Additive impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on pneumonia and empyema hospital admissions in England.

Objectives: A wider spectrum 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13) replaced PCV7 in the child immunization schedule in England from 2010. We assessed the additional impact of PCV13 over PCV7 on all-cause pneumonia and empyema admissions.

Methods: We extracted Hospital Episode Statistics data from 2001 to 2014 on all-cause pneumonia (ICD-10 codes J12-18) and empyema admissions (J86.

Tonsillectomy among children with low baseline acute throat infection consultation rates in UK general practices: a cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of tonsillectomy in reducing acute throat infection (ATI) consultation rates over 6 years' follow-up among children with low baseline ATI consultation rates.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: UK general practices from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Changing indications and socio-demographic determinants of (adeno)tonsillectomy among children in England--are they linked? A retrospective analysis of hospital data.

Objective: To assess whether increased awareness and diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and national guidance on tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis have influenced the socio-demographic profile of children who underwent tonsillectomy over the last decade.

Method: Retrospective time-trends study of Hospital Episodes Statistics data. We examined the age, sex and deprivation level, alongside OSAS diagnoses, among children aged <16 years who underwent (adeno)tonsillectomy in England between 2001/2 and 2011/12.

Significantly increasing hospital admissions for acute throat infections among children in England: is this related to tonsillectomy rates?

Objective: To examine trends in hospital admissions for acute throat infection (ATI) and peritonsillar abscess (PTA) alongside tonsillectomy trends in children.

Design: We analysed Hospital Episode Statistics data to calculate annual age-standardised and age-sex specific rates for ATI, PTA and tonsillectomies in children aged 0-17 years who were admitted to hospital in England between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2010.

Results: Age-standardised admission rates for ATI increased by 76% from 107.

Impact of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV7) programme on childhood hospital admissions for bacterial pneumonia and empyema in England: national time-trends study, 1997-2008.

Background: Childhood bacterial pneumonia and empyema rates have reportedly increased in recent years in Europe. In September 2006 the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV7) was introduced to the childhood national immunisation programme in England following a successful PCV7 campaign in the USA. The aim of this study was to report national time trends in hospital admissions for childhood bacterial pneumonia and empyema in England before and after the introduction of PCV7.

Effectiveness of mobile-phone short message service (SMS) reminders for ophthalmology outpatient appointments: observational study.

Background: Non-attendance for hospital outpatient appointments is a significant problem in many countries. It causes suboptimal use of clinical and administrative staff and financial losses, as well as longer waiting times. The use of Short Message Service (SMS) appointment reminders potentially offers a cost-effective and time-efficient strategy to decrease non-attendance and so improve the efficiency of outpatient healthcare delivery.

A practical guide to the diagnosis and management of insomnia in a general practice consultation.

A 43 year old woman presents with difficulty sleeping for five weeks and still feeling very tired when she wakes up. This has been adversely affecting her work performance. Additionally, she has recently had relationship problems with her husband.