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Anecdote-based Emergency Medicine #1: excited delirium

The relative tranquility of the night shift thus was about to be broken. I swallowed my apprehension and walked outside.
  • Blog

Is Normalisation of Deviance the “Standard” in Medicine?

The idea of “normalisation of deviance” is the brainchild of an American sociologist, Diane Vaughan, who thought that essentially people become used to accepting deviant behaviour as normal practice, the more it occurs.
  • Blog

Confidentiality, Capacity and Consent in PEM

It’s Friday evening and you’re at work in the ED (where else would you rather be??). Jack is a 15-year-old boy who has taken an overdose of paracetamol a couple of hours ago. He texted his girlfriend soon after and she called an ambulance.
  • Clinical Case

The Unsettled Infant in the ED

The baby looks well at first, nothing really worrying - but he has been crying for last 2 days, which is unusual for him. His mother`s concern leads us to a serious diagnosis.
  • SAQ

Managing a serious incident

It is Monday morning 09.00hrs and you are checking your email inbox. You have received the following email from the StR who has just finished weekend nights.
  • Clinical Case

Riding into Rupture

A motorcyclist presents after a high speed collision, appearing stable with minor signs. But is everything as it seems? Would you trust the vitals or investigate further?
  • Blog

Situational Awareness in the ED

Do you know what is going on with you, and around you? Have you been in a situation where there are nine poorly patients in the resuscitation room, and you are the only clinician looking after them?
  • Blog

Social Media: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

As two producers of FOAMed, we would forgive you for expecting us to tell you about what a wonderful place the internet is. Indeed, without it, we may not be here talking/writing to you.
  • Blog

The Rules of the House of God

In an era of increasing bureaucracy, never ending targets, and spiralling demand on a background of chronic underfunding, the prevailing cynicism of the medical profession might be understood.
  • Learning Session

Acute Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal is a common presentation to UK EDs and patients can present significant management challenges to clinicians.
  • SBA

The role of the MARACS in managing domestic abuse

Learn more about the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACS) and their role managing in domestic abuse.
  • Blog

A Day in the Life of

  • SBA

Aspiration Pneumonia

Many of your patients are at risk of aspiration pneumonia. This SBA explains when you should think about it, and how to implement preventative measures.
  • SBA

The missing patient who absconded

How will you manage your absconding patient with suicidal intent who has gone ‘absent without leave’?
  • SBA

Body Stuffers – Management and the Law

A suspected juvenile drug trafficker refuses radiological imaging. Police seek medical advice on next steps.
  • Blog

Learning from Deaths

This blog is something a bit different. Based on real Coroner’s cases, we’ve pulled out some critical decision moments, so you can work your way through the patient journey and decide what you would do.
  • Blog

Medics and the media – the antisocial network?

This month, Aintree University Hospital's Director of Communications & ex-journalist Fin McNicol talks to us about how our online interactions may be picked up by the mainstream press and what to do if they are
  • Blog

Supporting Overseas Doctors (IMGs)

There are many components of looking after overseas doctors. Many of them are intuitive and seem common sense, but our experience suggests the basics are often done poorly. We define an overseas doctors as a doctor who has trained, and probably worked, abroad who is embarking on a new healthcare career in the NHS.
  • Blog

The Power of Mindset: Challenge and Threat

A person's mindset is a very powerful thing. The state in which our mindset is in can have a huge impact on the way we approach tasks and the chances of us completing a task successfully.
  • Blog

Things I wish I’d learnt before Emergency Medicine and Parenthood

In this blog we discuss some aspects of EM and offspring. And we look forward to hearing your suggestions and tips too.
  • Blog

A Guide to Conquering the FRCEM SBA

Reflections on revising for the FRCEM examinations
  • SBA

Supporting Overseas Doctors

Are you supporting your overseas team as much as you could? Inspired by the RCEMLearning blog, here are some questions.
  • Blog

Understanding Informed Consent: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals

Every patient has the right to be involved in decisions about their treatment and care. Informed consent ensures that patients have all the necessary information to make free and informed decisions about their medical care.
  • Blog

Time Management

Time management tips

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