SCA practice case · Video consultation
“Abnormal LFTs — alcohol concern”
The candidate brief
This is what you would read in the 3-minute window before the patient connects. Read it once, note two or three hypotheses and one thing you must not miss, then stop.
Patient
Charles Bennett · 42 years · male
Setting
Video consultation booked to discuss recent blood results.
Past history
- Nil significant
Medication
- No regular medication
Allergies
NKDA
Recent notes
⚠ Bloods 2 weeks ago (tiredness): ALT 108, GGT 215, AST 79, MCV 102 — recalled to discuss. Booking note: "patient asked reception to keep it quick, court at 2pm".
Reason for contact
Results discussion — abnormal liver function tests.
Practise this case
The full case is in the Hot Seat with the Gold plan. You get a 12-minute timer, a role-player script with facts released only when asked, examiner checkpoints by the three RCGP domains, a model consultation and the guidance behind it.
What this case tests
Show the learning points (spoiler: read after you have practised)
The data-interpretation stations have the same RCGP framework as any other. The marking gap is rarely the lab interpretation — it's being honest about the cause without lecturing, knowing the withdrawal danger of abrupt cessation, and using AUDIT-C or 4Cs to screen formally. AST:ALT >1 + GGT raised + macrocytosis is a fingerprint pattern.
The guidance behind it
Similar SCA cases
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