Uwe Reinhardt, the world’s funniest health economist, says that eventually all health systems will be the same: whatever they want for the rich; an insurance based system for the majority; and a rump service for the poor. “Never in Britain,” say Reinhardt’s British friends, but I wondered if he might be right as I read […]
What links grief, the early suffragette movement, and evolution? All are themes in books shortlisted for this year’s Wellcome Book Prize, announced by writer Bill Bryson at Wellcome Collection’s shiny new Reading Room in London earlier this week. The Wellcome Book Prize celebrates “books for the incurably curious” that explore issues of medicine and, as […]
“While you’re here, Doc,” said Pat, “would you mind looking at Pat Junior?” It turned out to be a simple upper respiratory tract infection. I recommended something for symptomatic relief. Pat Junior, unimpressed, sniffed snottily. Inevitable really, what with that nasal drip. Perhaps he was disappointed that I wasn’t one of those “famous physicians” who […]
On 5 July 1948, in Manchester, Labour Secretary of State for Health, Aneurin Bevan announced the birth of the NHS. On 27 February 2015, in Manchester, Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne signed a piece of paper that would bring about the end of a National Health Service. There is no longer an NHS in […]
I spent a recent evening at an art exhibition in the trendy Shoreditch area of East London, where three young artists were presenting their work. All three artists have the chronic disease multiple sclerosis (MS). They had been given a brief of “Good out of bad,” and been asked to respond. […]
Retrieval registrar was never one of my professional aims throughout medical school. A natural pause in the UK training scheme motivated me into seeking an opportunity to break the NHS bond, temporarily, and head away to experience far away places and different health issues. Retrieving patients in Australia’s Northern Territory was not the obvious choice, […]
Secrets and the threat to public health • In an editorial in The BMJ today, Martin McKee and Ronald Labonté write about the European Commission’s proposals to harmonise national legislation on trade secrets, which will shortly be debated in the European parliament. McKee and Labonté say that the proposed extension of secrecy could threaten public […]
I’m proud to be working among a group of GPs in east London who, against all the odds, are delivering a remarkable level of clinical performance. Ninety two per cent of our patients with cardiovascular disease have their blood pressure controlled, despite our practice serving one of the most socio-economically and ethnically diverse communities in […]
Our global community has made great strides with issues of race and gender, but has a way to go before disabled people of all ages are warmly welcomed, respected, and fully included as equals in all aspects of our societies, including as equal recipients of high quality healthcare. Do we all, as doctors, nurses, and […]
We all know that the health service is struggling. GPs are seeing escalating workloads, waiting times are getting longer, emergency care is on its knees with ambulances queueing in front of Accident and Emergency departments, discharges from hospital are delayed leading to longer stays, and community services are unable to cope with the demands placed […]