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Grief touches every consulting room. In this episode we gently unpick how to support people after loss, using the RCGP framework “A Compassionate Bereavement Response”. Practical language you can use tomorrow, how to recognise prolonged grief disorder (including in children) and when to refer. The overlap with PTSD, and realistic ways we can look after ourselves as clinicians.

Then we change gear for an update on NICE’s 2024 guideline covering bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease: the red flag combination that demands 999, when prehospital antibiotics are (and aren’t) advised, the easy to miss early signs, and robust safety netting.

Press play for compassionate care, sharper suspicions, and help to make the right clinical decisions when under pressure.

Useful links

Grief

Good Grief Festival (free events, YouTube Channel and curated resources)

RCGP framework “A Compassionate Bereavement Response”

Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease

Meningitis Now

We are currently looking for 4 new clinicians to join the Red Whale team to help us create and curate our educational content. For more information, on the Join Us section of our website.

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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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Fiona and Nik break down the latest evidence on menopause, HRT and cognition so you can feel confident when patients ask, “Should I be worried?”

Plus: in our second Pearl in this episode, practical tips for behaviour change that actually sticks, including how to spot those golden moments and use the STOP IT model to turn advice into action.

Tune in for clear answers and real‑world support for primary care.

Perfect for anyone in primary care who wants to feel informed, confident and ready for the inevitable “I saw this in the news...” conversation.

Useful Links

British Menopause Society: Menopause linked to loss of grey matter in the brain, poorer mental health and sleep disturbance

We are currently looking for 4 new clinicians to join the Red Whale team to help us create and curate our educational content. For more information, on the Join Us section of our website.

https://www.redwhale.co.uk/join-us

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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Domestic abuse affects patients and colleagues, yet it’s often unseen- so in this compassionate, practical episode Fiona and Nik walk you through what primary care can do right now:

1. How to spot warning signs
2. How we should use clinical inquiry (not universal screening)
3. How to respond to a disclosure with the LIVES framework
4. How to document safely in the electronic medical record

You’ll also hear why children and young people are recognised as victims in their own right, and how to notice and support a colleague who may be affected.

Do you know about the 999 “Silent Solution”?

All this is so you can feel more prepared, confident and informed in your next clinic.

Press play: the right conversation at the right moment can change a life.

Useful Links

Domestic abuse

Doctors Association UK offers resources and research on domestic abuse in healthcare, including:

• Resources for doctors and health professionals experiencing domestic abuse
• Resources for NHS employers to support staff affected by domestic abuse
• Research and guidance on domestic abuse in healthcare professionals

TED Talk: Why domestic violence victims don't leave

Silent Solution

Mr Right and Mr Wrong

We are currently looking for 4 new clinicians to join the Red Whale team to help us create and curate our educational content. For more information, on the Join Us section of our website.

https://www.redwhale.co.uk/join-us

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.