Answer: Statutory Regulation of a profession means that it is regulated by statute (i.e. by law) and only those entered on the professional register of the regulatory body can practise that profession. There are nine Statutory Regulators:

• General Medical Council: Doctors
• Nursing and Midwifery Council: Nurses. nursing associates and midwives
• General Dental Council: Dentists and associated professionals
• Health and Care Professions Council: Wide range of professions including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech and language therapists, dietitians, radiographers etc.
• General Chiropractic Council: Chiropractors
• General Osteopathic Council: Osteopaths
• General Optical Council: Opticians
• General Pharmaceutical Council: Pharmacists and associated staff/premises
• Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland: As above in NI

Answer: Statutory Regulation relates to professions regulated by statute (i.e. by law) by one of the nine Regulatory Bodies of the UK under the oversight of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). The professionals concerned can only practise if entered on the professional register. Voluntary Regulation does not have such a requirement.

Answer: 

• Emergency surgery: prompt action to save life or limb

• Elective surgery: non-life-threatening condition, patient’s request, availability of surgeon and resources

• Diagnostic: exploratory – for differential diagnosis

• Therapeutic: alteration of physiological function or anatomical structure

• Minimally invasive: small incision to insert, e.g., laparoscope for surgery

• Open surgery: large incision to access area for surgery

• Endoscopic: camera and miniature instruments inserted through endoscope

• Conventional: usual surgical instruments used

• Microscopic: operating microscope used for visualising small structures

Answer: 

1. Haemostasis: bleeding controlled by diathermy, ligatures or pressure

2. Anaesthesia and analgesia: local anaesthesia – numb sensation, general anaesthesia – render patient unconscious; permit pain-free surgery

3. Asepsis: reduced risk of infection; cleanliness and asepsis

Answer: 

1. Alone or in combination – aim to cure cancer

2. Adjuvant therapy to shrink a tumour before surgery, or to destroy remaining cells

3. Minimise symptoms and enhance quality of life in incurable malignancy

Answer: 

• Gastrointestinal tract: pain and inflammation causing mouth ulcers, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation

• Blood: reduced blood cells leading to anaemia, bruising and bleeding, increased risk of infection

• Skin and nails: hair loss, dry sore skin, sensitivity to sunlight, brittle flaky nails

• Nervous system: short-term memory problems, loss of concentration and attention span, insomnia, depression

Answer: 

• Microbial therapy: influences physiological function by altering human microbiota, e.g. faecal microbial transplant from healthy donor, to treat Clostridium difficile.

• Activation immunotherapy: immune action activated against altered antigens; e.g. monoclonal antibodies used to treat cancer.

• Suppression immunotherapy: diminishes abnormal immune response, e.g. managing severe allergies by administering small but increasing doses of allergens.

Answer: 

• Physiotherapist: physical methods of treatment to help restore function in those with reduced movement or pain due to disease, deformity of injury
• Occupational Therapist: help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses and activities they cannot perform alone, and work out methods to achieve gaols
• Speech and Language Therapist: work with all age groups to assist with difficulties in communication and ingestion
• Dietitian: assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems with individuals and at public health level
• Social Worker: work with all ages and conditions to help improve conditions in their lives

Other professionals include health psychologist, osteopath, chiropractor

Answer: 

CAMs means Complementary and Alternative Medicine (or therapies).

• Complementary therapies: when a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine, e.g. acupuncture, osteopathy, aromatherapy
• Alternative therapies: when a non-mainstream practice is used instead of conventional medicine, e.g. homeopathy, reflexology, Yoga therapy