Dr Michael Farquhar
@drmikefarquhar.bsky.social
Consultant in Sleep Medicine, Evelina London Children's Hospital/GSTT. #FightFatigue RainbowNHSBadge. He/Him. 🏴🏳️🌈
Really sad to learn of the sudden death of Prof Malcom von Schantz.
I had the fortune to work with Malcolm on a couple of projects and his warmth, knowledge, insight, generosity, kindness and humour were always a welcome addition to any group.
A huge loss to sleep medicine. RIP
I had the fortune to work with Malcolm on a couple of projects and his warmth, knowledge, insight, generosity, kindness and humour were always a welcome addition to any group.
A huge loss to sleep medicine. RIP
November 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Really sad to learn of the sudden death of Prof Malcom von Schantz.
I had the fortune to work with Malcolm on a couple of projects and his warmth, knowledge, insight, generosity, kindness and humour were always a welcome addition to any group.
A huge loss to sleep medicine. RIP
I had the fortune to work with Malcolm on a couple of projects and his warmth, knowledge, insight, generosity, kindness and humour were always a welcome addition to any group.
A huge loss to sleep medicine. RIP
With rapid changes in USA under Trump, it was great to hear Lawrence Tallon, @gstt-nhs.bsky.social's Deputy CEO, reiterate our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion for patients/staff, in context of both LGBT+ history month/race equality week in Feb, at our monthly Team Briefing on Friday
February 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
With rapid changes in USA under Trump, it was great to hear Lawrence Tallon, @gstt-nhs.bsky.social's Deputy CEO, reiterate our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion for patients/staff, in context of both LGBT+ history month/race equality week in Feb, at our monthly Team Briefing on Friday
PS: I think I might be the only person who has a copy of each of the various versions of the Rainbow NHS Badge ... each new iteration tells a part of the story of how this project went from a casual chat among friends, to a social media idea, to what it has become today 🥰🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
February 3, 2025 at 10:08 AM
PS: I think I might be the only person who has a copy of each of the various versions of the Rainbow NHS Badge ... each new iteration tells a part of the story of how this project went from a casual chat among friends, to a social media idea, to what it has become today 🥰🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
All the work for the new badge has been spearheaded and led by our awesome LGBT+ Forum team, led by Maya Asir, our Forum Chair (and also an Evelina London clinician!), supported by our Comms and Exec teams
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
All the work for the new badge has been spearheaded and led by our awesome LGBT+ Forum team, led by Maya Asir, our Forum Chair (and also an Evelina London clinician!), supported by our Comms and Exec teams
I continue to be hugely proud of what the Rainbow NHS Badge project has become, and am grateful for the clear, enthusiastic support and commitment for it from Ian Abbs, Gubby Ayida, and the whole GSTT/Evelina London team
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I continue to be hugely proud of what the Rainbow NHS Badge project has become, and am grateful for the clear, enthusiastic support and commitment for it from Ian Abbs, Gubby Ayida, and the whole GSTT/Evelina London team
The new design is for GSTT staff only at present, but keep your eyes peeled for future developments!
And happy LGBT+ History Month! I thinks it's more important than ever that those of us who can continue to advocate for those who need it the most 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️📣 #LGBTHM25
And happy LGBT+ History Month! I thinks it's more important than ever that those of us who can continue to advocate for those who need it the most 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️📣 #LGBTHM25
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The new design is for GSTT staff only at present, but keep your eyes peeled for future developments!
And happy LGBT+ History Month! I thinks it's more important than ever that those of us who can continue to advocate for those who need it the most 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️📣 #LGBTHM25
And happy LGBT+ History Month! I thinks it's more important than ever that those of us who can continue to advocate for those who need it the most 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️📣 #LGBTHM25
New data last week confirms that 10% of UK young adults are LGB, emphasising why it's so important that we get teaching/education about LGBT+ identities and health in both schools and paediatric services, and make young LGBT+ people in particular feel confident to talk about who they are
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
New data last week confirms that 10% of UK young adults are LGB, emphasising why it's so important that we get teaching/education about LGBT+ identities and health in both schools and paediatric services, and make young LGBT+ people in particular feel confident to talk about who they are
I'm so proud that, as Trump is proving just how fragile hard-won rights and protections for LGBT+ people can be, GSTT has chosen to clearly restate how vital it is to continue to advocate for those who may be more vulnerable
Symbols matter for what they represent, and this wee badge packs a punch!
Symbols matter for what they represent, and this wee badge packs a punch!
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I'm so proud that, as Trump is proving just how fragile hard-won rights and protections for LGBT+ people can be, GSTT has chosen to clearly restate how vital it is to continue to advocate for those who may be more vulnerable
Symbols matter for what they represent, and this wee badge packs a punch!
Symbols matter for what they represent, and this wee badge packs a punch!
We were delighted to welcome Dr Michael Brady, NHS England LGBT+ Advisor, to our launch event!
The Rainbow NHS Badge project was developed into a national quality improvement programme for LGBT+ care under Michael's leadership, and we're excited to hear his plans for Phase 3 later in the year!
The Rainbow NHS Badge project was developed into a national quality improvement programme for LGBT+ care under Michael's leadership, and we're excited to hear his plans for Phase 3 later in the year!
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
We were delighted to welcome Dr Michael Brady, NHS England LGBT+ Advisor, to our launch event!
The Rainbow NHS Badge project was developed into a national quality improvement programme for LGBT+ care under Michael's leadership, and we're excited to hear his plans for Phase 3 later in the year!
The Rainbow NHS Badge project was developed into a national quality improvement programme for LGBT+ care under Michael's leadership, and we're excited to hear his plans for Phase 3 later in the year!
London, Lambeth and Southwark in particular, has a higher proportion of LGBT+ people than many other places, so it's important that we get this right @gstt-nhs.bsky.social
That's especially true for trans and gender-diverse people, and we also launch our new Transgender Equality Policy later in Feb
That's especially true for trans and gender-diverse people, and we also launch our new Transgender Equality Policy later in Feb
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
London, Lambeth and Southwark in particular, has a higher proportion of LGBT+ people than many other places, so it's important that we get this right @gstt-nhs.bsky.social
That's especially true for trans and gender-diverse people, and we also launch our new Transgender Equality Policy later in Feb
That's especially true for trans and gender-diverse people, and we also launch our new Transgender Equality Policy later in Feb
Absolutely delighted that for #LGBTHM25 we've launched an updated version of the Rainbow NHS Badge @gstt-nhs.bsky.social!
The new design uses the Progress Pride flag, and is intended to better represent LGBT+ patients, families and staff
The new design uses the Progress Pride flag, and is intended to better represent LGBT+ patients, families and staff
February 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Absolutely delighted that for #LGBTHM25 we've launched an updated version of the Rainbow NHS Badge @gstt-nhs.bsky.social!
The new design uses the Progress Pride flag, and is intended to better represent LGBT+ patients, families and staff
The new design uses the Progress Pride flag, and is intended to better represent LGBT+ patients, families and staff
Changing light as the days start to lengthen means we get some early morning light to help keep our body clocks happier ;)
January 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Changing light as the days start to lengthen means we get some early morning light to help keep our body clocks happier ;)
It's easy to forget I think sometimes both just how much medical knowledge has changed in the last 75 years, but also emphasises what stays the same
And this was a Britain before the NHS, and all the positive changes that brought for children's health
V easy to get happily lost in books like this!
And this was a Britain before the NHS, and all the positive changes that brought for children's health
V easy to get happily lost in books like this!
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It's easy to forget I think sometimes both just how much medical knowledge has changed in the last 75 years, but also emphasises what stays the same
And this was a Britain before the NHS, and all the positive changes that brought for children's health
V easy to get happily lost in books like this!
And this was a Britain before the NHS, and all the positive changes that brought for children's health
V easy to get happily lost in books like this!
I love that the emphasis on caring for premature infants is basically "keep the doctors away at all costs" 🤣
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I love that the emphasis on caring for premature infants is basically "keep the doctors away at all costs" 🤣
And whole sections on diseases and their consequences, like polio, we haven't seen for generations thanks to vaccines
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
And whole sections on diseases and their consequences, like polio, we haven't seen for generations thanks to vaccines
"Sulphonamide and penicillin chemotherapy" get their own chapter, and you can almost feel the excitement of the author as they talk of how much these have already revolutionised some disease treatments, and their potential
(Plus some early antibiotic stewardship thoughts!)
(Plus some early antibiotic stewardship thoughts!)
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
"Sulphonamide and penicillin chemotherapy" get their own chapter, and you can almost feel the excitement of the author as they talk of how much these have already revolutionised some disease treatments, and their potential
(Plus some early antibiotic stewardship thoughts!)
(Plus some early antibiotic stewardship thoughts!)
Surprised to see cisternal puncture ("insert needle until you strike skull behind foramen magnum") advocated as an alternative to lumbar puncture ...
"in the hands of the average physician, this involves extremely little danger"
(LP also suggested as first-line status epilepticus treatment)
"in the hands of the average physician, this involves extremely little danger"
(LP also suggested as first-line status epilepticus treatment)
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Surprised to see cisternal puncture ("insert needle until you strike skull behind foramen magnum") advocated as an alternative to lumbar puncture ...
"in the hands of the average physician, this involves extremely little danger"
(LP also suggested as first-line status epilepticus treatment)
"in the hands of the average physician, this involves extremely little danger"
(LP also suggested as first-line status epilepticus treatment)
Encephalitis lethargica crops up as a differential fairly often.
There was an epidemic of this "sleepy sickness" from ~1916-1930, and then it just vanished (more or less)
We still don't know for sure what caused it, but it was clearly still on the mind of paediatricians
There was an epidemic of this "sleepy sickness" from ~1916-1930, and then it just vanished (more or less)
We still don't know for sure what caused it, but it was clearly still on the mind of paediatricians
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Encephalitis lethargica crops up as a differential fairly often.
There was an epidemic of this "sleepy sickness" from ~1916-1930, and then it just vanished (more or less)
We still don't know for sure what caused it, but it was clearly still on the mind of paediatricians
There was an epidemic of this "sleepy sickness" from ~1916-1930, and then it just vanished (more or less)
We still don't know for sure what caused it, but it was clearly still on the mind of paediatricians
The information on sleep is a mix of some things which never change, and some which very much do (... we're much less fond of Chloral for babies these days!)
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
The information on sleep is a mix of some things which never change, and some which very much do (... we're much less fond of Chloral for babies these days!)
The mental tests for older pre-teens are interesting (and the tone a reflection of the society?!)
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
The mental tests for older pre-teens are interesting (and the tone a reflection of the society?!)
There's some interesting differences in even the basics ... infants under the age of 1 were expected to be practically toilet-trained!
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
There's some interesting differences in even the basics ... infants under the age of 1 were expected to be practically toilet-trained!
Old textbooks are fascinating, both for what is and isn't different with the medicine, but also the huge social and cultural changes they demonstrate
This was a Britain still recovering from war, with rationing still partly in place, the threat of further war still in mind, and economies in place
This was a Britain still recovering from war, with rationing still partly in place, the threat of further war still in mind, and economies in place
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Old textbooks are fascinating, both for what is and isn't different with the medicine, but also the huge social and cultural changes they demonstrate
This was a Britain still recovering from war, with rationing still partly in place, the threat of further war still in mind, and economies in place
This was a Britain still recovering from war, with rationing still partly in place, the threat of further war still in mind, and economies in place
I love old textbooks, and I found this gem in a local second-hand bookshop yesterday:
"Sick Children", 1947 edition, written by Dr Donald Paterson of @greatormondst.bsky.social, a comprehensive and no-doubt benchmark general paediatric text of its time
"Sick Children", 1947 edition, written by Dr Donald Paterson of @greatormondst.bsky.social, a comprehensive and no-doubt benchmark general paediatric text of its time
January 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I love old textbooks, and I found this gem in a local second-hand bookshop yesterday:
"Sick Children", 1947 edition, written by Dr Donald Paterson of @greatormondst.bsky.social, a comprehensive and no-doubt benchmark general paediatric text of its time
"Sick Children", 1947 edition, written by Dr Donald Paterson of @greatormondst.bsky.social, a comprehensive and no-doubt benchmark general paediatric text of its time
As paediatricians we have an essential role and responsibility to recognise challenges to, and advocate for, LGBTQ+ young people, to help mitigate as much as we can poorer health outcomes, especially where these arise from misinformation and prejudiced attitudes
January 9, 2025 at 7:25 AM
As paediatricians we have an essential role and responsibility to recognise challenges to, and advocate for, LGBTQ+ young people, to help mitigate as much as we can poorer health outcomes, especially where these arise from misinformation and prejudiced attitudes
I love the early morning walk into work at this time of year :)
Parliament, and Mary Seacole keeping watchful eye on them from the grounds of St Thomas'
Parliament, and Mary Seacole keeping watchful eye on them from the grounds of St Thomas'
December 5, 2024 at 9:11 AM
I love the early morning walk into work at this time of year :)
Parliament, and Mary Seacole keeping watchful eye on them from the grounds of St Thomas'
Parliament, and Mary Seacole keeping watchful eye on them from the grounds of St Thomas'