I have realised that part of my job remit is to indulge patients’ admiration of their children. Sometimes the praise of a blood relative or family friend is not enough. Sometimes a professional seal of approval is required. Hence a child is brought to the doctors. Read More »

Right now we’re trying – and failing– to consent a number of patients to join the Integrated Care Pathway, a piece of software that allows patient’s relevant GP records to be uploaded and accessed by a hospital consultant in the event of an emergency. Read More »

Fed up of patients coming in asking you if eating less than 600 cals/day will cure their diabetes, or if the million women study really was wrong, or if aspirin can really protect against bowel cancer? Well if so rest assured – enough of these sensible questions, health journalism has just gotten a whole lot more irresponsible. Read More »

Last year Stevie Wonder took a few moments to praise those who made significant efforts to make the world accessible to every single person. In a shout-out he paid homage to Apple: ‘In the spirit of caring and moving the world forward: Steve Jobs.’ Read More »

What is it about the thrill of watching someone squirm? Read More »

Just like those in government, those in medical education also love the concept of change for change’s sake. I’ve been on lots of teaching courses where all people do is sit around and play with their haemorrhoids and debate how they can make teaching even more abstract. These factors, plus the free biscuits, day off patients and the Blue Peter badge equivalent of a certificate of attendance are exactly why I attend these courses. But I’m going to stop, because they’re beginning to make me feel old. Read More »

One of my friends had a patient who came in angry that his prescription wasn’t ready for him.

‘What was it for?’ she asked. To which he replied: ‘An exercise bike.’ Read More »

Iron Man and Thor move over for some new superheroes: the PPwT – that’s planned procedures with a threshold – solved all the NHS’s problems yesterday. Read More »

The walls in our surgery are pretty thin, which means usually I can hear a couple of other  consultations at the same time as mine. This is enlightening and entertaining in equal parts. Read More »

Recently, two consultants ran six back to back marathons from a statue of Bevan in Cardiff to Whitehall to deliver a mock postcard from Bevan to Number 10 urging the government to drop the Health and Social Care Bill. It was a noble act of protest against the commercialisation of the NHS.

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