Patient safety in actioning and communicating blood test results in primary care: a UK wide audit using the Primary care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT).

Background: Errors associated with failures in filing, actioning and communicating blood test results can lead to delayed and missed diagnoses and patient harm. This study aimed to audit how blood tests in primary care are filed, actioned and communicated in primary care, to identify areas for patient safety improvements.

Methods: UK primary care clinicians were recruited through the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT).

Exploration of reasons for primary care testing (the Why Test study): a UK-wide audit using the Primary care Academic CollaboraTive.

Background: Rates of blood testing have increased over the past two decades. Reasons for testing cannot easily be extracted from electronic health record databases.

Aim: To explore who requests blood tests and why, and what the outcomes of testing are in UK primary care.

GP roles in emergency medical services: a systematic mapping review and narrative synthesis.

Background: A significant proportion of emergency medical services (EMS) work is for problems that may be amenable to timely primary care management and could benefit from GP input. Utilising GPs in EMS may reduce avoidable emergency department (ED) conveyance, releasing emergency ambulances for higher-acuity care, and meeting patient needs earlier in the evolution of an emergency call.

Aim: To collate and summarise evidence on how GPs are utilised in EMS.

Why Test study protocol: a UK-wide audit using the Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) to explore the reasons for primary care testing.

Background: The number of blood tests done in primary care has been increasing over the past 20 years. Some estimates suggest that up to one-quarter of these tests may not have been needed. This could lead to a cascade effect of further investigations, appointments, or referrals, as well as anxiety for patients, increased workload, and costs to the health service.

How do Funeral Practices Impact Bereaved Relatives' Mental Health, Grief and Bereavement? A Mixed Methods Review with Implications for COVID-19.

Those who are bereaved during the current COVID-19 pandemic are subject to restrictions on funeral sizes and practices. We conducted a rapid review synthesising the quantitative and qualitative evidence regarding the effect of funeral practices on bereaved relatives' mental health and bereavement outcomes. Searches of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, KSR Evidence, and COVID-related resources were conducted.

Mortality rates in teaching hospital complex care wards in England: a retrospective audit.

Objective: Existing data examining mortality rates following inpatient hospital admissions in the UK are either condition specific or examining all inpatient mortality based on single time point audits. This clinical effectiveness project aimed to assess mortality rates in patients admitted to complex care (CC) wards managed by geriatricians at Southmead hospital, Bristol.

Methods: Data were collected by the trust's audit department and analysed by the authors.

The Experiences of Fathers Who Have Offspring with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Research exploring parents' experiences of having offspring with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) currently underrepresents fathers. This study aimed to develop an understanding of the experience of fathers, with a view to facilitating improved support. Eight fathers participated in semi-structured interviews exploring their experiences of fathering children with ASD.