commonly used for analgesia in hip and proximal femur fractures, particularly neck of femur fractures. Approaches include the landmark (anatomical) technique, which will be
Intercostal chest drains (ICD) are used for therapeutic purposes to remove air and/or fluid from the pleural space (e.g. pneumothorax and haemothorax in trauma cases).  ICD insertion is a complex procedure that should only be carried out by trained practitioners with skilled assistance, and trainees must perform it under supervision until competent. Contraindications Complications Complications include
A central line is a catheter placed into a major central vein, typically the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein, with the tip positioned in the superior or inferior vena cava. Types include central venous catheters, dialysis catheters, tunnelled lines (e.g., Hickman), and ports. Indications Contraindications Absolute contraindications include: Relative contraindications include: Complications Early complications:
Clinical Genetics training in the UK is relatively competitive due to limited training posts and is open to doctors from various specialties. In 2025, there were 84 applications for 15 posts. To succeed, you need the right medical qualifications, relevant clinical experience, and evidence of commitment to genetics. This guide covers what you need to
Genetic/genomic counselling is central to the speciality of Clinical Genetics. Given the complexity of genetic concepts, inheritance patterns, familial risk, and the psychosocial impact of diagnosis, effective counselling is vital for patient care. This article provides an overview of genetic counselling and its application in clinical genetics as a specialism. What is Genetic Counselling?
