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Dear %%firstname%% ,
It's been a while since a politician launched into a good old-fashioned bout of GP bashing – say what you like about Andrew Lansley, that's not really his style - but this week Prime Minister David Cameron stepped forward to remind us what we've all been missing.
In some extraordinary remarks in a speech on public service reform, Mr Cameron accused GPs of giving preferential access to 'people with money' who they meet at dinner parties (watch the video of his speech here). GPs have reacted to the comments with disbelief and anger, but today he stood by the remarks, with a Downing Street spokesperson blaming a 'slight misinterpretation' for the resulting kerfuffle.
As I wrote in a blogpost yesterday, Mr Cameron's comments were particularly ill-judged given the very real unanswered policy questions on the future of patient choice. And Copperfield, as you'd imagine, is distinctly unimpressed: by his calculations, Mr Cameron took just 16 seconds to alienate the entire profession and is a 'prime idiot'.
Other big news stories on the site this week include a study suggesting that thiazide antihypertensives can treble the risk of falls in the elderly and the launch of a new wave of GP pathfinder consortia (see our updated map here). We also reveal that the GPC has withdrawn its support for practice ratings on NHS Choices, as new figures show that GPs have queried one in 10 comments on the site.
Our new CPD portal Pulse-Learning is now one-week old, and if you haven't checked it out already it's worth pointing out it includes some brand-new features. If you regularly take CPD assessments, the CPD log function allowing you to keep track of modules will be handy, while our 100-question Learning Needs Assessment enables you to identify your weaker and stronger clinical knowledge areas – click here to see how you measure up.
Our new Surviving the First5 blogger tackles the challenges posed to frontline GPs by QIPP, while Copperfield explains why GPs won't strike over pensions and Pulse editor Richard Hoey suggests BMA big-wigs are feeling the heat over the NHS reforms.
And finally, next week GPC and BMA Council member Dr Helena McKeown will be guest-editing a special issue of Pulse looking at ethics in general practice – and now is your last chance to let her know your views and perhaps win an Amazon Kindle 3G worth £152. Click here to take the survey now.
Best wishes
Steve Nowottny
Deputy editor, Pulse
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New NICE guidance on drug therapy for managing chronic heart failure
2010 NICE guidance recommends that in patients with chronic heart failure who remain symptomatic on treatment with first line therapy of an ACE inhibitor and a beta-blocker, should be referred for specialist advice and considered for additional drug treatment with either: 1
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An aldosterone antagonist licensed for heart failure (especially if the patient has moderate to severe [NHYA class III-IV] heart failure or has had an MI in the previous month) 1 or |
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An angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) licensed for heart failure (especially in patients with mild to moderate [NYHA class II-III] heart failure) 1 or |
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A combination of nitrate and hydralazine (especially if the patient is of African or Caribbean origin and has moderate to severe [NYHA class III-IV] heart failure). 1
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Visit www.heartzone.co.uk today
Heartzone is sponsored by Pulse in association with Takeda UK Ltd and contains both educational and promotional information
References
Date of preparation: January 2011
Code: TA101252
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