Free Exam Resources for Junior Doctors

Free exam resources for junior doctors

MRCPass - https://www.mrcpass.com

·         Notes on topics covered in MRCP Part 1

·         130 MCQ questions

·         Bookmark questions

·         Choose questions by topic

·         Track statistics

·         Look back over wrong answers

Revise MRCP - http://www.revisemrcp.com/

·         Covers MRCP Parts 1 and 2

·         Over 5,000 MCQs arranged by topic

·         Free to sign up

·         Past papers going back to September 2010

Medexam.net - http://www.medexam.net/

·         Over 1,800 MCQs with detailed answers

·         Updated with new information every day

·         Covers MRCP, MRCGP and PLAB exams

Almost a Doctor - http://almostadoctor.co.uk/

·         Works like Wikipedia - put together by users but subject to quality control

·         Contains notes, mindmaps, flashcards and an OSCE checklist

·         Blogs from other junior doctors

·         Lots of notes on different topics

PassMed - http://www.passmed.co.uk/

·         Notes on study skills, revision, history taking and clinical skills

·         Free – being created by a group of currently working junior doctors

·         Aims to cover material that is ‘hard-to-find’ in textbooks

·         You can download the entire web site as an app

Radiology Master-Class- http://radiologymasterclass.co.uk

·         Courses accredited by the Royal College of Radiologists

·         X-ray interpretation tutorials

·         A gallery of sample X-ray cases

This list was compiled and created by the JET Library and Mid Cheshire Hospital.

UpToDate Expert User Series - Patient Information

Christmas Opening 2015

Christmas Opening

From 2pm 24th - 28th December 

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29th - 30th December 9am - 5pm

From 2pm 31st December to 3rd January 

24 hour card only.

4th January

Open as normal

NICE News December 2015

New guidance and standards New guidelines for care of people in the last days of life NICE has launched the first guidelines for the NHS on improving care for people who are in their last days of life. The guidelines aim to put the dying person at the heart of decisions about their care, so that they can be supported in their final days according to their wishes.

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Ensure people with type 2 diabetes are involved in decisions about their care Healthcare professionals should involve people with type 2 diabetes in decisions about their care such as in managing blood glucose levels, NICE says. Updated guidelines stress the need for individualising care for people with type 2 diabetes, and include new recommendations on managing blood glucose, effective drug treatments, and lifestyle interventions.

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Make a single person responsible for discharging patients to avoid delays Hospitals can avoid delays in discharge by making a single health or social care practitioner responsible for discharging patients, NICE says. The guidance recommends that a single health or social care practitioner should be made responsible for coordinating a person's discharge.

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Improving IV fluid therapy for children and young people New NICE guidance on intravenous fluid therapy aims to improve the safety and consistency of the treatment for children and young people. The guideline contains recommendations for the assessment and monitoring of fluid therapy, and includes a number of algorithms to help plan care.

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News Kadcyla too costly for use on the NHS NICE has published final guidance on the use of Kadcyla (trastuzumab-emtansine) for HER-2 positive breast cancer, which says the drug is too high in price for routine use on the NHS.

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Features NICE guidance year in review - 2015 Take a look at the highest profile pieces of guidance and advice that we've published over the past year.

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Get involved  NICE is reviewing the impact of our Medtech Innovation Briefings (MIBs). The MIBs are designed to support commissioners and staff who are considering using new devices and other medical or diagnostic technologies. Take part in a short survey, which will take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

Take the survey

We are updating and improving our savings and productivity collection. Take part in a short survey to help us make sure that the content meets your needs.

Take the survey

We're looking for topic experts to help us develop guidance on venous thromboembolism (VTE). If you have experience and knowledge of VTE and using prophylaxis methods to reduce the risk of VTE in patients visiting hospital, then apply to join our committee. The closing date for applications is 20 January 2016.

Apply now

Our quality standard for obesity - clinical assessment and management, is now open for consultation. The quality standard contains 8 statements to help improve the assessment and management of obesity in adults, young people and children.  Closing date for submissions is Thursday 14 December 2016.

NICE Eyes on Evidence - Issue 79 December 2015

This month in Eyes on Evidence

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin tests for diagnosis of heart attack
A meta-analysis and UK cohort study found that thresholds lower than those generally applied could be used with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T or I tests to rule out myocardial infarction in people with chest pain.

First-line treatments for Helicobacter pylori
A systematic review and network meta-analysis of studies from more than 35 countries found differences in eradication rates for various Helicobacter pylori treatment regimens. However, differing levels of antibiotic resistance in the included studies may have influenced the efficacy of treatments.

Comprehensive care for older people after hip fracture
A randomised controlled trial in Norway of people aged 70 or over with hip fracture found that providing comprehensive geriatric assessment and care led to better mobility after surgery than standard orthopaedic care.

Experiences of carers for people with long-term conditions
A small UK qualitative study found that some carers of people with diabetes, kidney or heart disease did not consider their work legitimate caring and were reluctant to identify as a carer, which limited their ability to access support.

Personal financial incentives to change health-related behaviours
A meta-analysis reported that personal financial incentives helped people to achieve behavioural targets relating to smoking cessation or a healthy lifestyle, but any effects waned 3 months after the incentive stopped.

Evidence summaries from NICE’s Medicines and Prescribing Programme

NICE has recently published summaries on:

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus in adults: high-strength insulin glargine 300 units/ml (Toujeo)
• Coronary revascularisation: cangrelor
• Atrial fibrillation and chronic heart failure: systematic review suggests digoxin is not associated with increased mortality
• Type 2 diabetes: study finds empagliflozin reduces adverse cardiovascular outcomes
• Contraception: reduced risk of endometrial cancer associated with combined oral contraceptives

Kent Public Health Observatory Health and Social Care Bulletin 27th November 2015

Your guide to what's new in public health and social care locally and nationally.  Produced by the Kent Public Health Observatory.

>>> Click here to view the latest bulletin

NICE News November 2015

New guidance and standards Early birth guideline will be "instrumental" in improving outcomes for mothers and babies Latest guidelines on preventing early birth will be "instrumental" in improving outcomes for babies born prematurely and their mothers, a leading charity says. The guideline identifies ways to prevent preterm birth, to diagnose and manage preterm labour, and reduce the associated risks to the baby.

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Women with symptoms of menopause should not suffer in silence Women whose lives are being affected by the symptoms of menopause should not feel they have to suffer in silence, says NICE. In its first guideline on menopause, NICE recommends that help and information is available for women with menopause, and that a range of treatment options such as HRT can help.

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Reduce waste by carrying out blood transfusions only when necessary Blood transfusions should only be carried out when necessary to help avoid waste in the NHS and prevent risk to patients, according to new guidance. The guideline on blood transfusion makes a number of recommendations to help reduce variation in practice, increase patient safety, and prevent needless use of resources.

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Integrated care "critically important" for older people with social care needs and multiple long-term conditions Health and social care services should work more closely together to ensure older people with social care needs and multiple long-term conditions receive effective care, says NICE. The social care guideline calls for care to be integrated so that better, more person-centred care can be provided for the growing number of older people with social care needs and multiple long-term conditions.

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New guideline on children's attachment NICE has published a new guideline on attachment in children and young people who are adopted from care, in care or at high risk of going into care. The guideline covers the identification, assessment and treatment of attachment difficulties in children and young people up to age 18 who are adopted from care, in special guardianship, looked after by local authorities in foster homes, residential unites and other accommodation, or on the edge of care.

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News Consultation open on plans to reform Cancer Drug Fund   NHS England and NICE have begun a consultation on plans for a new Cancer Drugs Fund. The proposals are aimed at providing patients with access to promising new medicines while the evidence is still emerging, in a financially stable way.

Have your say

Helping people with AF make informed choices about their treatment NICE has endorsed a new decision support tool that aims to help healthcare professionals and people with atrial fibrillation make informed decisions about the most appropriate treatments.

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Into practice Adoption support resources for nalmefene and UroLift NICE has published an adoption support resource for guidance on nalmefene for reducing alcohol consumption in people with alcohol dependence. The resource is aimed at both clinical and non-clinical staff when implementing the guidance at a local level, and may be of particular interest to Health and Wellbeing Boards. An adoption support resource has also been produced for guidance on UroLift for treating lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

New support for dementia and medicines optimisation NICE has published shared learning examples on dementia and medicines optimisation. The dementia example outlines how brief interventions carried out by health and social care professionals led them to evaluate their own lifestyles. The medicines optimisation example highlights how Guys & St Thomas Foundation Trust developed an innovative community based role to lead medicines optimisation within various health and social care teams.

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Get involved  NICE is looking for suggestions for areas of improvement in contraceptive services. We are interested in hearing from stakeholders as to what they consider would have the greatest potential to improve the quality of care. Your suggestions will help NICE develop a quality standard on contraceptive services. Register as a stakeholder to let us know your thoughts.

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Do you or your organisation have an interest in smoking cessation interventions and services? We're looking for comments from stakeholders to help develop the scope for our guideline on the topic. Register as a stakeholder and submit comments by 9 December 2015.

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NICE is recruiting health, public health and social care commissioners, clinicians and finance professionals to join its Adoption and Impact Programme Reference Panel. The external panel is made up of experts from health, public health and social care sectors, and meets 'virtually' through communicating with each other via phone and email. Panel members will support the development of NICE implementation tools to help commissioners and providers implement NICE guidance and standards. Using their experience with NHS and social care experience, panel members provide consultation comments on draft tools and feedback on published tools for evaluation purposes.

Apply now

Our Diagnostics Assessment Programme has vacancies for committee members in the following categories: NHS management Pathology, acute medicine or diagnostic scientist Industry representative The closing date for applications is 03 December 2015.

Apply now

Our Medical Technology Advisory Programme has vacancies for committee members in the following categories: NHS Senior Manager or Commissioner Senior Medical Device Company Representative Secondary care clinician with an interest in innovative technologies - applications are particularly invited from surgeons of any sub-specialty The closing date for applications is 01 December 2015.

Apply now

Kent Public Health Observatory Health and Social Care Bulletin 19th November 2015

Your guide to what's new in public health and social care locally and nationally.  Produced by the Kent Public Health Observatory.

>>> Click here to view the latest bulletin

NICE Eyes on Evidence - Issue 78 November 2015

This month in Eyes on Evidence

Using antipsychotics in pregnancy
A Canadian observational study found no significant difference in maternal and short-term perinatal outcomes in pregnant women prescribed antipsychotics compared with matched pregnant women not prescribed antipsychotics.

Effects of lithium on kidney, thyroid and parathyroid function
A retrospective cohort study of UK laboratory data found that lithium use for a median of 3 years was associated with an increased risk of kidney disease, hypothyroidism and hyperparathyroidism.

Life expectancy in people with type 1 diabetes
A prospective cohort study in Scotland reported that men aged 20 years with type 1 diabetes had a life expectancy 11 years shorter than unaffected men in the general population, and women with type 1 diabetes could expect to live 13 years less.

Length of hospital stay and mortality after hip fracture
A Swedish population cohort study found that staying in hospital for 10 days or less after hip fracture was associated with a small increase in the risk of death within 30 days of discharge among older people.

Barriers to implementing case management for people with dementia
A qualitative analysis found that insufficient skills and resources, lack of clarity over the nature of case management, variable investment in the approach from case managers and general practices, and limited reflection and feedback on the case manager role were barriers to implementing case management for people with dementia in primary care in England.

Evidence summaries from NICE’s Medicines and Prescribing Programme
NICE has recently published summaries on:

• Orthostatic hypotension due to autonomic dysfunction: midodrine
• Factors associated with adherence to diabetes medicines
• Medicines adherence: meta-analysis of interventions for heart failure patients
•  Asthma: new review of prescribing data highlights safety concerns
• Non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: antiplatelets
• Severe infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: co-trimoxazole compared with vancomycin

NICE Eyes on Evidence - Issue 77 October 2015

This month in Eyes on Evidence

Intra-arterial treatment for acute ischaemic stroke
A Dutch randomised controlled trial found that people with acute ischaemic stroke who received mechanical thrombectomy, intra-arterial thrombolysis, or both, plus usual care were more likely to be independent and free from disability at 3 months than people who received usual care alone.

Drugs with anticholinergic effects and risk of cognitive impairment, falls and all-cause mortality
A systematic review and meta-analysis reported that drugs with anticholinergic effects were associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and all-cause mortality in older people, and some drugs were linked to an increased risk of falls.

Suicide prevention programmes in schools
A randomised controlled trial in 10 European countries found that an interactive programme for all pupils that raised awareness of factors associated with suicide and taught mental health coping skills (Youth Aware of Mental Health Programme) reduced the incidence of suicide.

Pregnancy outcomes in women who have had bariatric surgery
A Swedish population-based cohort study found that pregnant women who had previously undergone bariatric surgery for obesity had a lower risk of gestational diabetes, smaller infants, shorter gestation, and were at slightly higher risk of stillbirth or neonatal death than pregnant women with obesity who had not undergone surgery.

Physical and mental health of carers
A cross-sectional study in England reported that around 20% of carers experienced common mental disorders, and this poor mental health was directly related to caring rather than other stressors. A cohort study in Australia reported that more than a third of carers experienced deterioration of their physical or mental health after starting caring.

Evidence summaries from NICE’s Medicines and Prescribing Programme
NICE has recently published medicines evidence summaries on:

• Prucalopride for chronic constipation
• Chronic pain: unintentional overdose in people receiving opioid analgesics for non-cancer pain
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the effect of roflumilast on exacerbations in people with severe disease – the REACT study.

Changes to the BNF
Changes have been introduced to the British National Formulary (BNF) to improve access to the latest information about medicines.

Kent & Medway Health and Social Care Bulletin 2nd October 2015

Your guide to what's new in public health and social care locally and nationally.  Produced by the Kent & Medway Public Health Observatory.

>>> Click here to view the latest bulletin

Book Swap is back...!

Looking for something to read?

Just donate a paperback book and take another one away from the Book Swap Shelves in the library.  

It's as simple as that, no stamping out, no ticket, no fines!

UpToDate Expert User Series

Kent & Medway Health and Social Care Bulletin 18th September 2015

Your guide to what's new in public health and social care locally and nationally.  Produced by the Kent & Medway Public Health Observatory.

>>> Click here to view the latest bulletin

NICE News September 2015

New guidance and standards Offer personalised care to support those who need help to live at home  Home care visits to elderly people should last for at least half an hour and focus on what they can or would like to do rather than on what they can't do, says NICE. NICE's first guideline for the social care sector is of relevance to local authorities, CCGs, and others who commission home care services.

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Antibiotics not effective for rare heart infection  Antibiotics should not be prescribed to prevent infective endocarditis - a potentially fatal heart infection, NICE has reaffirmed. This follows research published in The Lancetlast year which suggested that rates of infective endocarditis had increased in England after NICE advised against giving antibiotics to prevent the infection.

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News NICE joins project to make development of new treatments more efficient NICE is a partner of a new public-private project which aims to identify activities that can make the development and regulation of medicines more efficient. Called the Accelerated Development of Appropriate Patient Therapies (ADAPT SMART), the project is a collaborated between 32 international partners that includes regulators, patients, academia, and industry representatives.

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NICE to sponsor new NHS vanguards NICE is sponsoring four 'vanguards' - groups of NHS and local government organisations that have been designated to pilot the new models of care described in the NHS Five Year Forward View.

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Features Vanguards: piloting new models of care for the NHS We take a closer look at the work of the vanguards, and an organisation in West Wakefield in particular. The vanguards are piloting new models of care to help set a blueprint for a revamped NHS.

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Into practice Online learning tool for bladder cancer  NICE has launched a new online learning tool to support the implementation of the guideline on bladder cancer. The tool uses interactive activities and case studies to support clinicians in diagnosing, staging and treating non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

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Get involved  NICE is developing a quality standard on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children and young people. Have your say on the draft quality standard which consists of eight statements designed to improve care.

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Comment on the draft guideline on the diagnosis and management of myeloma in adults. Recommendations cover advice on communication and support, laboratory investigations, imaging investigations, as well as managing newly diagnosed myeloma and the complications of myeloma.

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EXCLUSIVE discount for NICE Annual Conference 2015 We are offering NICE News subscribers a 30% discount for the NICE Annual Conference next month. The NICE Annual Conference 2015 is a unique opportunity for those working across health, social care, and public health to come together and share best practice in providing high quality care. Join more than 900 professionals to learn more about NICE's work and how NICE can support you in your role. Use NICENEWS30 to get your 30% discount online now.

Register now

Public Q&A with NICE’s Chair and Chief Executive – 18 November 2015, London Have you got a burning question you want to ask NICE? Do you want to find out more about how using NICE guidance and quality standards can help you deliver the best care? Then book your place today to attend NICE Question Time and Public Board Meeting, on Wednesday 18 November 2015 at St George's Hospital, London.

Register now

Coming soon Look out for NICE’s upcoming guideline on preterm birth and labour expected in November 2015.

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Guidance, standards and advice      Guidance Coeliac disease (update) Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis (update) Home care UroLift for treating lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia Virtual Touch Quantification to diagnose and monitor liver fibrosis Technology appraisals  Polycythaemia vera - ruxolitinib (after hydroxycarbamide) - Terminated appraisal TA355 AF (non-valvular, stroke & embolism prev) - edoxaban tosylate Quality Standards Cardiovascular risk assessment and lipid modification Secondary prevention of myocardial infarction and cardiac rehabilitation Medtech Innovation Briefings  i-STAT Chem8+ and GC4+ cartridges for point-of-care testing in the emergency department Thermoguard XP intravascular temperature management system Evidence Summaries  Topical timolol for infantile haemangioma