Story of the month

Biography - Dr Elena Mucci - Consultant Geriatrician Conquest and Spire Hospitals I was born into a family of labourers in Rostov-on-Don in Russia. My mother wanted to be a doctor, but my grandma became a widow at 35 and was bringing up three children on her own and could not afford to send...

"Does my father need this heart pacemaker?" John's daughter, Ann is not sure who should make this decision as her father has severe dementia and cannot decide for himself. She is worried that if she is asked, she will make the wrong decision. This is not the easiest ...

Worried daughter is puzzled why mom became more confused in hospital Sylvia's mother Mary is an 88-year-old lady who was admitted to hospital with a fall. She was diagnosed with bladder infection and was treated with antibiotics. However 2 days after the admission Sylvia notic...

"My mother got worse during her admission to hospital, despite treatments doctors gave her. Why?? Mary is 94. She was out shopping with her daughter Rose when she fell. Rose took her to a GP who said that Mary might have an infection and should go to hospital. After waiting severa...

Senna Pods: an old remedy for a common problem In January I tend to reflect on the past year and remember my patients and the problems we went through together. I treat hundreds of patients, so I will not pretend that I remember them all. At times I find myself in situations when ...

Travel in later life takes preparation Joan, an 84 year old fit lady, booked a Caribbean cruise and is due to pay for her holiday in 2 weeks. In the last year however, she noticed something amiss with her balance; she feels like she is "walking like a drunk person" at times. ...

Male menopause Richard, a 76 year old man, was referred to me by his GP with generalized tiredness, sleep problems and feeling low in mood. He'd already had treatments with antidepressants with very little improvement, and had been seen by various specialists in the last 2 years: his ma...

Do I need to take statins Doc? In December 2014 Mr. B's GP asked me to see him in clinic because of his poor mobility. I am a geriatrician and almost all my patients have mobility problems, but Mr. B's story was different: he lost his mobility within a week rather than months or y...