Clinical Update

Insomnia refers to the persistent difficulty with getting to sleep, maintaining sleep, or quality of sleep that occurs despite adequate opportunity and circumstances for sleep and results in impaired daytime functioning. It can often be a sign of an underlying psychological or physical condition.In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editors Dawn and Pat review how insomnia should be assessed in primary care and how it should be managed. They also discuss related sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and night sweats.Given sleep disorders can lead to sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness, the editors also look at DVLA regulations on driving with a sleep disorder.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be more able to:Discuss the types of insomniaRecall pharmacological options for treating insomniaReview the risk factors for OSAAppreciate the role of the GP in supporting patients with suspected OSAInvestigate the possible causes of night sweatsYou 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 LearningRegister for a free MIMS Learning accountAdult obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: clinical reviewConfidence in Obesity CareInsomnia - red flag symptomsNight sweats - red flag symptoms

0.5 CPD hoursTo find out more about the MIMS Learning Live Digital event mentioned at the start of this podcast, click here.In this episode, GP and director of the Primary Care Women’s Health Society, Dr Toni Hazell, talks to Pat Anderson about specific changes to the UKMEC recommendations on contraception safety.She provides key learning points for GPs about how the changes to the UKMEC contraception safety recommendations will apply in  practice. Key issues discussed include the addition of new categories for MS and CKD, an increase in the risk category for depot contraception injections and advice on vaping.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: Understand how UKMEC aims to protect patientsRecall how UKMEC’s general risk categories translate to practiceUnderstand the latest changes to UKMEC categories and adviceReflect on how to apply the changes in practiceRecall where to seek further advice and resourcesMIMS Learning resourcesContraception learning planContraception: the basics Complex contraception scenarios part 1Complex contraception scenarios part 2Answering patients’ questions on intrauterine contraceptionBest use of oral hormonal contraceptionMIMS Learning blog

0.5 CPD hoursTo find out more about the MIMS Learning Live Digital event mentioned at the start of this podcast, follow this link.In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, MIMS Learning editor Pat Anderson and deputy editor Rhiannon Ashman discuss timely diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding, how to assess patients and management options.They draw on the expertise of MIMS Learning’s professional clinical writers and speakers, to bring you key learning points around GP assessment of abnormal uterine bleeding including heavy menstrual periods, risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia and guidance on assessing and managing unscheduled bleeding on HRT.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.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: Recall the prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding and why diagnosis of its cause may be delayedTake a structured history and ask about key aspects of bleedingDeploy the PALM-COEIN classification system to recall the causes of AUBList endometrial risk factors and know when to refer to cancer pathwaysUnderstand key messages from guidance on unscheduled bleeding on HRTBe alert to red flag symptoms that suggest a serious underlying causeMIMS Learning resourcesAbnormal uterine bleedingAbnormal bleeding: tips on diagnosisRecognition and referral of endometrial cancerHeavy menstrual bleeding: red flag symptomsHealth inequalities in women: menopause, pelvic floor disorders and endometriosisMIMS Learning blog

Increasing ambulance wait times and patient complexity have shifted the role of primary care in managing emergencies. In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, GP and clinical lecturer Dr. Tim Sanders speaks to medical editor Sangeeta Krishnan about the need for extended stabilisation of a patient in primary care because of longer wait times for an ambulance, high-acuity low-occurrence (HALO) events (rare but life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate, expert intervention), and preparedness for emergencies in primary care.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Evaluate the shifting role of primary care from recognising to managing emergenciesImplement a structured airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure (ABCDE) primary survey to help identify and manage deteriorating patientsDistinguish between HALO events and more common emergency presentations Understand the ‘moral load’ and psychological effect  of managing high-risk situations for longer durations on clinical teamsEmpower administrative and reception staff to recognise clinical red flags and trigger emergency protocols effectivelyUse cognitive aids and checklists to reduce cognitive overload during high-pressure clinical scenariosYou 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 LearningRegister for a FREE accounthttps://www.mimslearning.co.uk/courses/urgent-oral-and-dental-problems https://www.mimslearning.co.uk/courses/guidance-update-latest-nice-guidelines-on-sepsis https://www.mimslearning.co.uk/courses/jaundice-red-flag-symptoms https://www.mimslearning.co.uk/courses/asthma-diagnosis-and-7-differentials https://www.mimslearning.co.uk/courses/asthma-in-children-clinical-review

People who live with obesity can be malnourished if they are eating a high-calorie diet that has low nutritional value, president of British Obesity Society and obesity nurse specialist Jane DeVille-Almond tells Dawn Liz Powell (medical editor at MIMS Learning) in this episode of the Clinical Update podcast. Jane adds that people on weight loss medications can also be at risk of malnutrition. She explains that as the drugs are associated with reduced appetite, people taking them may only feel like eating something small — such as a bag of crisps — and this can lead to nutritional deficiencies.Jane and Dawn also discuss how weight loss medications work, how healthcare professionals can support people with obesity, including those on medications, to eat a healthier diet, and how to encourage people to build up their exercise levels.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Review the risk of malnutrition in a person with obesityDiscuss with patients the potential drivers of their obesitySupport patients living with obesity to eat a healthier dietGive practical advice to patients about building up their exercise levels Consider how to ensure that they eat a healthy diet themselves 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.Click here to vote between 14-16 January 2026 for the Learning Awards, for which MIMS Learning is shortlisted.MIMS LearningRegister for a FREE accountConfidence in Obesity CareObesity in adultsMIMSObesity treatmentsBritish Obesity SocietyResource hub

In the first Clinical Update episode of 2026, MIMS Learning editors Dawn Liz Powell and Rhiannon Ashman look at the goals of MIMS Learning’s new editorial campaign — Confidence in Obesity Care. One of the goals of the campaign is to help GPs and other healthcare professionals better understand the role of GLP-1 medications (also known as weight loss medications) in the management of obesity, looking at which medications can be prescribed in primary care and which patients are eligible for them.Another goal is to promote obesity management that encompasses the whole patient and not just their BMI.Dawn and Rhiannon also look at some of the complications of obesity, including cardio-renal-metabolic (CVRM) disease and young-onset type 2 diabetes.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Recall the prevalence of obesity and why its management is importantDiscuss what NHS programmes are available for supporting weight loss Recall the available management options for obesityState which patients are eligible for weight loss medicationsReview the connection between obesity and young-onset type 2 diabetesYou 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 LearningRegister for a FREE accountCardio-renal-metabolic disease: clinical reviewConfidence in Obesity CareIdentifying and managing young-onset type 2 diabetesObesity in adultsAdult obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: clinical reviewMIMSObesity treatments

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 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