Read a HCA Healthcare UK blog post today
HCA Healthcare UK has fantastic, talented staff and consultants from all over the world. Each and every one has a skill set and healthcare knowledge which is envied around the globe. We've asked a selection of health professionals to give some of their best tips, advice, guidance and expertise on a range of different health subjects.
So regardless of who you are, where you are from or what you are interested in - we hope you will discover some of the amazing healthcare information our colleagues have to share.
Cancer care
How to break news about breast cancer to loved ones
Telling your loved ones about your diagnosis can be a very difficult and daunting task. You may be just coming to terms with the diagnosis yourself and not have a lot of information as yet.
Read moreWhat are the five signs of breast cancer?
While most breast cancer campaigns advise you to check for lumps, there are other signs I ask my patients to look for. As malignancy forms in the tissue, it does not always develop into a mass and it can appear in different ways.
Read moreClinical neurosciences
Neck Pain UK: How to Access Private Neck Treatments
In the UK approximately one third of men and women experience regular spinal pain, this includes pain in the lumbar region (lower back) and cervical region (neck)
Read moreNerve damage explained
Nerves are cables to the muscles. They bring electricity to the muscles and enable them to move and bring feeling from our skin. Nerves are like the underground tube network in our body, everything is connected to nerves and impulses travel to the peripheral nerves and brain in order to function.
Read moreOrthopaedic care
Hip replacements - everything you need to know
Hip replacements may seem like a daunting subject to consider, especially if you are not correctly informed on the most up-to-date methods. Due to rapidly evolving science and technology, hip replacements needn’t be thought of as a scary topic like they once were.
Read moreHow to manage common hand and wrist conditions
The majority of people in the UK will suffer from a hand or wrist problem at some point in their lives. Hand and wrist pain can be caused by a trauma, for example through an accident or sporting injury, or a medical condition such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis.
Read moreKnow your options after an upper limb injury
Many of my patients use sport as a way to live a healthy lifestyle and as a release from their busy working lives. Many people I treat are juggling their careers with families, social lives and hobbies they do for enjoyment.
Read moreMusculoskeletal disorder - that nagging pain you can’t put your finger on
The benefit of a trauma-based injury, although in an ideal world we would avoid them altogether, is the speed at which a diagnosis can be made. This allows for a more responsive and suitable treatment plan to be put in place.
Read moreSix key tips to prevent a knee injury while skiing
The most common knee injury on the slopes is the medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear which is often torn when skiers fall or overstrain in the ‘snowplough’ position (when the ski tips are pointed towards one another).
Read moreSkate safe this winter
Ice skating has increasingly become a staple winter activity with even the most graceful skaters needing to take care. Many injuries can occur during skating, including wrist, knee, back and ankle.
Read moreStem cell treatment for knee osteoarthritis
As life expectancy increases, health professionals see more knee osteoarthritis. This chronic condition has a global disease burden equivalent to cardiac arrhythmias or end stage kidney disease and has a significant impact on the quality of life.
Read moreThe best ways to avoid foot and ankle injury
Foot and ankle injuries are among the most frequently occurring musculoskeletal problems in women. Damage usually occurs when the muscles around the lower leg, foot and ankle are weak and unstable, causing the ankle to twist, rock and give way.
Read moreThe impact your working life has on your body
The majority of the population in the UK in work have an office-based job. The stress, long hours, commute and sedentary lifestyle, can cause a considerable impact on the health and overall wellbeing of workers.
Read moreTop running tips from an expert
For many people spring is the chance to re-ignite their exercise regime with regular runs, and for others it marks the beginning of months of training towards a 5k, 10k run or marathon. Whether you are aiming to run 26 miles or enjoy a casual weekly jog, preparation and looking after your joints and muscles is crucial to making sure you get the best from your run.
Read moreTop tips for endurance athletes how to keep your body working effectively
Sport and exercise are an essential part of keeping your body healthy and your mind clear. The benefits of exercise are crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and everyone should ensure that they are active several times a week.
Read moreWhen is it safe to fly after an operation?
I’ve had a few post-op patients asking when it is safe for them to fly, and what precautions they should take. Generally, flying post-op is safe if patients are aware of the risks and manage them.
Read morePaediatric care
A young adults guide to hip pain
As the population becomes increasingly aware of the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, more and more people are exercising into middle age. There has been an increase in adults taking up new sports and exercise methods which means they are working their bodies harder than ever before.
Read moreWhat to do if your child is experiencing back pain
Back pain in children is becoming increasingly common. In most cases, the cause of the pain is due to muscular strain and will subside on its own. However, in some cases back pain in children can be a sign of a more serious underlying disorder, therefore early identification and treatment is needed.
Read moreWomen's health
Exercise and pregnancy: Exercising with a bump and beyond
Do you meet the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week? It has been reported just 58 per cent of women manage this. Women can find it tricky to undertake regular exercise, alongside juggling the demands of working life and motherhood.
Read moreWhat Are The Signs Of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women globally. In the UK there are approximately 8,000 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed each year.
Read moreOther blog posts from HCA Healthcare UK experts
Virtual GP consultations: seeing a GP has never been easier
We explain how it works – and why we think patients will be using virtual consultations to see their GP in future.
Read moreThe life of a dietitian at London Digestive Centre
In the Care Quality Commission’s recent ‘Outstanding’ review of London Digestive Centre (LDC), they specifically referenced the exceptional approach to care carried out by LDC’s dietitians.
Read moreProfile: Miss Sarah Muirhead-Allwood
Miss Sarah Muirhead-Allwood BSc (Hons) MB BS FRCS is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with 25 years of experience as a specialist hip surgeon.
Read moreAn insight into the work of a Clinical Nurse Specialist
For a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), no two days are the same because no two patients are the same. Nobody understand this more than Kate Waters, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at London Digestive Centre.
Read moreHow to find a healthcare provider
Whenever we hurt ourselves or start to feel unwell, two obvious questions might come to mind - “What is the matter with me?” and “How can I feel better”?
We all accept that from time to time we will experience short-term illnesses, and so we’ll often soldier through in the belief that any pain or sick bug will soon pass.
Signs and symptoms of diabetes
While the word endocrinology may not be familiar, many of the conditions which fall under this medical specialty including diabetes, underactive thyroid and polycystic ovaries, certainly will be.
Read moreTypes of eye correction surgery explained
It has been predicted half of the world’s population could be short-sighted by 2050, with more than two million people in the UK reporting they have eyesight issues. The increase in short-sightedness is in the main being blamed on the amount of time people spend looking at their computer screens and smartphone devices.
Read more