Pseudocyst

The adventures and life of a Specialist Nurse in Upper GI and Bariatric surgery. If you then double and triple this by having a primary school age child AND being married to another Nurse then you have double the trouble….aehm I mean fun. Hobbies are playing chess, board games and being taxi for our son!!!

Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this blog are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

health

  • The Crisis in UK Nursing: Pay, Retention, and the Future of Care

    AS ALWAYS FIRST THINGS FIRST: NMC Social Media Compliance Disclaimer This article represents my personal professional reflections as a registered nurse in Somerset. It has been written in strict accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Standards (2018) and the NMC’s Social Media Guidance. Specifically, it complies with section 5 (confidentiality) and Read more

  • Why Surgical Specialties Need Advanced Clinical Practitioners: A Critical Look at ACPs vs ECPs

    As usual first things first: Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, employer organizations, or affiliated institutions. This blog entry has been written in accordance with the NMC Code (2018), which outlines the professional standards expected of Read more

  • Idiopathic vs Atypical Pancreatitis: Diagnostic Clarity, NICE Compliance, and Evolving Practice in the UK

    Before we start: Disclaimer: This blog entry has been written in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) social media and professional standards guidelines. All clinical reflections are anonymized, evidence-based, and maintain professional boundaries as outlined by the NMC Code (2015). Let’s get to it, shall we: Pancreatitis presents as a deceptively binary diagnosis—acute Read more

  • Analysis of Selling Alcohol at Primary School Events in the UK: Ethical, Social, and Public Health Considerations

    Firstly a bit of context to this: Our Son’s school was holding a fundraiser Bingo night. During the event alcohol (Wine & beer in cans) were sold and there was no incident. My wife asked the questions what the reason was for selling alcohol on school premises. It got to the point where the head Read more

  • The Implications of Bariatric Surgery Abroad: A Critical Analysis of Patient Outcomes and NHS Impact

    Bariatric surgery is an increasingly popular intervention for severe obesity, offering significant health benefits, including weight loss, improved metabolic health, and reduced morbidity and mortality (Rubino et al., 2022). However, in the UK, patients seeking such procedures face long NHS waiting lists or costly private treatment. Consequently, an increasing number opt for medical tourism, undergoing Read more

  • Setting up an Ambulatory Pancreatitis Clinic in Somerset: Challenges and Feasibility

    Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a significant cause of hospital admissions, with an incidence of approximately 30–50 per 100,000 per year in the UK (Yadav & Lowenfels, 2013). While severe cases necessitate inpatient care, mild-to-moderate cases (which constitute up to 80% of presentations) could be managed in an ambulatory setting (NICE, 2018). Benefits of an ambulatory Read more

  • Physician Associates

    The introduction of physician associates (PAs) into the NHS workforce has been a subject of considerable debate. Advocates argue that PAs can help alleviate pressures on an overstretched system, whereas critics highlight concerns regarding their scope of practice, limitations, and the implications for patient safety. The following write-up give you a “critical analysis” of the Read more

  • Mental Health problems overdiagnoses?

    Wes Streeting’s comments earlier today on the overdiagnosis of mental health issues have ignited an important debate on the intersection of public health policy and welfare economics. While acknowledging the legitimacy of mental health conditions, Streeting warns against a growing tendency to diagnose individuals too readily, potentially leading to over-reliance on welfare benefits rather than Read more

  • Closure of NHS England??!!??

    The NHS was established on July 5, 1948, as part of the post-World War II welfare state reforms led by the Labour government under Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Health Minister Aneurin Bevan. The foundation of the NHS was driven by the Beveridge Report of 1942, which identified the need to eliminate the “five giants” Read more

  • I need more sleep

    Currently with long hours working (mostly 7 – 7) it does have an impact on your sleeping habits. Getting up early to be ready and leaving for 6.50am and then a full day ahead of problem solving is tiring. In all fairness it would help if I would go to bed at a sensible time Read more