Medicine and Science from The BMJ

In this insightful discussion, Kevin Fong, an anaesthetist with expertise in major incident planning, and Matthew Flinders, a politics professor, unpack the UK Covid Inquiry's findings. They highlight damning critiques of governmental decision-making that may have cost thousands of lives due to delays and toxic cultures. Both guests stress the importance of learning from past failures, advocate for systemic reforms, and emphasize the need for early action and humility in future health crises to rebuild public trust.

It’s the BMJ’s annual climate issue - and in this episode, we’ll be hearing about more ways in which climate mitigation is good for health.   Firstly, climate change is fuelling conflict, and exacerbating the impact it has on fragile healthcare systems. Andy Haines, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Barbora Sedova, from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, discuss how climate and conflict intersect, and what they think needs to be done to combat it.   “Car spreading”, the recent tendency for cars to become bigger and heavier is not only harming the climate, but it’s also harming pedestrians.  Anthony Laverty, associate professor of public health at Imperial College London, and trauma surgeon Cleo Kenington explain why SUVs are more lethal in accidents, and why France is bucking the trend in sales.   Finally, Jocalyn Clark, the BMJ’s international editor joins us to talk about women’s health innovation and why tech bros aren’t the people to be leading it.   Reading list:   The climate issue: Brazil and the climate crisis   Tackling the complex links between climate change, conflict, and health   Reducing the harms from ever larger cars   Transforming women’s health through innovation

Alistair Stewart, a consultant psychiatrist from Manchester, co-authored an open letter urging NHS staff to oppose the far-right's influence. Omnia Ahmed, a resident doctor in London, highlights the emotional toll of anti-migrant rhetoric on NHS workers and emphasizes the need for institutional support. Matthew Hutchinson, a rheumatologist and stand-up comedian, shares insights from his memoir about balancing healthcare and humor while navigating challenges in the medical field. Together, they discuss combating racism and advocating for solidarity among healthcare professionals.

Explore the Q-Collar, a device promoted for brain injury protection in sports, and the skepticism surrounding its scientific backing. Hear insights from former athlete Johnny Townsend on the search for concussion solutions. Discover a network meta-analysis revealing aerobic exercise as the top choice for knee osteoarthritis relief. Finally, delve into patient perspectives on choice in healthcare, emphasizing informed decision-making and the need to empower patients rather than merely offering options.

In this episode of the podcast; In July this year, the Government published their 10 year health plan for England - A new analysis just published on BMJ.com takes an in depth look at the chances of that plan succeeding, and where the government needs to focus time and resources. Bob Klaber, paediatrician and director of strategy, research and innovation at Imperial College Healthcare, and Helen Salisbury, GP and columnist for the BMJ join us to discuss. Journalist Chris Stoker-Walker's grandfather suffered from delirium at the end of his life, but the journey to that diagnosis was difficult - Chris joins us to talk about the impact that had on his family, and Elizabeth Sampson, professor of liaison psychiatry from Queen Mary University of London, explains why it's under-researched. Finally, we've been reporting from Gaza for 2 years, and it's been very difficult to get accurate information out of the region. However, new research published on bmj.com has surveyed medics there, to document the patterns of wounding in the civilian population - to improve the medical response to the conflict. Omar El-Taji and Ameer Ali, resident doctors in the NHS join us to explain what they found.   Reading list: Delivering on the 10 year health plan for England Why can’t we do anything about delirium? Patterns of war related trauma in Gaza during armed conflict  

Kim Leadbeater, a Labour MP and the driving force behind the UK’s Assisted Dying Bill, shares her insights on the proposed legislation and its parliamentary journey. Jamila Hussain, a palliative care consultant, discusses the potential impact on vulnerable groups, emphasizing the need for robust safeguards. Meanwhile, Tobias Good explains the intriguing concept of Target Trial Emulation, shedding light on how observational studies can reveal causal relationships. Tim Feeney offers further insights into evaluating these methods for better evidence synthesis.

Jocalyn Clark, the International editor at The BMJ, discusses the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the generational impact of starvation. The conversation explores the arms industry's role as a commercial determinant of health, urging a reevaluation of its effects on public well-being. Clark also highlights the need for preventive health measures in general practice to address the complex dynamics of warfare and welfare. The podcast reveals chilling insights into the long-lasting health ramifications of malnutrition in conflict zones.

Kenneth Charles, a consultant haematologist from the University of the West Indies, discusses the revolutionary CRISPR therapy approved by NICE for sickle cell disease and the challenges it presents. Investigative journalist Emma Wilkinson exposes misleading claims by companies offering to bank children's teeth for stem cells, revealing a lack of evidence behind their promises. Lastly, Jamie Thorogood, captain of the Great Britain men's medical football team, celebrates their recent victory at the Medics World Cup, highlighting the blend of sports and healthcare.

If you’ve been in a high street pharmacy or supermarket recently, chances are you’ll have seen home test kits for all sorts of indications; blood sugar level, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid function, and even some forms of cancer. A new series of article in The BMJ revealing serious concerns with the reliability of these home tests, and raises questions about their regulation. Jonathan Deeks, professor of Biostatistics at the University of Birmingham, joins us to discuss what these tests are, and how his team have rated their usability. Also this week, the sad death of a child in Liverpool from measles highlights the growing outbreak in the UK - and this may be one of the first times many doctors have come across the infection. Frances Dutton, GP at the Small Heath Medical Practice reminds us how to recognise the sign of the infection.   Reading list Direct-to-consumer self-tests sold in the UK in 2023 How to recognise and manage measles

Professor Gillian Leng, President of the Royal Society of Medicine was asked to carry out an independent review into the role of physician and anaesthetic associates. She sits down with Kamran Abbasi, editor in chief of The BMJ, to discuss her findings. In the UK, the rollout of physician associates, NHS staff who took on some of the tasks of doctors, has been both haphazard and controversial. Originally copied from similar roles in the U.S., British PAs were introduced in the early 2000s. The level of clinical responsibility they were asked to take on began to vary around the country, driven mostly by the workforce needs of individual Trusts. The lack of clarity about their roles lead to disquiet with doctors, worry for patients, and an increasingly toxic debate on social media. 01.00 What is the Leng Review? 10:00 Recommendation one: Renaming 14:00 Recommendation two: Easier identification 16:00 Recommendation three: How to work? 20:00 Recommendation four: Diagnosis 25:00 Recommendation five: Oversight & Regulation 32:00 Prescribing and ordering ionizing radiation? 40:00 A failure of workforce planning and vision ? 49:00 The NHS 10 year plan