Response of UK community hospitals to the COVID-19 pandemic: an appreciative inquiry.

Introduction: The 500 community hospitals in the UK provide a range of services to their communities. The response of these small, mainly rural, hospitals to the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet been examined and so this study sought to address this gap.

Method: Appreciative inquiry was used to understand staff perspectives of how community hospitals responded to the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.

Palliative care in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review for clinicians.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition characterized by airflow obstruction which ultimately kills many patients. It is common in both men and women and there is a 24-30% 5-year survival rate in the UK for those with severe disease. The annual death rate in the UK from COPD approaches that from lung cancer.

How accurate is diagnosis of asthma in a general practice database? A review of patients' notes and questionnaire-reported symptoms.

Background: Planned care of patients with chronic diseases in primary care depends on being able to identify them. A recorded label of asthma does not necessarily mean that the patient is currently symptomatic, and failure to record the diagnosis may influence future care.

Aim: To determine the degree of under- and over-reporting of the diagnosis of asthma for patients aged 16-55 years inclusive in one large general practice.

GP referral for physiotherapy to musculoskeletal conditions--a qualitative study.

Background: Little is known about the dynamics of GP referral for physiotherapy. Better understanding of this process is important because of the growing number of physiotherapy referrals by GPs.

Objectives: Our aim was to achieve insight into the experiences and views of patients, GPs and physiotherapists in relation to physiotherapy referral for musculoskeletal conditions.

Field-testing and validation in a primary care setting of a point-of-care test for C-reactive protein.

Background: Use of point-of-care testing (POCT) in primary care has increased. There is a need for high-quality field evaluation of POCT before deployment can be considered.

Method: A POCT system for C-reactive protein was evaluated in a routine general practice setting.

Deaths from heart failure in general practice: implications for palliative care.

Trial and observational research indicates a high one-year mortality with a significant potential for specialist palliative care for patients with heart failure. A community observational study was undertaken in two general practices, with a total population of 21,000. There were three objectives: to determine the prevalence of symptomatic heart failure, to document mortality in the cohort over six and 12 months, and to establish the population in which a palliative care approach was adopted.