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PMS and PMDD can be easy to miss, hard to diagnose, and life altering for the people living with them. In this special episode, Nik and Red Whale mental health lead Lee David tackle the patterns, pitfalls and practicalities that primary care teams need to know — from spotting cyclical symptoms and distinguishing PMDD from other mental health conditions, to suicide risk, first-line treatment and when to refer. Sensitive, clear and packed with take-home points, this is an essential listen if you want to recognise severe premenstrual symptoms sooner and respond with confidence and compassion.

Useful Links

The National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, and the Red Whale Calendar

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Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

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Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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Homelessness isn’t just “sleeping rough”, it’s far more common than most of us realise. In this special episode, Nik and Fi unpack why health outcomes are so stark (including a 30 year life expectancy gap) and how much of the harm is potentially modifiable with effective healthcare.

You’ll hear about a shocking “mystery shopper” study that looked at primary care access. There are also some practical, doable changes for busy primary care: inclusive registration, reducing barriers at the front desk, being opportunistic with long‑term condition care and vaccines, simplifying medicines, safer prescribing when life is chaotic, and using a trauma‑informed approach that prioritises safety and trust.

If you want one listen this week that will genuinely change how your team welcomes, registers and cares for some of the most vulnerable patients — press play now.

Useful Links

Pathway (focuses on homelessness and health inclusion)

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, and the Red Whale Calendar

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.

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Hay fever consultations on your triage list, and runners limping in after the marathon/parkrun boom? This episode is just what you need!

We challenge the “minor ailment” myth of allergic rhinitis with 3 practice‑changing takeaways you can start using today. We also highlight some new allergen immunotherapy options you’ll start seeing in letters from secondary care, so you’re not wrong-footed when they land.

Then, fresh from running two marathons in 1 week, our guest Hussain Al-Zubaidi joins us to give you a primary care friendly framework for common running injuries. What actually helps, and how to keep injured runners active without crushing the thing that’s protecting their mental health.

Press play now if you want fewer repeat hay fever appointments, clearer “what next?” injury chats, and a couple of immediately usable action points for your whole team.

Useful Links

Asthma and Lung UK pollen calendar

Itchy Sneezy Wheezy - rhinitis videos (nasal spray technique for adults and children)

Oxford University Hospitals - Return to Running Programme (patient guide to returning to run training after injury)

GP Trainee Essentials support package information, and the Red Whale Calendar

Send us your feedback podcast@redwhale.co.uk or send a voice message

Sign up to receive Pearls here. Pearls are available for 3 months from publish date. After this, you can get access them plus 100s more articles when you buy a one-day online course from Red Whale OR sign up to Red Whale Unlimited. Find out more here.

Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.