New Zealand Doctor podcasts

With more than two billion people flying every year on commercial airlines, it is surprising more of us have not had that sinking feeling when the steward's voice asks "is there a doctor on the plane?" So, it is worth being prepared for the call of duty.

"The difference between panic and performance is planning." "Readiness, Response, Recovery, Risk Reduction." Civil defence information is full of such vacuous aphorisms, but when tectonic push comes to shove, as it did on 4 September in Canterbury, "people with a plan perform".

Jo Scott-Jones Driving is dangerous, although it is usually the stopping bit that causes most problems, particularly if it is not planned. There are around 11,000 injury crashes a year in New Zealand and it is almost inevitable you will be the first on the scene of one at least once in your medical career.

Amanda Cameron interviews Auckland travel doctor Marc Shaw about his recent three-month stint in Afghanistan with the New Zealand Defence Force

Social scientists exploring relationships between providers and customers talk about "emotional labour" - the work involved in making people feel comfortable and welcomed.

One of the joys of general practice is that you never know what the next patient will bring in through the door. Even some of the possibly life-threatening complaints they present with, such as chest pain or severe acute headache, can be caused by quite benign conditions.

Not content with having convinced politicians to subsidise home insulation, Philippa Howden-Chapman wants to know whether home heating might ease Maori women's heavy COPD burden.

To begin with, if you receive a complaint - don't panic! If your practice never hears a complaint, you are not the best GP in the world; it means you are not listening. People complain about services for many reasons and it is rare to find someone who simply enjoys complaining; mostly it is a hard decision which takes a lot of courage.

In the community, you may experience sudden death through violence, accident or self harm, or the expected death of someone frail or chronically ill, perhaps after months of palliative care.

Wellington correspondent Virginia McMillan interviews Australian oncologist David Dalley on developments in the treatment of neck and head cancer (25 min)

Clinical leadership is not just a current buzzword, but an essential part of the role of the doctor within healthcare. As medical training moves forward, there is a progressive increase in responsibility for the emerging practitioner. This allows the gradual development of essential skills needed to become a good team member, and, eventually, a leader. Whether we like it or not, we are the leaders...

If you don't know where you are going, it really doesn't matter what direction you choose to travel in - it is likely you won't get anywhere very far. The journey certainly is more important than the destination, but as a journey implies moving from one place to another it is helpful to plan how you are going to get where you want to go....

Pass on knowledge with satisfaction 14 July 2010 If your practice has never taken students, it is time to ask why. Teaching is not only rewarding professionally, it is part of the fundamental definition of being a professional...