Person-centred prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism.

All medical admissions should receive risk assessment for the value of prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism. Unfortunately, for such patients the risk of thromboembolism is closely balanced with the risk of haemorrhage exaggerated by chemical prophylaxis. The recent NICE guideline continues to recommend comprehensive risk assessment, and to use prophylaxis where the risk of thromboembolism exceeds the risk of bleeding.

Trends in disability prevalence over 10 years in older people living in Gloucestershire.

Introduction: life expectancy in the UK appears to be growing faster than healthy life expectancy, which may imply that there are increasing years of disability. There are few sequential studies examining changes in disability amongst older people within a defined locality.

Methods: the population aged 75 and over of 10 general practices in Gloucestershire was surveyed using a validated postal questionnaire for disability called the Elderly At Risk Rating Scale.

Housing and health care for older people.

There is an enormous impact of home conditions both on the health of an older person living with a long-term illness, and their ability to remain independent in the face of disability. Geriatricians are often called upon to give advice to older people with a new illness about where to live. It is important therefore that they should understand the relationship between housing and health, and how to signpost patients and their families to advice on housing options.

Care home medicine in the UK--in from the cold.

The quality of care within care homes comes under frequent media scrutiny, and is underpinned by the medical support to the staff. In the UK, medical care to care homes is provided by general practitioners. A GP is likely to have patients in many homes, and each home relates to many GPs.