January 2025 Newsletter

As we embark on a new year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you who has supported Belmatt Healthcare Training. Your dedication to advancing healthcare education has been instrumental in our shared success. We look forward to continuing this journey together and achieving new milestones in the year ahead.

Children Returning to School and Common Childhood Illnesses

As children return to school, it’s common to see an increase in illnesses such as colds, flu, and norovirus. The UK Health Security Agency advises parents to keep children at home if they have a high temperature and are unwell. Encouraging regular handwashing and proper tissue disposal can help prevent the spread of infections. For healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their skills in managing pediatric illnesses, our upcoming Paediatric Minor Illness Course on February 24-25, 2025, offers comprehensive training. 

Upcoming Podcast: Cold Water Swimming

We are excited to announce our upcoming podcast episode focusing on the health benefits and considerations of cold-water swimming. This episode will delve into the physiological impacts, potential risks, and tips for safely engaging in this invigorating activity.We also invite you to contribute to our podcast series. If there are specific topics you’d like us to explore, please email your suggestions to [email protected].

Recent Health Updates in the UK

• Stricter Regulations on Obesity Drug Prescriptions: The General Pharmaceutical Council has updated its guidelines for online pharmacies, particularly concerning the prescribing of obesity drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro. Pharmacies are now required to independently verify patient metrics through methods such as video consultations or access to clinical records before prescribing these medications. We will be discussing this in more depth in our Prescribing Update on 20 March 2025
• Norovirus Surge: Hospitals in the UK are experiencing a significant increase in cases of the highly infectious winter vomiting bug, norovirus. The UK Health Security Agency advises individuals with symptoms to stay home, practice good hygiene, and avoid visiting healthcare facilities to prevent further spread. 
• Medication Warning: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has updated patient information leaflets for popular cold and flu medications containing pseudoephedrine. Patients need to be informed about very rare, but life-threatening side effects linked to these medications, such as brain swelling and seizures. 
• Gambling Habit Inquiries: General practitioners and healthcare professionals will begin asking patients about their gambling habits during health checks, as per new guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This initiative aims to identify and support individuals with problematic gambling behaviours. 

Care Quality Commission (CQC) and General Practice The CQC, as the independent regulator of health and social care services in England, has recently faced scrutiny regarding its inspection processes and reliability of safety ratings. An interim review led by Dr. Penny Dash highlighted significant dysfunction within the CQC, including outdated inspection reports and IT system failures, leading to unreliable safety ratings for care homes and other health facilities. We will be running a series of updates and training courses for healthcare professionals and support workers in nursing homes and care facilities.

We are pleased to offer a range of courses designed to enhance your clinical skills: 5-Day History Taking, Physical Examination, and Consultation Skills Combined with Minor Illness Course Dates: March 4, 5, 12, 19, 26, 2025 Format: Hybrid Classroom and Live webinar with some eLearning escription: This comprehensive course covers essential skills in history taking, physical examination, consultation techniques, and minor illness management. Sexual Health Update Date: March 15, 2025 Description: Stay informed about the latest developments in sexual health, including current guidelines and best practices. Session delivered by Dr Hayley Jenkins GPwSI Womens Health. Basic Life Support (BLS) Sessions Starting Date: March 4, 2025 Format: Face-to-Face. Description: Hands-on BLS training sessions to ensure proficiency in life-saving techniques.

Our Minor Injuries Course 26 – 28 March 2025 provides practical, evidence-based training to improve patient outcomes in primary and urgent care settings. This course covers the assessment and management of musculoskeletal injuries, wound care, burns, and more. provides practical, evidence-based training to improve patient outcomes in primary and urgent care settings. This course covers the assessment and management of musculoskeletal injuries, wound care, burns, and moreFor more details and to register, please visit our Courses Page.

Enhance Your Skills with Our E-Learning Courses

We offer a variety of e-learning courses designed to fit your schedule and learning preferences. Our eLearning module Apophysitis in Children is a popular session for those wanting to understand musculoskeletal development and injuries in children

Urgent Care Workshop: Do not forget to book a place on our upcoming Urgent Care Workshop on 9 May 2025. Listen to experts and network with colleagues.

Stay Connected

Follow us on our Facebook page and participate in our weekly case studies discussing current issues in primary care. If you’re interested in being a guest speaker for our podcasts or have suggestions for future topics, we’d love to hear from you! Email [email protected] to get involved. We also welcome opportunities to deliver in-house and bespoke courses delivered by our expert panel of lecturers.

Course Director: Jeshni Amblum-Almér