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Prof. Damian Roland

@damianroland.bsky.social
574 followers 15 following 169 posts

Honorary Professor of Paediatric Emergency Medicine Urgent and Emergency Care System Clinical Director (Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland) @uniofleicester (bit.ly/3MrD1vZ) Past Chair PERUKI; Team EM3 & @DFTBubbles #FOAMed #PEMSky

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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
"Can you FORCE research implementation? A @PERUKItweep survey to evaluate knowledge translation of the FORCE study" pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC... Clinicians involved were significantly more likely to adopt the recommended management and follow-up approach!
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
My latest paper on Paediatric Early Warning Systems Paediatric Early Warning Systems: prediction without proof? My central argument is PEWS have been evaluated as scores but implemented as systems. #PEWS #earlywarning authors.elsevier.com/a/1nk906EIwT... (open access for 60 days)
authors.elsevier.com
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Paediatrics – not just little decision making Thanks to the @RCPCHtweets for making all their Grand Round sessions freely available. Here is my humble offering! learning.rcpch.ac.uk/home/webinar... (Huge COI with the Reading list at the end but some of my favourite muses are there!)
learning.rcpch.ac.uk
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
If you have a baby who struggles with a completely normal physiological consequence of growing please don’t stick a plastic tube up their bum… MHRA formally advise to stop using these over the counter treatments www.gov.uk/drug-device-...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Was asked to do a lecture at the International Conference of Emergency Medicine (ICEM) in Hamburg on "Recognising the Critically Unwell Child" I managed to sum up an approach using HAMBURG (yes a little twee but the audience seemed to enjoy the sentiment!)
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Huge thanks to @dennisrenmd.bsky.social for his leadership on this paper on Fever. Hot or Not? Myths and Misconceptions About Antipyretics for Paediatric Fever www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Still amazing that clinical response to antipyretics is not an evidence-based diagnostic tool...
sciencedirect.com
Hot or Not? Myths and Misconceptions About Antipyretics for Pediatric Fever
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
The #StarWars guide to decision making rolobotrambles.com/starwarsdeci... Blog ideas from Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo and Admiral Akbar... #MaytheFourthbewithyou #StarWars
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
🚨Great news for children! 🚨 In 2012 we knew we could treat significant forearm fractures in children without surgery www.ovid.com/jnls/jbjsjou... It's only taken another 14 years to demonstrate this is in a RCT crafft.digitrial.com/results Well done @MrDanPerry and team!
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
What do we mean when we say ‘meningitis’ #meningitis youtube.com/shorts/4ibw5...
youtube.com
What do we mean when we say 'meningitis' #meningitis
YouTube video by Damian Roland
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
What do we mean when we say ‘meningitis’ #TikTok #meningitis vm.tiktok.com/ZNR9cXHSp/
vm.tiktok.com
TikTok - Make Your Day
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Reminded by the @hsj.co.uk mythbuster on the importance of Group-Think I constantly think about Collective Competence as it's so important for the groups in which I work - either within the Emergency Department or System level meetings rolobotrambles.com/groupthinkat...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
"I do wish to defend, in part, the non-apology" dontforgetthebubbles.com/a-non-apology/ #ICYMI
dontforgetthebubbles.com
A Non-Apology
Life is not short of apologies. Whether it’s being late for work, accidentally knocking into someone, or speaking out of turn on a virtual call, everyone says “sorry” relatively often. It’s almost a r...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
The importance of measles vaccination www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDGd...
youtube.com
The importance of Measles Vaccination
YouTube video by Damian Roland
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Was great working with a diverse team on this The Importance of Health Education in Schools: Reflections, Representation & Recommendations www.mdpi.com/2813-2882/4/... We challenge some perceptions on consent and argue for more focused health education #education #health
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Immunisation & Vaccine effectiveness only part of the story To work they need to be implemented. Our multinational European study examined the impact of different preventive strategies against #RSV in infants attending Emergency Departments (EDs) & hospital admissions. 1/2
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Feel a little silly for missing this... For the last couple of months I've been reporting on a relatively persistent #RSV positivity and admission rate in which the impact of the RSV vaccine wasn't clear. BUT... 1/3 x.com/Damian_Rolan...
x.com
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Apologies - late with update. #Flu, non withstanding potential for slight upticks based on prior curves, was, overall, of lower impact than previous years. 1/2
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Great interview by Amol Rajan on BBC Radio 4 Today programme with <16-yr-olds on Social Media Is issue #SoMe, particular platforms or infinite scrolling function itself? Amol's screen time was the highest; does a ban on <16s just hide a bigger problem? www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... (1hr34m39s)
bbc.co.uk
Today - 22/01/2026 - BBC Sounds
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
#RSV remains relevant in respiratory milieu Overall declining trend but vaccination hasn't hugely impacted on admission rates (volume of admissions may have decreased) Of note is increasing rates in 75 years + (especially given relatively successful vaccination programme)
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
From epidemiological perspective difficult to see how #Flu this year was substantially different in relation to volume & admissions rates. However I think pressures in late 2025 demonstrate how fragile #NHS capacity is A slightly earlier start unsettled a very delicate system
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
When the cannula you’ve delicately placed in the veinless ex-pre-term infant flashes back, you sigh, grin and feel a nice inner glow before the vein tissues as you push fluid through…. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...
bbc.co.uk
Australian Open 2026: Sebastian Ofner celebrates early before losing to Nishesh Basavareddy in qualifying
Sebastian Ofner is out of Australian Open qualifying after forgetting the rules and celebrating victory early - before going on to lose eight of the next nine points.
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Reviewing photos from recent trip to Australia The Black Swan has a fascinating story described by Nassim Taleb in his great book of same name. Many medical insights from Taleb’s interpretations. My favourite explaining the dissonance between emergency dept’s & specialties
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Interesting trends in #RSV. Overall a muted year in relation to positivity (hopefully due to the RSV vaccine) but admission rates don't seem to have been hugely affected and sadly impact on under 5s perhaps not as great as might be expected. www.gov.uk/government/s...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
So looks like #Flu didn't end up being the monster year it might have been (despite starting a little earlier than normal) There have been double spikes (note 2023-24) so doesn't necessarily mean that we can relax yet though.
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
And don't let the conversations on #Flu distract from #RSV Pretty sure the bronchiolitis season isn't going to let Flu run away with all the headlines!
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Lots in the news today on #Flu. The real challenge here is timing rather than volume (don't believe anyone using the term SuperFlu) Graphs aren't dramatically out of kilter with previous years but they are displaced forward. Worry is knowing if the upward trend continues...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
I spoke at Excellence in Paediatrics this week on why paediatric guidelines can be so challenging to implement. I identified four themes i) Cognitive Biases and Prior Beliefs ii) Influences of Third Parties iii) Guideline is incorrect iv) Challenges with Communication and Interpretation
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
🚨Hot off the press🚨 (and now receiving national attention: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...) ➡️ Flu continues its slighty earlier curve with trajectory identical to previous winters ➡️ Difficult to know where/when RSV will peak but admission significant compared to previous years
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
Sorry this is late....Emergency Departments (especially children's) feeling busy! 1) Flu after a little 'notch' is climbing again (note similar in 2023-24) 2) RSV continues to rise at similar rate but delayed than previous seasons 3) RSV admissions nearly at 2022-23 #Flu #RSV
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Great to (finally) see the @NHSEngland A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions data set including a Paediatric Split! Top 10 by attendances below..... Will work on sharing other key findings soon www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/s...
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Reposted by Prof. Damian Roland
BOBBi Study @bobbistudy.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Did you have a baby that had meningitis in their first 3 months of life? We're inviting parents to join a research advisory group to help guide and design a new study about babies with bacterial meningitis. If you're interested in taking part or have any questions, please get in touch.
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
#RSV just taking its time this year. Has the vaccine muted it's peak or just flattened the overall area under the curve....? (note admission rates not too far away from following 2022-23 curve) www.gov.uk/government/s...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
So Flu following slightly unusual pattern. We'll start early it thinks, and then perhaps just relax for a bit, while we lull everyone into a false sense of security. www.gov.uk/government/s...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Trajectory of illness is important An often impossible challenge in primary care as clinicians faced with a point in time decision, much easier when you have time to observe. #RSV often plays by its own rules though... rolobotrambles.com/the-sounds-o...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Seeing lots of children with what could be bronchiolitis or viral wheeze. It can be a clinical conundrum My audio-visual review of respiratory viruses from a decade ago shows how little the respiratory landscape has changed! rolobotrambles.com/the-sounds-o... youtu.be/KQTEu1mpRY8
youtu.be
Grunting Child
YouTube video by Damian Roland
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Respiratory virus data this week. #Flu: A slight deviation from its previous trajectory - probably within bounds of normal variation #RSV: showing a steady climb and increase in admissions (some unpublished data showing reduced rates in under 1s)
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Sorry I was late this week.... So Flu continues its early rise www.gov.uk/government/s...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Published this from my PhD exactly 10 years ago. I thought it would be a Medical Education breakthrough! pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26537496/ It wasn't My career then took a different direction Just because some projects don't have impact you expect doesn't mean you won't eventually
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
A qualitative study of self-evaluation of junior doctor performance: is perceived 'safeness' a more useful metric than confidence and competence? - PubMed
A perception of 'safeness' is a concept that may aid self-evaluation and we present a matrix that might be used by supervisors and educators to examine this and its relationship with confidence and competence.
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Interesting trends starting to emerge. In Emergency Care why does winter feel like it has come early? Because it has - Flu earlier than normal. Get vaccinated if you are eligible. #flu www.gov.uk/government/s...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Research Opportunities at the @rcpch.bsky.social! Academic Trainees Day 2025 (6th November) www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
And so it begins... Flu and RSV seasons have begun. The impact of winter often determined but how incidence plays out. Both now have vaccination programmes. Have we done enough to reduce predictable surges? www.gov.uk/government/s...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Must say I never thought I would get a citation in a paper with a title like this... "The Dark Matter in Water and Land: from Microplastic to invisible nanoplastics" chemrxiv.org/engage/api-g...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Great listen from @drguddisingh.bsky.social Lots of learning & eye-opening statistics for both the public and professionals. What is being described is the need to centre care around children, not bring children to care. The Foundation of Neighbourhood health www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - Three Ages of Child, Episode 1: The Early Years
A journey through the landscape that shapes the health of our children.
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Thanks to @ukhsa.bsky.social we can monitor impact of RSV (the virus which causes bronchiolitis) We started vaccinating pregnant mothers last year but didn't see much of an impact. Let's hope with⬆️immunisation rates things are different this year... www.gov.uk/government/s...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Great resource from @Radiopaedia A Paediatric x-ray atlas of normal x-rays in children radiopaedia.org/normal-paedi... #FOAMed
radiopaedia.org
Normal Pediatric X-ray Atlas | Radiopaedia Cases | Radiopaedia.org
/* Single-column layout everywhere */ #peds-controls .peds-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr; grid-template-areas: "region" "gender" "slider"; gap: 14px; align-items: end; } .peds-region { grid-area: region; } .peds-gender { grid-area: gender; } .peds-slider { grid-area: slider; } /* Slider: large grab area */ #peds-age-slider { -webkit-appearance: none; width: 100%; height: 28px; background: transparent; } #peds-age-slider:focus { outline: none; } #peds-age-slider::-webkit-slider-runnable-track { height: 10px; background: #e6eaf2; border-radius: 999px; border: 1px solid #d6d9e0; } #peds-age-slider::-moz-range-track { height: 10px; background: #e6eaf2; border-radius: 999px; border: 1px solid #d6d9e0; } #peds-age-slider::-webkit-slider-thumb { -webkit-appearance: none; width: 22px; height: 22px; border-radius: 50%; background: #fff; border: 2px solid #8C52FF; margin-top: -7px; cursor: pointer; } #peds-age-slider::-moz-range-thumb { width: 22px; height: 22px; border-radius: 50%; background: #fff; border: 2px solid #8C52FF; cursor: pointer; } /* Age label + readout: prominent */ .peds-age-label { display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:space-between; gap:10px; font-weight:800; margin-bottom:4px; font-size:1.5rem; } .peds-age-readout { font-weight:900; color:#111827; font-size:1.6rem; line-height:1; } /* Gender radios */ .peds-gender-group { display:flex; gap:12px; align-items:center; flex-wrap:wrap; } .peds-gender-group label { display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:6px; cursor:pointer; line-height:1.2; } .peds-gender-group input[type="radio"] { margin:0; vertical-align:middle; accent-color:#8C52FF; } /* Output + sections */ .peds-section { scroll-margin-top:80px; } #peds-output { opacity:0; transition:opacity .35s ease; } #peds-output.is-visible { opacity:1; } /* Heading row wraps H4 and (optional) pill; spacing below image */ .peds-heading-row { display:inline-flex; align-items:baseline; gap:10px; width:100%; margin:0 0 14px 0; } .peds-heading-row > h4 { margin:0; } /* Gender pills */ .pill { display:inline-block; padding:3px 10px; border-radius:999px; font-size:.93em; font-weight:400; line-height:1; white-space:nowrap; border:1px solid transparent; position:relative; top:-1px; } .pill-male { background:#eaf3ff; border-color:#cfe4ff; color:#0f3b82; } .pill-female { background:#fff7cc; border-color:#ffe59e; color:#7a5a00; } /* Case credit */ .peds-credit { font-size:0.9em; } /* Consistent gap before credit whether image is in or not */ p.peds-imgblock { margin-bottom: 8px !important; } img.peds-imgblock { display:block; margin-bottom: 8px !important; } /* Optional: style the disabled separator text a bit lighter where supported */ #peds-region option[disabled] { color:#9aa3af; font-style:italic; }
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Brilliant example of how data can, and should, be available. Variation in children (0-9) prescribed antibiotics in the last year in primary care www.prescqipp.info/our-resource... Difficult to explain this degree of variation away...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
#Flu jab - please get yours if you qualify! www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
I think we already know that just putting National PEWS into the back of ambulance won't be effective... ...so what are the key tenants of recognising deterioration and what is "deterioration" in an pre-hospital context? Help my #PhD student answer these questions!
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Prof. Damian Roland @damianroland.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Transforming academic medicine through social media: why isn’t it working for me? rdcu.be/eIbdb "For physicians in all specialties, social media literacy is becoming an essential skill for modern healthcare communication" Huge thanks to Kikelomo Babata and Daniel O'Reilly
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Reposted by Prof. Damian Roland
Indi Trehan @inditrehan.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Excellent article with many important points.
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