I was in Glasgow recently speaking at the annual NHS Scotland conference. I took the opportunity to meet national and local leaders to discuss areas of common concern. Three programmes of work in Scotland hold particular interest for the NHS in England. The first is work to improve patient safety and the quality of care. Leadership […]
Martin McKee: Brexit and health—the confusion grows
When I wrote my last BMJ blog it was within hours of the result of the EU referendum. I admitted freely that, despite having studied the EU extensively for three decades, I had no idea what the implications of Brexit would be for health. This was because I was unable to ascertain what it would […]
William Cayley: What happened? A US doctor on Brexit
What just happened? Sitting in my clinical office in rural Wisconsin, the outcome of the “Brexit” vote seems quite far away—yet the day after 23 June’s vote, the shock and surprise emanating from the news stories is almost palpable. While I can’t claim to know much about the inner workings of British domestic politics, as I’ve […]
Richard Lehman’s journal reviews—27 June 2016
NEJM 23 Jun 2016 Vol 374 Adolescent BMI: big data, little meaning 2430 “How might adolescent BMI affect adult cardiovascular mortality? In our study, we could not control for important risk factors (e.g., smoking, exercise, and physical fitness) or for adult BMI.” Ah, a slight problem then. This study tells you the exact correlation between […]
Reena Aggarwal: Are junior doctors going to vote for the new contract proposal?
Junior doctors are caught in a maelstrom; voting for or against a contract that is the best offer yet proposed, but with questions about its fairness, safety, and practical application especially now in the post Brexit era. Since the contract was published, as one of the public facing grass roots junior doctors over the past […]
Jeffrey Aronson: When I use a word . . . Medical patronymics
Of the different types of surname origins, patronymics are the most common. A patronym or patronymic (Greek πατήρ father + ὀνομα name) is a name that derives from the first name of your father, or more generally from that of a forebear. Originally, people’s names took the forms that we see in the Bible, like […]
Alice Forster and Jo Waller: A new jab to prevent cancer
Around 5% of all cancers worldwide are caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV. In the late 1990s and early 2000s two vaccines were developed that protect against the two types of HPV that cause around 80% of cervical cancers. In the UK, girls who are aged 12-13 years old in year 8 at school […]
Martin McKee on the EU referendum: We have no idea what will come next, but it won’t be good
The British people have spoken. Just over half of those who voted in the referendum supported leaving the EU. Although their votes are not legally binding, politicians of all parties have agreed that they will follow their instructions. The big question is “what is next?” I was in Norway on the night of the 23 […]
Gemma Wright: Supporting military reserves in the NHS
As we approach Armed Forces Day tomorrow, this is the time to consider the 4000 healthcare staff who, as reservists, give up their spare time to train and serve in either the Royal Navy, Army, or Royal Air Force. Most of them work in the NHS and combine their military commitments with a civilian life […]
Brexit live blog: What next?
On 23 June 2016 the UK went to the polls to decide whether to remain a member of the European Union. We look at the immediate reaction to the victory of the Leave vote: In her latest BMJ column, Margaret McCartney asks, what does leaving the EU mean for our NHS, research community, and our spirit of […]