Case 1

Further History
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You were not Mrs Green’s general practitioner at the time the cancer was diagnosed as you have known her for only six months. During this time you have provided supportive counselling regarding her long standing communication problems with her husband and son.

One morning Mrs Green telephones you at the surgery and requests a home visit. She tells you her right hip has been painful for one week. You schedule a long home visit for that day.

There has been no history of trauma to Mrs Green’s hip. When the pain has been particularly bad, she has taken paracetamol tablets once or twice a day and they helped relieve the pain.

Your colleague saw Mrs Green several days ago, when you were on leave and ordered an X-ray of her right hip. The X-ray findings were normal.