http://gordonhale.blogspot.com/: Photos and Update on Legionnaires' Disease + NHS Reforms


Laparoscopic Surgery - Wellcome Image Awards 2011

After last weeks report about the dangers of imaging, a letter to the BMJ this week points out that reluctance to image pregnant women contributes to maternal mortality. On one hand, there is evidence that imaging mothers during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood cancer and leukaemia, however it is not clear that the risk of this is very small and relatively insignificant. The writer of the letter argues that the evidence described in the previous report is outdated and not relevant to modern day practice. The letter states that this kind of information could be dangerous in the wrong hands and could almost be described as 'scaremongering'. There have already been lots of high profile examples of hiw evidence has been mistaken and led to the public being misinformed.

In the BMJ News this week, the lead article is on doctors' opposition to the English health care bill. The feeling is that the Health and Social Care Bill is too rushed, too much, too soon. Fragmentation of care and undermining of doctors' ability to make decisions in the best interests of their patients have been highlighted as potential problems with the new system. On the other hand, doctors have reportedly always been resistant to change. The reaction to the new healthcare bill has been compared to doctors' initial negative reactions to the introduction of the NHS. The BMA is continuing to press for changes to these new healthcare bills and it will be interesting to see what happens over the forthcoming months and the effect that this has on the NHS in Scotland. GPs in Scotland have already voiced their opinions against the controversial health reforms being proposed in England.

An interesting article on the BBC News website this week was that a patient is currently being treated in Ninewells Hospital for Legionnaires' Disease. The patient had been staying at the Landmark Hotel (by the roundabout on the Kingsway where the Swallow hotel used to be) and used the leisure club facilities. This story came the same week that Piperdam Holiday Resort was fined £120,000 for breach of health and safety back in 2008 where a patient died following exposure to the disease. Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by Gram negative aerobic bacteria. Potential sources for contaminated water include the hot water systems of some hotels where disinfection and maintenance programmes are not closely adhered to. Interestingly, in 2010 a report published in the European Journal of Epidemiology identified car windscreen washer systems as a potential source.

In January this year I helped to develop an online dermatology tutorial on the treatment of psoriasis and it can now be downloaded online from the following link: Psoriasis Treatment Tutorial.

Here are some of the best photos from a recent trip to visit my flatmate Scott who's on his rural GP placement in Islay!