Wouldn't it be nice if instead of spending the night on an uncomfortable trolley in the emergency department you could take a snooze in a reclining chair instead? A trial of recliners versus gurneys for 132 older people who could sit and transfer independently found that those allocated to recliners reported significantly less pain and greater satisfaction with their experience. Self reported pain levels were recorded on arrival, at one hour, and at two hours; the primary outcome was a decrease in pain between arrival and the first hour (Academic Emergency Medicine 2005;12: 119-23).

A general physician writing in Casebook (2005;13: 26-7) describes his rather scary experience of receiving a diagnosis of diabetes. He has tips for general practitioners: when treating a medical colleague, don't assume this makes them easier to treat, and don't make them responsible for their own professional care. In addition, he urges general practitioners to take advice on subjects they may not have much expertise on, particularly in the early phase of a newly diagnosed illness.

Minerva is in the habit of missing breakfast. Not only does she miss out on a healthy morning bounce, but according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005;81: 388-96) she might also experience …