Publications by authors named "Bridget K Macdonald"
Background: It is now a General Medical Council requirement to incorporate education for sustainable healthcare (ESH) into medical curricula. To date, research has focussed on the perspectives of educators and which sustainable healthcare topics to include in teaching. Therefore, due to this gap in the literature, we have investigated the perspectives of medical students in the UK regarding current and future incorporation of ESH in medical education.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurological illnesses are a common cause of hospital admissions, yet most patients are not primarily managed by neurologists. Acute neurology service provision varies across the UK. This study aimed to establish the number of neurological admissions during a 2-week period in a district general hospital, as well as the proportion of those patients who were seen by the hyperacute neurology team.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- A study over 18 months introduced a hyperacute neurology team at a district hospital, featuring a senior nurse coordinator, consultant-led service, and support from acute epilepsy nurses and neurophysiology.
- The model resulted in a significant increase in patient volume and faster treatment times, with many patients being treated in the acute medical unit rather than general wards.
- Notably, there was a decrease in length of stay and readmission rates for epilepsy patients, who made up 30% of referrals, and the service's operating costs were found to be modest.
We present the case of a 16-year-old girl who suffered from repeated episodes of collapse and loss of consciousness which could be provoked by undertaking a stretching manoeuvre comprising a combined breath hold and neck torsion. A review of the literature is provided on other cases of so-called "stretch syncope" which appears to be a rare form of reflex syncope affecting patients in adolescence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe present the case of a patient treated for hyperprolactinaemia with weekly doses of cabergoline for 12 years. Over this time she had suffered from binge eating and compulsive shopping which impacted on her weight and made her finances precarious. We discuss the features of impulse control disorders and suggest that seeking out these side effects in patients taking such agents is important.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the incidence of epilepsy in a general practice population and its variation with socioeconomic deprivation.
Design: Prospective surveillance for new cases over an 18 or 24 month period.
Participants: All patients on practice registers categorised for deprivation with the Carstairs score of their postcode.