Introducing the topic of smoking in pregnancy as “an orphan subject in this area” seemed the right choice of words to the handful of people who turned up for the […]
Guest writers
Manuel Carballo: Protecting the health of Europe’s migrants
Migration has always been a source of population growth in Europe, and in recent decades it has become the principal driver of urban growth throughout much of the EU, if not Europe […]
Andrew Moscrop: Medicine in the magazine of new writing
Medicine was the theme of this summer’s issue of Granta, the magazine of new writing. A gift for anyone with an interest in narrative medicine. “What does that even mean, […]
Desmond O’Neill: You don’t make peace with your friends
It is not often that I find myself quoting Moshe Dyan, but his aperçu that you don’t make peace with your friends has gained wide currency. In medical terms this […]
Kieran Walsh: Am I getting value for money out of my medical school tuition fees?
In the nineteenth century there were few standards in medical education. Students would often do an apprenticeship with a general practitioner and gradually gain experience in the trade. They had […]
Rhys Davies: Take two and call me in the mourning
My mother is widely regarded in many circles as something of a medical expert. What she lacks in actual knowledge is made up for by unbridled confidence. For one thing, […]
Tony Waterston and Jean Bowyer: Climbing up the flagpole in Ramallah
A new flagpole greeted us in Arafat Square in the centre of Ramallah, topped by the Palestinian flag (see photo). Some five metres below the top, a figure could be […]
Aser Garcia Rada: The end of a public healthcare system in Spain
It is 11 months since the conservative People’s Party came to power in Spain, and in that time there has been a distinct lack of clarity and transparency in their […]
Desmond O’Neill: 50 shades of stroke
Language in Ireland can be tricky and subtle, with many shades of meaning possible for even simple words such as “stroke,” as our minister for health discovered to his chagrin […]
Alexander Ferris on helping young people make healthy eating choices
Earlier this year, Old Vic New Voices (OVNV) staged an ambitious new musical called Epidemic, devised and performed by over 400 community volunteers. The piece explored some of the UK’s […]