Public Health

Evidence from academic studies, professional bodies, coroners, NHS trusts and patient-safety investigators increasingly links corridor care and prolonged emergency department boarding with avoidable harm. Stevan Bruijns asks whether the evidence now warrants a formal public inquiry.

Could an emergency department visit be an opportunity to help someone stop smoking? This appraisal examines the COSTED randomised trial of brief advice, an e-cigarette starter kit and referral, alongside its quit-rate findings and the staffing and resources needed to offer the intervention.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease making a resurgence due to declining vaccination rates. It presents with initial symptoms like high fever and coryza, followed by a rash. Rapid isolation and appropriate use of PPE are critical for suspected cases.

What happens to older patients who spend the night in the emergency department awaiting a ward bed? This appraisal examines a prospective cohort study linking overnight ED stays with in-hospital mortality, while considering confounding and the importance of comfort and dignity.

How do injury patterns in e-scooter riders compare with those in cyclists? This appraisal examines a retrospective trauma registry study, considering the injuries recorded, differences in the circumstances of incidents and the implications for prevention and assessment.