40+ years NHS Veteran, Heart Surgeon, Reader, Opinions my own, retweets not endorsements. Citizen of the Med, @Sheffielduni & @Stanford Alumnus

Sheffield Yorkshire, UK.
Joined August 2010
Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
Toby Young
@toadmeisterSep 11
It's already too late for Michael Gove to prevent the "rewilding" of Britain's schools, says Joanna Gray. This Left-wing fantasy of dumbed-down education is already firmly entrenched and working its anti-magic. dailysceptic.org/2026/09/11/โ€ฆ
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Oxford University researchers have discovered the densest element yet known to science... The new element, Governmentium (symbol=Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called pillocks. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2 to 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganisation in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganisation will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as a critical morass. When catalysed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium (symbol=Ad), an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium, since it has half as many pillocks but twice as many morons.
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
๐Ÿ’ฌ Perspective: Bayesian methodology supports efficient, flexible clinical trial designs; FDA guidance encourages prespecification and sensitivity analysis of priors. @f2harrell @d_spiegel ja.ma/47hHTyb
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
Some of the personal abuse that @stellacreasy has experienced in recent days has been off-the-scale. The abuse directed at women on social media is one of the most disturbing things I've learnt from being on this platform. It needs to be said, however, that this week's change in abortion laws - of which she is a prominent aupporter - is one of the most sickening changes to British society ever. It's now legal in this country to "terminate" up until birth. It's basically infanticide. We're killing babies that could easily survive outside the womb and it's been done without any meaningful public debate - piggy-backing as an amendment to a barely relevant bill. Dark. Dark in so many ways. I don't use the word "wicked" lightly but that's what this legislation is. And that so few people in this country even seem to care about what is now lawful is the saddest thing of all. "Great" Britain? Not while this law stands.
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
In 2024 NHS staff reported working unpaid overtime equivalent to at least 49โ€‰000 full time employees. A BMJ data analysis finds this discretionary effort, which has long underpinned NHS delivery, is declining. What does this mean for workforce planning? bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s254โ€ฆ
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
The country on strike. Massive numbers on the streets. Internet cut. Mullahs seen at Moscow airport. Yet the regime still shoot at protestors. Many dead. But the people keep on coming. The courage of our fellow human beings is staggering. #IranRevolution2026 Tehran tonight โฌ‡๏ธ
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
๐Ÿšจ We have further empirical PROOF the BBC is biased, crooked and anti-Reform: In depth analysis shows the BBC is 6 TIMES more likely to report on a Reform councillor leaving their position than Labour and Tory ones doing the same since May 1st. This is despite 5 TIMES as many Labour councillors having lost the whip than Reform ones, and 4 times as many Tories, over the same period. So the BBC is ONLY interested in reporting negative news on Reform councils. They are an utter disgrace, and it will not work! Full analysis in the Telegraph ๐Ÿ‘‡
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
Love this ๐Ÿ˜Š โ€œTwo Beers and a Puppyโ€ #SundayVibes
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
An aircraft flyby in Romania, a giant dust storm in Arizona, a grape harvest in France, a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park, an apple spill in Germany, and much moreโ€”via @TheAtlPhoto: theatlantic.com/photography/โ€ฆ
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
Even if AI cannot replace doctors (yet), it may still replace medical school, particularly for autodidacts. It remains more educational than operational.
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
Replying to @Chestcracker
Congrats Norman!
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
๐ŸšจNot all RCTs are created equal. ๐ŸšจQuality RCTs generate quality evidence. Questionable RCTs generate bad evidence. ๐Ÿšจ Surgeons command the leverage to promote robust RCTs and enhance the quality of evidence that guide patient care. @AATSHQ doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2025โ€ฆ
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
Elon Musk
@elonmusk20 Jul 2025
Def true 4 me ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
A lot of recent legislation has been passed due to vibes and optics, instead of genuine progression and improvement of law. Creating good quality legislation is very hard. I've just accepted that enough of the current calibre just aren't up to it.
To support a law when so many professional organisations say is deeply flawed - and then expect those professional organisations to enact it- is reckless beyond belief.
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
My statement on the decriminalising of self-induced abortion up to full term in the Crime and Policing Bill.
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
I used to be vaguely impressed by gongs, parents of friends with knighthoods etc, and frankly I have lost all respect for the honours system, which props up a rotten culture of patronage and failure
When people ask why the establishment has fallen, show them this
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
If anyone is voting in the @BritishCardioSo elections can I highly recommend David Warriner @DrDavidWarriner for the non-surgical centre council rep. Top guy who works in Doncaster. Fantastic DGH cardiologist and would be a real asset in the role.
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
Quentin Letts@thequentinletts19 Apr 2025
Wonderful review of NUNC! by Ysenda Maxtone Graham in @The_Tablet .
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
๐Ÿšจ Whatโ€™s happening in Sicily - Italy ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น is absolutely extraordinary Mount Etna is erupting with its summit covered in snow Here are some explorers skiing between snow and fire! Unprecedented
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Norman Briffa MD ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ retweeted
In 1565, the Ottoman Empire launched one of the largest invasions in history. Their target? A tiny island defended by just 700 knights and a few thousand soldiers. What happened next would shake the world (you'll want to bookmark this):
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