Clinical Update

0.5 CPD hours This discussion on obesity and its management, hosted by MIMS Learning editor Pat Anderson, took place at MIMS Learning Live South in London. Former GP Dr Patrick Holmes and consultant diabetologist Dr Amar Puttanna are part of the education provider Goggledocs and provided key learning points for GPs during the discussion. Educational objectives After listening to this podcast, GPs...

Lord Heseltine tells the story of the birth of the European Space Agency. Why post-Apollo, when the US was spending £1.2 billion a year on space, the whole of Europe was spending just £200 million. Why the birth of ESA was driven by the self-interest of three major countries. Why the US general with a $29 billion budget for the Star Wars project wanted to invest in Heriot-Watt University in Edinbu...

GPs and other doctors are at risk of developing abnormal coping mechanisms including addiction, but can turn things around if they spot the signs and take action, according to GP Dr Michael Blackmore. As a recovering addict, he gives advice to patients and to other GPs about how admitting problems and seeking help and support are vital, and can enable doctors to reconnect with their practice as we...

Bloating is a common presentation in primary care and can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. [Main] Bloating is a key characteristic of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but can also be a sign of a food intolerance (such as lactose intolerance) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). I...

Around a third of patients with dementia remain undiagnosed. Dr Alistair Robertson, a GP with an extended role in frailty, provides insights for GPs and other primary care professionals on how they can address  underdiagnosis and provide support for patients and their families. He covers signs and symptoms to look out for, assessments to conduct, the role of drug treatments, and the benefits...

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning deputy editor Rhiannon and medical editor Dawn provide a comprehensive update on prostate health.  High-profile figures, such as Sir Chris Hoy, opening up about their own diagnoses have significantly increased public awareness of prostate cancer. In light of this, the editors discuss the rationale for targeted prostate cancer scree...

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, Dr Louise Warburton talks to Dawn Liz Powell about the effect that obesity can have on the musculoskeletal system. She explains that if adults carry excess weight for a long time, perhaps from young adulthood, this can put additional strain on weight-bearing joints and can lead to premature wear and tear — meaning that the joints may need to be repai...

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editors Pat and Sangeeta discuss falls in older people, highlighting tips on assessment, the benefits of exercise, and the role of deprescribing in primary care. Falls among older people cost the UK health and care system an estimated £4.4bn annually. Drawing on insights from consultant geriatrician Dr Anna Steel and NICE and British Ge...

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, consultant dermatologist Dr Claire Fuller talks to MIMS Learning deputy editor Rhiannon about the clinical signs of scabies – including how presentation can differ in children and older adults – and provides a detailed breakdown of effective treatment regimens for both permethrin and ivermectin. Dr Fuller goes on to discuss the issues of ‘pseudo-resi...

GPs and primary care clinicians often encounter oral and dental problems, many of which are significant indicators of underlying systemic disease. In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, medical editors Sangeeta and Dawn discuss symptoms and signs that can suggest gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or eating disorders. They also examine the two-way...

Different pollens can trigger hayfever at different times of the year and, potentially, if they are sensitive to all these different pollens, patients could be symptomatic from early January until October. Honorary consultant physician Dr Glenis Scadding advises that patients should start taking hayfever medication before their symptoms start and only stop taking it when their symptoms are likely...

The perinatal period — from the start of pregnancy until the baby's first birthday — is a time of significant change for women and, while much of this can be positive, for some, it brings major challenges.  Mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, OCD and PTSD, can have significant and long-lasting effects on both mothers and children. But, in this episode of the Clinical Updat...

How do we solve population pressure and climate crisis in space? How has GPS allowed us to provide 12% more food globally? How did the UK become a global leader in small satellite manufacture after the British Government said, “there’s no future for the UK satellite industry”? How did Elon Musk turn reusable rockets from science fiction to science fact in less than 20 years? What else are “Elon an...

Up to one-third of patients with a previous asthma diagnosis show no evidence of the condition upon further evaluation – so GPs should be prepared to re-evaluate, according to respiratory GP Dr Steve Holmes. Dr Holmes says: ‘When I see somebody and I think it’s asthma but the FeNO is normal and the eosinophils are normal, and then I send them for spirometry and that test is normal too, quite often...

What did the Space-Comm Expo conference and exhibition tell us about connecting space and wider business? How does this manifest as tech connectivity in telecoms and why do farmers care about that? What did we learn about the benefits of extreme cold in manufacturing laboratories and why do pharmas care about that? How vulnerable are global logistics to the spoofing of navigation signals? And...

Primary care professionals have broadly welcomed the 2026 update to the NICE type 2 diabetes guidelines because it focuses on reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications, such as cardiovascular disease, as well as optimising glycaemic control. With this in mind, MIMS Learning medical editors Dawn and Sangeeta take a deep dive into the extensive diabetes content available on MIMS Learning.&...

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning deputy editor Rhiannon talks to pharmacist Rachel Pilgrim about the impact of medication on breastfeeding cessation. Rachel describes how her own experience inspired her research into this area, and discusses how primary care can support patients with consistent, evidence-based information (and where to find this): ‘Medicines shouldn't...

This episode of the Clinical Update podcast discusses the range of feeding, nutritional and gastroenterology problems a GP might encounter in a paediatric population, including gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), cow’s milk allergy (CMA), and malnutrition. The podcast discusses learning points for primary care professionals around infant feeding and childhood nutrition. It also looks at...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be asymptomatic and, sometimes, the condition is only identified when a person has had an AF-related stroke. For this reason, according to GP Dr Chris Arden, ‘we need to be far more proactive and more opportunistic’ about identifying AF in primary care. This could involve performing pulse checks at flu clinics or chronic disease clinics, focusing on elderly patients gi...

As of 2026, the UK space industry is a significant and strategic driver of the national economy, contributing over £19 billion in revenue and supporting tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs. Satellite-based services and data underpin roughly 18% of UK GDP, equivalent to approximately £454 billion of the wider economy. And the sector is growing exponentially. But this is just the tip of the icebe...

Mental healthcare is a vital part of general practice. In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editor Pat Anderson and medical editor Sangeeta Krishnan discuss case studies that prompt GPs to reflect on their practice. 0.5 CPD hours This podcast draws on the mental health learning plan, featuring modules written by Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham, to highlight important aspects...

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, academic GP Dr Sam Finnikin speaks to MIMS Learning’s medical editor Sangeeta Krishnan about the essential role of shared decision-making  in modern primary care.  Sam talks about why shared decision-making is a legal and ethical responsibility, and how GPs can effectively integrate it into the standard 10-minute consultation. They also dis...

Insomnia refers to the persistent difficulty with getting to sleep, maintaining sleep, or quality of sleep that occurs despite adequate opportunity and circumstances for sleep and results in impaired daytime functioning. It can often be a sign of an underlying psychological or physical condition. In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editors Dawn and Pat review how insomnia...

0.5 CPD hours To find out more about the MIMS Learning Live Digital event mentioned at the start of this podcast, click here . In this episode, GP and director of the Primary Care Women’s Health Society, Dr Toni Hazell, talks to Pat Anderson about specific changes to the UKMEC recommendations on contraception safety. She provides key learning points for GPs about how the changes to the UKMEC contr...

0.5 CPD hours To find out more about the MIMS Learning Live Digital event mentioned at the start of this podcast, follow this link . In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editor Pat Anderson and deputy editor Rhiannon Ashman discuss timely diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding, how to assess patients and management options. They draw on the expertise of MIMS Learning’s pro...