Dr Gachet has the world weary look of a country GP. His portrait, which hangs in the Musée d’Orsay, always spoke to me louder than Van Gogh’s sunflowers or other celebrated paintings with their vibrant colours and, almost childlike, optimism. It has a depth of feeling, concern yet distance, and an overwhelming sadness. Unlike other […]
Category: Domhnall MacAuley
Domhnall MacAuley: Lasting memories
Memory is short. I learned this early when, as a junior doctor, my consultant retired. He was a legend, irreplaceable, the backbone of the hospital. But, it takes less than a year to be forgotten. You soon become that nameless old buffer at the cocktail party- remembered only by former colleagues and a few senior […]
Domhnall MacAuley on armchair winter sports
The Olympics are imminent. Not 2012, but the Winter Olympics in Vancouver opening in less than three weeks. Coming from a country where rare snowfalls are wet, soggy and turn almost immediately to slush, winter sport usually means rugby in the rain. Much to the amusement of my family, however, I’m a TV snow sports […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Achievements of academic primary care in the last decade
What do you think were the achievements of academic primary care/ general practice in the last decade? We discussed this recently by email in a BMJ advisory group of primary care academics; the dialogue was fascinating. […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Apres Ski and A&E
Heading for the slopes? Sunshine, blue skies and an exhilarating holiday. Cant wait! You don’t need any gloomy doom sayer spoiling your excitement. But, as you board your flight, look around at your fellow passengers- mostly fairly well off, youngish and middle aged, setting off for a well earned winter break. Not as fit as […]
Domhnall MacAuley on Thierry Henry’s rehabilitation
Thierry Henry’s rehabilitation is on track. He kept a low profile in Barca’s win on Tuesday night but was back in the spotlight nevertheless. Gasps of relief across the world of marketing could even be heard in football stadiums. Forget the indignation in Ireland about the hand ball incident. We are a small country with […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Of mice and real people
Do you dither with your mouse? Who would have thought there could be any new angles on consultation analysis! Simon de Lusignan (St Georges, University of London) had some new insights in his keynote address at NAPCRG (North American Primary Care Research Group). […]
Domhnall MacAuley on unexpected outcomes
You have got to do something. Young mothers and their babies living in socially deprived areas do poorly. Isolated, unprepared, and hard to reach; the obvious way to help is through their peers. Why bother with research. It’s obvious. Just implement it. […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Excellence in Practice. RCGP Annual National Primary Care Conference.
Are you an apple, a pear, or even a melon? Metabolic risk is less if you have the body profile of a pear rather than an apple. If you are shaped like a melon, it is definitely time for a serious diet. You may not have noticed, however, that you are now one of the […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Exercise is medicine
Fergie lost it with the referee. The Manchester United manager’s public criticism of the referee’s fitness in their recent match against Sunderland made headlines. Although subsequently making a personal apology he did raise the more general issue of referee’s fitness. Perhaps it was because he knew about the long established referee fitness programme in Scotland […]