Going to my local supermarket recently it struck me just how far we are from helping people eat well. A Krispy Kreme donut stand immediately greeted me and baskets of cut price chocolate bars and packets of crisps lurked close by. End of aisle displays—well-known to produce sales uplifts—were full of chocolate and salty snacks. […]
Category: Guest writers
Derek Yach: Building a Foundation to accelerate an end to smoking
The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, Inc. (the “Foundation”) was established to accelerate an end to smoking. The rationale for the Foundation and initial thinking on its activities have previously been described. It arose out of extended discussions with Philip Morris International (PMI). Discussions that I never thought I would have based on a deep justifiable […]
Jules Bowring: Strengthening sexual and reproductive health services is crucial to revert falling cervical screening rates
Last November, the publication of data on the NHS Cervical Screening Programme by NHS Digital presented concerning figures once again regarding cervical screening coverage rates. With rates at their lowest in two decades, groups including Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust have come out in force to highlight the consequences that will result from poor uptake in […]
Writing letters directly to patients puts them at the centre of their care
A clinic letter from a paediatric surgeon hit the headlines recently. Written to the child’s GP and copied to her parents, it began “Thank you for referring this lovely young lady… Unfortunately her mum could not be at the clinic visit today as she has not been well and father stepped in manfully”. The parents […]
Samantha Walker: Asthma diagnosis—harnessing the power of new technologies
In the UK, deaths due to asthma attacks are at their highest level for a decade, but with better diagnostics and tailoring of treatment to asthma sub-type, these could be reduced. [1] When it comes to asthma diagnosis, innovation is slow. Asthma Diagnostics: A 21st Century Challenge, a new report released by Asthma UK today, […]
Terence Stephenson: Doctors shouldn’t fear patient feedback
We need to make feedback meaningful for doctors and easier for patients […]
Ida Keogh: Sticking Plaster for the Tin Man’s Broken Heart
It was seven hours into Suki’s shift when her tech started getting the shakes. They were operating on the prosthetic arm of Mr Baines, Patrick, date of birth 7th April 2053. It should have been a simple ligament print and fix, in and out and sealant sprayed in less than ten minutes, but the tech, […]
Hannah Harper: Project Seahorse
Eva Albemarle [Eva@AAKagency.com] To: Harvey Rudd Monday, December 14, 2099, 13:23 Subject: Project Seahorse Phase 2 Harvey, Great to meet you earlier. As requested, please find below a bit more about me for Craig. We really think he’s the perfect fit for this documentary, and we hope you think so too. I look forward […]
Matthew Castle: Burnout
I don’t want to do this job any more. I’ve had enough. There. I’ve said it. Well, you wanted a statement, an explanation for those data anomalies, and that’s it, in a nutshell. I will reiterate: I don’t think you’ll find patient care has been compromised. Up to this point, my performance has met or […]
Filip A Dabrowski: Junior doctors go on hunger strike in Poland
For the past twenty years the public healthcare system in Poland has been struggling with extremely low financing. In 2005, countries such as France and Germany were spending 11.1% and 10.7% GDP on healthcare respectively. According to the OECD, currently in Poland we only spend 6.4% GDP on our healthcare system. [1] This is one […]