Overview

Practical Approaches to Clinical Diagnosis was written at a critical moment for the NHS in England. As time, resources, and clinical capacity are increasingly stretched, this book offers a practical, experience-driven approach to clinical decision-making that works in the real world. It is designed to help clinicians think faster, investigate smarter, and avoid unnecessary referrals and costs. By focusing on efficiency without compromising safety, the book shows how better reasoning can save time, protect resources, and improve patient care—making it essential reading for today’s NHS clinician.

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9781918428193

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Dr Omar J. Hassouna is a highly experienced General Practitioner with nearly five decades of service within the National Health Service (NHS). His medical career began in London in 1976 following a clinical attachment, after which he undertook extensive hospital training across a wide range of specialties, providing him with a broad and integrated understanding of clinical medicine. His early posts included paediatrics, acute geriatric medicine in Wales, and psychiatry, where he developed strong insight into mental health conditions such as anxiety and psychosis. As a medical registrar, he gained substantial experience in diabetes, haematology, respiratory medicine, cardiology, and gastroenterology, alongside exposure to gynaecology and obstetrics. These formative years shaped a practical, holistic, and safety-focused approach to patient care. In 1983, Dr Hassouna transitioned into general practice, initially working part-time, before becoming a full-time General Practitioner in 1984. He established and led several specialist GP clinics, including antenatal and postnatal care, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory medicine (COPD and asthma), thyroid disease, and gout. These clinics were designed to meet local community needs while delivering structured, continuity-based care. He also founded a WHO-recognised Travel Clinic, providing comprehensive travel risk assessment, vaccinations including yellow fever and certification, serving both registered patients and the wider community. Between 2007 and 2010, Dr Hassouna served as Chair of Local General Practitioners, attending monthly Primary Care Trust (PCT) meetings and chairing GP forums. This role strengthened collaboration between frontline clinicians and healthcare administrators and deepened his understanding of healthcare governance and system pressures. Alongside his daytime practice, he worked extensively in out-of-hours services during the 1980s and 1990s, developing resilience and sound clinical judgement under challenging conditions. He later contributed to Urgent Care Centres and also served as a Police Surgeon, working with law enforcement on cases involving substance misuse, assaults, sexual offences, and deaths. His work with social services assessing disability and mobility further enhanced his understanding of the social determinants of health. Committed to lifelong learning, Dr Hassouna obtained postgraduate diplomas in Dermatology (Cardiff University) and Diabetes Care (Warwick University). Having witnessed increasing strain on the NHS, particularly since 2005, he was motivated to write practical, case-based books aimed at improving diagnostic reasoning, efficiency, and patient safety. His work reflects a sustained commitment to supporting clinicians and strengthening modern medical practice.

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