Saving Lives In Slow Motion

Today’s episode is all about empathy.Is it valued in today’s society? Is it important to us as human beings and what does it mean to you? Health care and the role of empathy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7151200/Physician empathy and patient satisfaction: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/physician-empathy-a-key-driver-of-patient-satisfaction-300228070.htmlThe three types of empathy: https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/there-are-actually-3-types-of-empathy-heres-how-they-differ-and-how-you-can-develop-them-all.htmlSome evidence that social media may actually marginally improve empathy (no causality): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336326078_Social_Media_Use_and_Empathy_A_Mini_Meta-AnalysisAn expert view on empathy and reasons for it decreasing: https://genius.com/Dr-sara-h-konrath-why-is-empathy-decreasing-annotatedSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode is all about time. The pandemic, people’s loss and the state of the world right now has brought time into sharp focus. Is it really the only thing that matters? I talk about ways that I have managed to see time in a different way and share some perspectives on how we might look at it and mould it to suit our own lives.Links:Myths about time management: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/11/05/11-time-management-myths-that-are-hurting-your-productivity/?sh=2fbb64254f80Time management grid (leaving everything to the last minute makes it become urgent and important):https://weekplan.net/academy/weekly-planning/4-quadrants-of-time-managementTime perspectives: https://psychcentral.com/lib/whats-your-time-perspective#1Volunteering: https://worksmart.org.uk/news/any-volunteers-how-giving-your-free-time-good-your-careerFerris Bueller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsYBtfQ3QDoABC method and time management grid: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/471/2019/08/Prioritization-Methods.pdfA great conversation between Sadiq Khan and Alistair Campbell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeA-7oS1LhkSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Language is important in all walks of life and has changed hugely over the years becauseof how humans communicate.In this episode I look at its importance and its role in health and medicine, nuances in language and how we can try to work out what someone means from what they say.You can cross reference to my episode on Consultations which overlaps with this nicely and covers the way in which we communicate.Links: Rita Charon's work on narrative medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1949238/John Launer’s 7 C’s: https://www.gp-training.net/communication-skills/communication-skills-theory/narrative-based-medicine/Interesting paper on language, culture and medicine: https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1060&context=fmch_articlesPragmatics in language: https://all-about-linguistics.group.shef.ac.uk/branches-of-linguistics/pragmatics/what-is-pragmatics/Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is all about perspective. How can we improve our ability to look at other’s points of view andwhy is it so important?Can we avoid conflict by being mindful about language and behaviours?Protected characteristics: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act/protected-characteristicsTaking perspective:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-power-personal-narrative/201906/the-power-perspective-takingPerceptual positions: https://www.brilliantminds.co.uk/video-perceptual-positions/The age of the individual?: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/16/the-age-of-the-individual-must-end-tom-oliver-the-self-delusionSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We know what wellbeing means - or do we? What does it really mean and how do we acknowledge and make it a priority at work and in ourlives?One of my friends triggered this episode having been unsure how to acknowledge and accommodate wellbeing at work.In this episode we look at the determinants of wellbeing and how to take practical steps to improve yours.Links: World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitutionVarious wellbeing wheels: rb.gy/pxbmfqWhat Works Wellbeing: https://whatworkswellbeing.org/resources/wellbeing-evidence-at-the-heart-of-policy/Educating Ruby by Claxton and Lucas: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Educating-Ruby-Children-Really-Learn/dp/1845909542Wellbeing stories (for children): https://www.wellbeingstories.com/AI driven mental health app for which I am medical adviser: https://www.leafyard.com/actnowSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’ll be looking at medical myths. It’s a fascinating area which most of us will be able to relate to.How many times have you found yourself saying we only use 10% of our brainsor that you should feed a cold and starve a fever? I’d love to hear your experiences of this via Insta, Twitter, LinkedIn or FB.Here are some links based on the show for more info:Do we only use 10% of our brains? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20121112-do-we-only-use-10-of-our-brainsIs crossing your legs bad for you? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151013-is-crossing-your-legs-bad-for-youGreying hair: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210622154339.htmFeed a cold, starve a fever? https://www.healthline.com/health/feed-a-cold-starve-a-feverHealth Freaks 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEGH4hfxMfUGarlic and libido (a study): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24844765/An apple a day keeps the doctor away: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2210883Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is about medical diagnosis. It’s a tricky business and as patients we want to make sure the diagnosis is as accurate as possible withoutsomething being missed or the opposite - the risk of overtreatment.I look at the role of screening and talk through some of the challenges we face as both patients and clinicians.Links:Improving diagnosis: https://www.improvediagnosis.org/stories/  (USA based)Screening and ethics which govern it in the NHS: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening“Too much medicine”: https://www.bmj.com/too-much-medicineOverdiagnosis: https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k2820Ivan Illich and his Medical Nemesis: https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jrcpe_46_2_omahony_0.pdfAchenbach syndrome (just FYI): https://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/9/e238156Medically unexplained symptoms: https://bjgp.org/content/67/656/106Bill Turnbull documentary: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/bill-turnbull-staying-aliveSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Impostor syndrome affects up to 70% of people and I see it so often that I wanted to look at what it is, where it came from and what we can do about it.It’s a fascinating phenomenon which once uncovered can lead to self-exploration and changing our thoughts.Links: The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-26502-001Latest large scale review study on Impostor syndrome: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174434/Dr Valerie Young: https://impostorsyndrome.com/An article I wrote many years ago: "Failures can be the pillars of success”: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC261763/CBT techniques which may help: https://www.healthline.com/health/cognitive-restructuringSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medical errors are common and need to be minimised. They are the 3rd commonest cause of death in the USA.In this episode I look at why these errors happen and what we can do to prevent them.Links:Patient safety (WHO): https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/patient-safetySurgical safety checklist (WHO): https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety/research/safe-surgery/tool-and-resourcesMartin Bromiley’s charity looking at human factors: https://chfg.org/chfg-history/ PIP implant update: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57179180Consent: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/PALS (NHS): https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/HealthWatch: https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/what-we-doSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is about grief and bereavement. It is different for everyone but I share my own experience of it here.Links:The Kubler-Ross stages of grief: https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-griefTransgenerational grief: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/blog/2018/01/transgenerational-griefTheories on grief: https://griefjourney.co.uk/startjourney/for-professionals-and-caregivers/articles-for-professionals-and-caregivers/theories-of-grief/General bereavement support: cruse.org.uk Support for grieving children: https://www.winstonswish.org/Support for grieving parents: https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/family-life/bereavement-support/bereaved-parent-supportSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.