Primary Care Unit research is often featured in mainstream and specialist media and we collect examples of media coverage on this page.
‘Just in Case’ medicines don’t always help people dying at home
This research from Dr Ben Bowers and Prof Stephen Barclay reveals the complexities of making ‘Just in Case’ medications available for people nearing the end of life at home.
Nursing Times: Study raises questions over ‘just in case’ medicines for end-of-life care | Nursing Times
Nursing Standard: Nursing Standard | RCNi
ehospice: ‘Just in Case’ medicines don’t always help people dying at home – ehospice
Terminally ill people struggling to access essential care at home during evenings and weekends
Terminally ill people are struggling to access essential care at home during evenings and weekends, according to new research from King’s College London, Hull York Medical School and the Primary Care Unit at the University of Cambridge.
Read the story on the BBC website
New analysis reveals primary care workforce inequalities remain as wide as ever
Updated analysis of UK primary care workforce data reveals inequalities remain as wide as ever.
BBC and Newsnight: Poorer areas in England suffer most from GP shortage, study finds – BBC News
Remote consultations: “Perfect for some but disastrous for others”: Patients and clinicians express concerns over phone and video consultations
This study of rheumatology patients and clinicians found that while the majority found phone or video consultations more convenient than face-to-face consultations, they viewed so-called telemedicine as less diagnostically accurate than in-person consultations and as having the potential to increase health inequalities and barriers to accessing appropriate care. The study was reported across print and broadcast media nationally and locally in the UK. Led by Melanie Sloan.
The Times (paywall): https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/web-or-phone-medical-appointments-disastrous-for-some-patients-h760lvzkc
The Telegraph (paywall): Remote appointments ‘disastrous’ for some patients amid misdiagnosis risk, warn doctors (telegraph.co.uk)
Daily Mail: Only three per cent of doctors think remote consultations are better for patients | Daily Mail Online
Times Radio: Listen at 1hr 15mins: Aasmah Mir and Stig Abell with Times Radio Breakfast | Times Radio | The Times and The Sunday Times
Behaviour change: Changes to workplace cafeteria menus nudge workers to consume fewer calories (September 15th, 2021)
A study carried out at 19 workplace cafeterias, led by Prof Dame Theresa Marteau, has shown that reducing portion sizes and replacing higher calorie food and drinks with lower calorie options led to workers buying food and drink with fewer calories. The study, published in PLOS M, was covered all over the world, including in:
CNN: Workplace cafes can play a role in your weight loss, study finds
Health inequalities: Worsening GP shortages in disadvantaged areas likely to widen health inequalities (August 23rd 2021)
Areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage are being worst hit by shortages of GPs, a trend that is only worsening with time and is likely to widen pre-existing health inequalities, say a team of researchers at the University of Cambridge led by Dr John Ford. This research was covered in local and regional news and in national pieces, including:
Independent: Poorer areas have fewer GPs
Behaviour change: Listen to Professor Dame Theresa Marteau on BBC Radio 4’s The Life Scientific
The show was broadcast on 13 April 2021
The Life Scientific – Theresa Marteau on how to change behaviour – BBC Sounds
Palliative and end of life care: Dr Stephen Barclay contributed to the Better End of Life Report
Research from the Palliative and End of Life Care Group is featured in the report, published on 8 April by Marie Curie and featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC Online and across BBC regional news and radio
Covid: Unpaid carers ‘struggled to get pain relief’ for terminally ill – BBC News
Palliative and end of life care: researchers in the Palliative & End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam) are leading a programme of research on Anticipatory Prescribing to help inform evidence-based clinical practice.
The NIHR School of Primary Care Research published this research briefing, written by Ben Bowers, in March 2021.
Anticipatory Prescribing for adults at end of life (adobe.com)
The team’s recent body of research on bereavement services is summarised in this research briefing, written by Caroline Pearce and also published March 2021.
Supporting bereaved people in primary care and the community during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Patient experience: The LISTEN study explores the experiences of patients with lupus and related conditions, led by Melanie Sloan in the Behavioural Science Group. Media work done in February and March 2021 has helped to raise awareness of lupus and the challenges experienced by patients.
Lupus patients’ experiences in Wales: read this BBC article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56266613
What’s it like having lupus? what’s it like to be a doctor diagnosing/managing lupus, especially during the pandemic? Lupus researchers Coco Barrerre, expert patient and Dr Chris Wincup, rheumatologist, explain to on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on 4 March 2021: Breakfast on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire – Louise Hulland 04/03/2021 – BBC Sounds
Lupus: ‘No-one seemed willing to treat me during Covid’ – BBC News online article about the experiences of lupus patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Melanie discusses her findings with Dotty McLeod on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on 9 February 2021
Watch Melanie on BBC Look East on 9 February 2021
Read this blog published by the British Society for Rheumatology
Mental health: Robotic dogs and laughter therapy: 10 ways to combat loneliness and isolation while social distancing