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Would you spot acute aortic syndrome hiding among the everyday presentations of chest, back or abdominal pain, and do you know when a nosebleed is more than “just a nosebleed”?

This episode unpacks the clues to a rare but life-threatening aortic emergency, before giving you a practical refresher on acute and recurrent epistaxis, from first aid and anterior versus posterior bleeds to important red flags.

Essential listening for any primary care clinician who wants to feel calmer, sharper and more prepared when the clinical picture does not quite add up.

ENT UK – nosebleeds (epistaxis) (patient information leaflet)

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, Red Whale Courses and Red Whale Unlimited

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Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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This episode tackles one of the most difficult consultations we face in primary care: supporting someone who may be thinking about suicide.

Nik and Lee explore how to ask clear, compassionate questions; understand thoughts, plans and intent without relying on tick-box risk scores; and respond with safety planning, appropriate referral and proactive follow-up.

Using A Man Called Otto to illuminate the person behind the presentation, they also consider how risk and protective factors can change, the value of asking “How are you, really?”, and the emotional impact of suicide on clinicians.

Press play for a practical conversation designed to help you feel more confident when your words, curiosity and willingness to listen really matter.

Useful Links

Useful resources for professionals:

• RCPsych - If a patient dies by suicide: a resource for mental health professionals
• NHS Practitioner Health

Useful resources for patients:

• Samaritans (24h confidential helpline. Tel: 116 123. Email: jo@samaritans.org)
• The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) (an organisation dedicated to preventing male suicide. Tel: 0800 58 58 58)
• Staying Safe from suicidal thoughts (printable electronic safety plan template)
• distrACT (information and advice on how to manage difficult feelings, cope with a crisis and find help and support when you need it most)

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

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Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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Adverse childhood experiences do not stay in childhood. They can echo through physical health, mental wellbeing, health behaviours and the way people engage with care.

This episode explores the landmark ACE research, what it can teach us about complex and recurrent presentations, and how a trauma-informed approach can make consultations feel safer, more respectful and more effective.

Press play for a compassionate, practical conversation that may change how you see the patient who keeps coming back but never quite seems to get better.

Useful Links

Public Health Wales: adverse childhood experiences (Vimeo)
Explores ACEs and their impact across the life course from the point of view of one family. This is compelling viewing and would be a great addition to safeguarding training for your practice team

TED Talks: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, and the Red Whale Calendar

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

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Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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Haven’t got time for CPD? Think again! In this super short special listener question episode, Nik and Fi respond to one of our listeners, Emma from Sheffield. She asks a deceptively tricky question: what actually counts as “normal” weight gain in pregnancy? With NICE not giving a neat definition of excessive gestational weight gain, they dig a bit deeper for answers…

Press play for a clear, mini-episode which gives the answer to a question many of us have probably wondered about — and a useful reminder that conversations about weight in pregnancy need both clinical confidence and careful language.

Useful Links

The Association of UK Dieticians: Pregnancy and diet

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

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Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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“Can you just have a look at this mole?” and “I can’t take penicillin” are familiar phrases in primary care, but both can lead to difficult decisions.

In this episode, we explore how to recognise suspicious, unusual and easily missed melanomas, including which risk factors and examination clues matter most, before tackling the difference between a true penicillin allergy and a troublesome side-effect.

With practical pointers on referral, safety-netting and clearer allergy documentation, this is an episode to help you approach two common clinical uncertainties with greater confidence.

Useful Links

Websites describing appearances of lesions in different skin types:

• BAD Skin Health Info - skin of colour
• Dermnet NZ - skin conditions in skin of colour
• Nottingham Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology - skin of colour

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, and the Red Whale Calendar

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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Not every consultation about periods or pregnancy comes with a straightforward answer. Join Nik and Lucy as they unpack reproductive health in inflammatory bowel disease, including contraception, medication reviews, pregnancy and breastfeeding, before tackling the questions that often make adolescent menstrual consultations tricky: what is normal, what needs investigating, which treatments can be offered and when to refer. A practical episode packed with useful pointers for the next time you are in your consulting room.

Useful Links

The Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy website (BUMPS)

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, Red Whale Courses and Red Whale Unlimited

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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Ever said “yes, that’s fine” while every part of you was quietly saying “absolutely not”? In this episode, Nik is joined by Red Whale mental health lead Lee David for a practical, warmhearted conversation about communicating our needs and setting boundaries in primary care. They explore why clinicians so often put themselves last, how guilt can muddy the waters, and why boundaries are less about being difficult and more about protecting the time, energy and wellbeing we need to keep doing the job well. With relatable examples, the DEAR framework for tricky conversations, and simple ways to say “no” without ruining relationships, this is a timely listen for anyone feeling stretched, overcommitted, or in need of permission to pause before saying yes.

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, and the Red Whale Calendar

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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This is a timely, thoughtful episode that tackles two issues primary care can’t afford to file under “too difficult” or “summer problem”. Fiona and Nik explore how bias can quietly shape consultations, clinical reasoning and patient experience, especially when we’re tired, rushed or relying on first impressions, with practical ways to pause, reflect and challenge assumptions.

They then turn to heat-related illness, a growing risk for patients we see every day, from young children and pregnant women to older people, outdoor workers, people who are socially isolated or using certain medications.

If you want a practical, compassionate update on spotting who is at risk, recognising heat-related illness as a spectrum, and knowing when rapid cooling and emergency action are needed, press play now.

Useful links

NHS Midlands Leadership Academy – unconscious bias toolkit

NHS equality, diversity, and inclusion improvement plan

NHS England – conscious inclusion

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, and the Red Whale Calendar

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.