What did the 2013 review of the Liverpool Care Pathway mean for emergency care? This reflection argues for individualised end-of-life care, conversations with patients and families, and honest discussion of uncertainty, rather than losing sight of comfort and dignity as the paperwork changes.
Lessons from the London SimWars competition in July 2013, where emergency medicine trainees tackled challenging simulated resuscitations. Simon Carley reflects on communication, named tasks, team summaries, preparation and listening, drawing out practical themes from his role as a judge.
Emergency Department Management
A response to the GMC’s 2013 report on emergency medicine training in the UK. Simon Carley explores the links between supervision, understaffing, service pressure and recruitment, arguing that the sustainability of emergency care and the quality of education cannot be separated.
Alan Grayson describes volunteering with Festival Medical Services at Glastonbury in 2013. His account explores the planning, multidisciplinary teamwork and varied presentations behind festival healthcare, from minor injuries to critical illness, and the challenges of delivering emergency care in a field hospital.
A personal review of the Essence of Emergency Medicine course in 2013, led by Cliff Reid and colleagues. The account focuses on human factors, learning openly from mistakes, taking responsibility and advocating for patients when systems make good care difficult.
How can an emergency department debrief support learning after a difficult event? This 2013 discussion considers purpose, timing, facilitation, hierarchy and staff participation, with an emphasis on recognising good practice, agreeing improvements and identifying colleagues who need further support.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
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