When I first became a GP, general practice was organised in a way that was so easy to describe to people. We had practices serving defined local communities and we […]
Latest articles
Desmond O’Neill: Combating bar stool gerontology
One of the greatest challenges for us as we age is “bar stool gerontology.” For most complex subjects—nuclear physics, molecular biology, or philosophy—most of us recognise that some learning and […]
Richard Smith: Doctors using safety and evidence for political ends
In my 40 years of messing around with medical journals I’ve tried to contribute to promoting patient safety and the use of evidence. Generally things seem better from a time […]
What, if anything, does the EuroHealth Consumer Index actually tell us?
Since 2005, the Health Consumer Powerhouse has produced its annual EuroHealth Consumer Index, ranking European health systems according to their performance on a host of indicators around (i) patient rights […]
Hoong-Wei Gan: Strike on, strike off: why junior doctors are fighting for their patients
Striking is not integral to any doctor’s identity. As others have pointed out over the last few months, a doctor pledges, before anything to else, to “first do no harm.” […]
Chris Ham: The proposed NHS and social care commission should report quickly and engage with staff and the public
After the government’s spending review, the NHS has just over two years at best to stabilise rapidly deteriorating finances and declining standards of patient care. At that point the harsh reality […]
Richard Lehman’s journal review—8 February 2016
NEJM 4 Feb 2016 Vol 374 Renal altruism 411 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Failing that, consider live […]
Henry Murphy: Resignation to Jeremy
Another blog about the junior doctor’s contract, another march, and another strike. What is left to be said? The argument has been detailed in every way; with eloquence, with anger, […]
Junior doctors’ strike February 2016: Live blog
This week, junior doctors in England will be taking industrial action for the second time in as many months after failing to reach agreement with the government over their proposed […]
Tim Albert: What price a patient’s expertise?
For the last 18 months I have been doing some work as an Expert by Experience for the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Despite the job title—which has the ring of […]