Clinical assessment is at the heart of medicine. Health professionals working in busy clinical settings, such as general practitioners, nurse practitioners and hospital doctors on-call, often have to assess patients under considerable time constraints. This book teaches the reader how to gather clinical information effectively, accurately and safely even when time is at a premium. * provides a systematic method of collecting and assessing relevant clinical information by suggesting step-by-step examination routines, including important patient-centred questions * focuses on common symptoms and presentations * treatment reflects the latest in evidence based practice (including latest NICE guidelines) * specifically covers the clinical skills assessment (CSA) part of the membership of the royal college of general practitioners (RCGP) examination * written by an experienced medical educator and practicing GP, in consultation with a multidisciplinary team of medical students, gps, PG trainees, hospital doctors and nurses