The St.Emlyn’s Podcast

In this episode of the St Emlyn’s Podcast, Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley catch up on the February blog posts, recorded in the rather unseasonal context of a UK heatwave. They begin with congratulations to Simon on his reappointment as Dean of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, before reflecting on recent conferences including IFEM in Hamburg and Don’t Forget The Bubbles in Glasgow.

The clinical focus this month is trauma team leadership, with practical tips on interpreting trauma CT reports, maintaining momentum after the scan, performing safer log rolls, and making feedback more useful for learners and colleagues.

Key learning points

• Look at trauma CT images yourself as part of your own clinical learning and to integrate the scan with your examination findings.
• Treat the first CT report as a primary survey, not necessarily a definitive final report.
• Speak to the radiologist and share clinical concerns or uncertainties.
• Do not lose momentum after CT; this is a vulnerable phase in trauma care.
• Log rolls should have a purpose and should minimise movement, pain and physiological risk.
• Use clearer team communication: “Is anybody not ready to move?” and “ready, steady, move.”
• Feedback sticks when it is specific. Add “because” to positive feedback so the learner knows exactly what to repeat.
• Leadership and followership skills apply everywhere, not just in formal trauma team leader roles.

Learning from podcasts?

If podcasts form part of your CPD, you can log your listening time across all podcasts on MedPod Learn — not just St Emlyn’s — and generate structured reflection. The app is free to download, includes a one-month free trial, and offers globally adjusted pricing.