Case study 1: Mrs De Bruin

For your next activity we would like you to listen to the audio clip titled ‘Mrs De Bruin’. This is a recording of a consultation carried out over the phone.

Mrs Mary De Bruin (70 years old) calls the practice because she had a sudden nosebleed while blowing her nose. A couple of days ago she visited her GP because she had a cold. Mrs Smith never suffers from nosebleeds and explains that she is afraid as she has had no history of such bleeds. She has hypertension and diabetes. She takes the following medication: Bisoprolol, Sitaglipin, Aspirin, Atorvastatin and Metformin.

Whilst you listen, make some notes about what goes well and what not so well during the clinical encounter. Consider the following questions:

1. What are the potential risks of a remote consultation for this patient? You might want to refer back to the list that you created in the last two steps.

2. Is telephone the most appropriate medium for this consultation? Explain your answer.

Clue! You might like to use the GMC flow chart mentioned earlier on to help you.

Post your responses to the questions in the comments below and take some time to read and comment on at least one other post, and like those that you agree with.