Before being diagnosed with primary breast cancer myself, aged 49 in 2004, I would offer emotional support to women with this diagnosis, and arrogantly assume I understood pretty well what they were going through, at all stages—and my then clients were too polite to tell me to the contrary. Little did I know! Life on […]
Category: Guest writers
Suzie Bailey: Strategy development – starring role or chorus line?
Is “transformation” one of the most overused words in relation to the NHS and the issues it faces? Just last week, I heard a NHS deputy CEO joke that the word should be banned, and thought I’d happily join him! On the other-hand, “strategic development” is rarely mentioned. This is strange, as isn’t the NHS […]
Tara Lamont: On biography, cancer, and Richard Doll
I’m a sucker for the lives of great men (and, occasionally, women) in medicine. This is particularly the case when it comes to those who lived in the 20th century, whose lives are punctuated with big moments: from the great depression, to active service overseas in the second world war, to the formation of the NHS shortly after. […]
Abdullah Aljoudi: An epidemic free Hajj
“Complete the pilgrimages … for the sake of God” Quran 2:196 The 2014 Hajj was epidemic-free, according to Saudi Arabia’s acting health minister. In addition to the regular Hajj health regulations, this year the Saudi government decided to ban pilgrims from Mano river Union countries (Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone) because of the Ebola threat. The World […]
Abdullah Aljoudi: Are you fit for the journey of a lifetime?
“Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it.” Quran 2:97. On Friday 3 October, over three million Muslims from more than 180 countries will come together for the Hajj, probably the largest human gathering on earth. […]
Alex Horne: The expense of neglecting adolescent mental health
The chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, recently called for more support for mental health services in her annual report, which highlighted how mental illness led to the loss of 70 million working days last year—an increase of 24% since 2009. Of particular importance is the report’s call for improved support for young people with mental […]
Ahmed Rashid: “Physics envy” in evidence based medicine
Researchers have long debated the relative complexity and importance of different scientific disciplines. Traditionally, sciences that used the most mathematical equations—such as physics—were deemed the most intellectual and placed at the top of an academic hierarchy, while social sciences were consigned to the lowest point. Willard Van Orman Quine, who held the Edgar Pierce chair […]
Ian Bushfield: Respond to EMA and FDA consultations
On Monday 15 September, two important consultations (one by the EMA and one by the FDA) will close, ending the public’s opportunity to respond to these consultations and help defend the independent analyses of medical data. The AllTrials campaign has been urging interested parties to respond and have their say on these two consultations, which are outlined […]
Dawn Richards: A Canadian arthritis patient charter
In 2014 the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA) undertook the creation of an Arthritis Patient Charter. The arthritis community in Canada has a history of collaboration, to which this project was no exception. In 2001 the creation of an Arthritis Patient Bill of Rights (English and French versions) was led by the Arthritis Society with […]
Roy K Philip: New “Kerala model” on alcohol policy: Great public health initiative or an “alco-pops” repeat?
The Indian state of Kerala has the highest alcohol consumption per head in India (8.3 litres against the national average of 4 litres,[1] while also being credited with the highest literacy rate (including female literacy),[2] best social indicators, and best infant mortality.[3] Kerala has the historical mix of influences from the spice trade, its early […]