Clin Med
-
Conservative care is one of the fastest-changing areas of renal medicine. Non-dialytic therapy is now established as a treatment option in most renal units in the UK. This conference reviewed the history of conservative management and examined the state of current practice. The challenges now faced include expanding the evidence base in this area, improving the information given to patients and their families to help them make a decision about treatment, and responding to changes in NHS funding to ensure continued provision of high-quality care.
-
The recent NHS 'hack days' have showcased the enthusiasm and talent of the junior doctor body as well as the potential of open source, open governance and small-medium enterprise. There still remains much scope for developing better value digital health services within the NHS. This article sets out the current state of NHS information technology (IT), how it fails to meet the needs of patients and professionals alike and suggests how better value digital health can be achieved.
-
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of visual loss in the developed world in those of working age, and its prevalence is predicted to double by 2025. The management of diabetic retinopathy has traditionally relied on screening, on laser treatment delivered by ophthalmologists, and on optimising blood glucose and blood pressure. ⋯ Antagonism of vascular endothelial growth factor offers a new therapeutic avenue that may transform the management of diabetic macular oedema. Several other therapeutic options are under investigation and development, including aminoguanidine, sorbinol, ruboxistaurin and autologous stem cell transfusion.