Research
Seroprotection against serogroup C meningococcal disease
In around 1000 adolescents who were immunised during a 1999-2000 national UK campaign, a fifth of current 11-13 year olds have inadequate immunity and need boosters, according to this observational study. Age at vaccination is important for protection and persistence with conjugate vaccines, says the accompanying editorial.
Comment
The state of general practice - not all for the better
Simplistic and unpiloted NHS reforms are inadvertently damaging patient care in general practice, warns a group of academics. If they are allowed to continue, they add, patients will lose holistic care, doctors will lose job satisfaction and the NHS will become less effective and inefficient.
Comment
Patient consent - decision or assumption?
New guidance from the UK General Medical Council urges doctors to rethink their approach to obtaining patient consent. Implementing the guidance requires systemic and cultural change, says this editorial by Glyn Elwyn.
News
Resistance to drugs responsible for half of deaths from infections
Multidrug resistant bacteria are responsible for about half of the 37 000 deaths a year in the 27 member states of the European Union that are caused by infections associated with health care, show the preliminary results of research from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm.
News
Source of surgical instruments "should be checked"
Doctors should encourage their hospitals or practices to ensure that the surgical instruments they purchase are "ethically procured," a BMA report has said.
News
New buildings not needed for polyclinics, says King's Fund
Local NHS organisations should be given the freedom from the British government to implement large health centres or "polyclinics" in the way that they think will best serve their population, the head of one of the UK's leading organisations for research into healthcare policy has said.
Comment
Head to head: Large scale healthcare interventions
Should we use large scale healthcare interventions without clear evidence that benefits outweigh costs and harms? Yes, says Bernard Crump, who believes implementation with careful monitoring is justified. No, says Seth Landefeld and colleagues, who argue that acting without proof of net benefit is both costly and potentially damaging to health. Have your say on the poll.
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Student BMJ
Risk of surgery for inflammatory bowel disease: record linkage studies
What can you learn from this BMJ paper? Read Leanne Tite's Paper+
