Clinical Update

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning deputy editor Rhiannon looks back at a year of thought-provoking clinical education from the podcast. The episode begins with a focus on cancer diagnosis, revisiting a conversation with NHS England’s Professor Peter Johnson on the success of the Lung Cancer Screening Programme. We also hear from pancreatic cancer specialist nurse Rachel Richardson about the potential for new tests to revolutionise early detection in primary care. Dr Toni Hazell provides advice on one of the most talked-about clinical areas in 2025 – weight-loss medications – highlighting specific considerations for women using these drugs. Look out for more content on obesity as part of MIMS Learning’s 2026 editorial campaign.Consultant nephrologist Dr Andrew Frankel outlines the ‘three actions in 3 months’ initiative — a structured approach to medicines optimisation in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Also, Dr Steve Brinksman discusses how best to identify alcohol use disorder, noting ‘we’re in the harm reduction business – anything we can do to stop people developing diseases, to stop people having to go to hospital; that's worthwhile.’ Finally, Dr Farnaaz Sharief shares practical resilience frameworks to help clinicians recharge at this busy time of year. Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Describe the impact of targeted lung cancer screening Recall specific advice regarding oral contraception for patients using GLP-1 agonists for weight loss Outline the ‘three actions in 3 months’ approach to optimising medication in CKDUse screening tools to effectively assess alcohol consumption in primary care Apply practical techniques to manage your energy levels and maintain resilience in clinical practice You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser. Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events. MIMS Learning[Subscribe to MIMS Learning] Patient, Presentation, Pathway for Cancer campaignNHS England’s Professor Peter Johnson on optimising early cancer diagnosisNurse specialist Rachel Richardson on pancreatic cancer risk factors and new developments in earlier detectionDr Toni Hazell on weight loss injections and women’s healthPodcourse: part 2 - monitoring and management of CKD with Dr Andrew FrankelDr Steve Brinksman on supporting people with alcohol misuse in primary careDr Farnaaz Sharief on finding balance in a pressured systemFrom MIMSObesity treatments

If you enjoy a blend of online learning and podcast-style listening that you can fit into your busy life, then this podcourse is for you.Listen to this 3-part audio series, then go to MIMSLearning.co.uk to read the downloadable worksheets and complete the multiple-choice quizzes, to get up to speed with all the key points primary care professionals need to know about chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this episode (part 3), consultant nephrologist Dr Andrew Frankel discusses advanced management of CKD, using the case of a patient whose disease has progressed. He explains when the focus should shift from preventing disease progression to planning for end-stage kidney failure treatment, and outlines the options, including dialysis, transplant, and supportive care.Dr Frankel emphasises that ‘the management of heart failure needs to be prioritised over the management of a decline in GFR’, and explains what this looks like in practice. He also offers tips on dealing with complications such as hyperkalaemia and anaemia.MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser. Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcourse episode, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Recognise when to begin planning for end-stage kidney failure treatmentRecall the role of supportive care as a treatment option for some patientsAppreciate why heart failure management should be prioritised over preservation of GFR in cardiorenal diseaseDescribe the management of hyperkalaemiaUnderstand the investigation and management of anaemia in advanced CKDMIMS LearningSubscribe to MIMS LearningCKD podcourse with Dr Andrew Frankel, part 1: diagnosis and classificationCKD podcourse with Dr Andrew Frankel, part 2: monitoring and managementPsychotropic medication and renal impairmentManaging patients with combined heart and kidney diseaseCardio-renal-metabolic disease: clinical reviewDiabetes-related kidney disease: therapy optionsGuidance update: NICE guidelines on chronic kidney diseasePodcast: diagnosis and management of diabetes-related kidney diseaseDiabetes-related kidney disease: five steps to optimise management

If you enjoy a blend of online learning and podcast-style listening that you can fit into your busy life, then this podcourse is for you.Listen to this 3-part audio series, then go to MIMSLearning.co.uk to read the downloadable worksheets and complete the multiple-choice quizzes, to get up to speed with all the key points primary care professionals need to know about chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this episode (part 1), work through a typical primary care case with consultant nephrologist Dr Andrew Frankel. He outlines the diagnosis and classification of CKD and explains why and – importantly – how you should ‘look for kidney disease early and intervene rapidly’.MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser. Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcourse episode, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Recall the classification of CKD using GFR and ACR Identify the key components of a ‘kidney health check’ and state why this phrase is usefulRecognise the importance of early CKD detectionAppreciate the concept of ‘3 in 3’ in the context of kidney disease outcomesUnderstand how to use the Kidney Failure Risk EquationRecall blood pressure targets for patients with CKDUnderstand the impact of early tightening of glycaemic control in patients with diabetes and CKDMIMS LearningSubscribe to MIMS Learning CKD podcourse with Dr Andrew Frankel, part 2: monitoring and managementCKD podcourse with Dr Andrew Frankel, part 3: advanced managementManaging patients with combined heart and kidney diseaseGuidance update: NICE guidelines on chronic kidney diseaseDiabetes-related kidney disease: prevalence, diagnosis, and impactPodcast: diagnosis and management of diabetes-related kidney diseaseCKD: the hidden public health emergency

If you enjoy a blend of online learning and podcast-style listening that you can fit into your busy life, then this podcourse is for you. Listen to this 3-part audio series, then go to MIMSLearning.co.uk to read the downloadable worksheets and complete the multiple-choice quizzes, to get up to speed with all the key points primary care professionals need to know about chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this episode (part 2), consultant nephrologist Dr Andrew Frankel covers monitoring and management of CKD. He explains why lifestyle modifications are ‘the foundation’ for improving CKD outcomes, gives an update on best practice for medicine optimisation and advises on how frequently patients should be followed up.MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser. Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcourse episode, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Understand the role of lifestyle changes in CKD management Recall the benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors in CKD patients Apply the ‘3 in 3’ medication optimisation strategy Recognise the impact of CKD impact on cardiovascular risk Explain how frequently patients with CKD should be followed up Consider how systematic CKD patient identification and coding could be implemented MIMS LearningSubscribe to MIMS LearningCKD podcourse with Dr Andrew Frankel, part 3: advanced managementCKD podcourse with Dr Andrew Frankel, part 1: diagnosis and classificationManaging patients with combined heart and kidney diseaseGuidance update: NICE guidelines on chronic kidney diseaseDiabetes-related kidney disease: prevalence, diagnosis, and impactPodcast: diagnosis and management of diabetes-related kidney diseaseCKD: the hidden public health emergency

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, recorded at MIMS Learning Live North in Liverpool in November 2025, MIMS Learning deputy editor Rhiannon interviews three expert speakers on hot topics in primary care.Consultant ophthalmologist Miss Sajeevika Amarakoon offers practical tips on examining children and adults with eye problems. She outlines when eye problems can be managed in primary care, and lists the essential equipment GPs should have on hand, including fluorescein dye and mydriatic drops.Dr Louise Warburton, a GP with an extended role in rheumatology and musculoskeletal medicine, discusses how to take a useful history in patients with back pain to identify serious pathologies. She highlights the importance of spotting osteoporotic fractures, while reminding primary care professionals that, for mechanical back pain, ‘movement is medicine’.Finally, consultant psychiatrist Dr Helen Pears highlights the health inequalities faced by patients with severe mental illness, noting that their life expectancy is 15 to 20 years lower than the general population. She provides actionable advice for GPs on helping these patients access care and managing the risks of medication interactions.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Recall red flag symptoms in adults and children presenting with eye problemsList the essential equipment GPs should have available to conduct a thorough eye examinationSpot red flags for serious spinal pathologyRecognise the clinical features of inflammatory back painDescribe practical measures to support patients with severe mental illness to attend appointmentsUnderstand significant interactions and side-effects of commonly-used psychotropic medications,You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal.MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.MIMS LearningRed eye - red flag symptomsPodcast: eye problems in primary careDiplopia - red flag symptomsDiagnosing axial spondyloarthritis in primary careAcute low back pain: initial presentation to primary careDiagnosing and managing bipolar disorder: a guide for GPsWhy people miss medical appointments and how to support themPodcast: Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham on supporting people with severe mental illnessMIMS drugs recordsFluoresceinMydriatics

Dr Deborah Kerr, GP with an extended role in headache at the National Migraine Centre, advises GPs on how to diagnose migraine, how to advise patients on self-management of acute attacks, and the range of pharmacological therapy to prescribe, in this 3-part podcourse.This three-part series is exclusive to MIMS Learning subscribers and follows the case of Simone, a patient with migraine, who presents to her GP Dr Brown with worsening migraines. Learners can read and download practical worksheets and test their knowledge with multiple choice quizzes. Ensure you are up to speed with all the key points primary care professionals need to know about migraine at mimslearning.co.uk.Click here to sign up and listen now. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.MIMS LearningSubscribe to MIMS LearningMigraine podcourse with Dr Deborah Kerr, part 1: diagnosis and managementMigraine podcourse with Dr Deborah Kerr, part 2: menstrual-related migraineMigraine podcourse with Dr Deborah Kerr, part 3: migraine in children

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editors Sangeeta and Dawn look at skin and hair conditions that might have a different presentation in skin of colour.They discuss the importance of early diagnosis in traction alopecia to prevent permanent scarring and hair loss. They also look at possible causes of hypopigmentation, and how certain signs, such as erythema, may be more subtle or absent in darker skin. They acknowledge various considerations in management of skin and hair conditions in people of colour, such as the specific needs of people with afro-textured hair. They also discuss the varied presentation of skin cancers in people with skin of colour .Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: Explain the risk factors for traction alopecia in people with  afro-textured hair.Describe how hypopigmentation, such as that seen in seborrheic dermatitis, may differ in presentation in people with darker skin tones.Recall that though the incidence of skin cancer is lower in people with skin of colour, the morbidity and mortality are disproportionately higher.Identify differences in the typical presentation and site of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma in people with skin of colour compared with that in people with lighter skin.You can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.MIMS LearningSubscribe to MIMS LearningTraction alopecia: clinical reviewHypopigmentation: clinical reviewSkin cancer in skin of colour: clinical review

Achieving balance is not about a ‘perfect sense of calm’, but is about learning how to realign when you are pulled off-centre, according to Dr Farnaaz Sharief. She says that part of resilience is about ‘small, intentional pauses’ that can help you manage your energy and regain your clarity and focus.In this podcast, Dr Sharief talks to MIMS Learning editor Pat Anderson about practical steps that GPs and other healthcare professionals can take – acknowledging how they are feeling and making adaptations based on that.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Understand the concepts of balance and resilienceCreate small moments of recharge in their daily practiceBe mindful of fuel and hydrationUse the ‘ABCD’ framework to regain clarityImplement the ‘3 Cs’ for good quality sleepAddress the ‘barrier of guilt’ to prioritise self-careYou can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal.MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.MIMS LearningSubscribe to MIMS LearningHarnessing conflict for growth: strategies for healthcare teamsWellbeing masterclass

Asthma and COPD may be the ‘bread and butter’ of the respiratory conditions seen in primary care, but other respiratory conditions, such as bronchiectasis, will also be seen. In this episode of the MIMS Learning Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editors Dawn and Pat survey the wide range of respiratory conditions seen in primary care that are not COPD or asthma. They look at the diagnosis of bronchiectasis, improvements in managing cystic fibrosis, the rising incidence of tuberculosis (TB), and how the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme is enabling earlier diagnosis.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: Describe the pathophysiology of bronchiectasisReview how developments in screening and management has improved outcomes in cystic fibrosisDiscuss which socioeconomic groups are at increased risk of tuberculosisRecall the number of lung cancers detected through the NHS lung cancer screening programmeYou can access the website version of this podcast, along with a list of key learning points, on MIMS Learning - and make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.MIMS LearningSubscribe to MIMS LearningBronchiectasis: clinical reviewCystic fibrosis: clinical reviewInflammatory bowel disease mimicsLung cancer: presentation and referralPodcast: advanced nurse practitioner Beverley Bostock on asthma and COPDPodcast bonus episode: Dr Steve Holmes on asthma in pregnancy and childhood wheezeMIMSEarly start to flu season prompts warning for healthcare professionalsInfluenza vaccines 2025/2026Influenza vaccines, which vaccine to offer