Labour has a reputation for being painful. Personally, I like pain relief and avoiding complications, so I chose to give birth in what I thought were the safer environs of the hospital. But in hospitals, medical staff may be rather too close to hand, and this can mean a higher risk of medical intervention without, […]
Continue Reading →One size fits all: column
Wonder drugs are rare. Applying the criteria of effectiveness, usefulness and cost, I’d put paracetamol, morphine and penicillin high on my list. The number one position, however, would go to aspirin. Not only is it good for pain relief, as an anti-inflammatory and to reduce fever, it also works as a blood-thinning agent, to decrease […]
Continue Reading →Health alert on the lure of cancer screening
A rather disappointing debate recorded in Hansard on the subject of screening for cancer in men. Unfortunately the extremely important issues of effectiveness, evidence, and potential harms seem to have become lost, e.g. “the government is committed to introducing screening for prostate cancer” – but since the evidence is mixed but much of it shows that it does more harm than […]
Continue Reading →Management consultants in the NHS
If you have read the book Plundering the Public Sector (David Craig and Richard Brooks) or NHS plc (Allyson Pollock), then the concerns over the costs to the NHS of management consultants will not be news. A report echoing this was released by the House of Commons Health Committee at the end of last week […]
Continue Reading →Never too late…column
How much does willpower have to do with good health? If, for example, we have pursued a life of booze, fags and indolence, can we reverse the damage if we choose to? Or have our prior actions, and our genes, already determined our fate? Some philosophers, particularly the chain-smoking kind, may accept the idea of […]
Continue Reading →What do Jo Brand, Martin Amis and Lord Rees have in common?
They are all signatories to an open letter (as are FT Science Editor Clive Cookson and myself), condemning the use of English libel law to silence the critical discussion of medical practice and scientific evidence. This is in response to the Simon Singh case, where the British Chiropractic Association has sued him for libel: he has announced that he is to appeal.
Continue Reading →What is ‘Bogus’?
Simon Singh, as mentioned before, was in the High Court last week facing the British Chiropractic Association over an article he wrote for the Guardian (which is no longer available to read on their website.) In court, the Judge held that the phrase Singh used – ”happily promotes bogus treatments” – was capable of bearing the meaning that […]
Continue Reading →The Prince of Wails
…and his Foundation for Integrated Health. An excellent analysis of a recent meeting held at the King’s Fund in London at David Colquhoun’s website.
Continue Reading →How much do Independent Treatment Centres cost?
Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs) were part of this governments plans for the NHS. GPs were encouraged to use them: this was meant to be the epitome of “patient choice”. But not only have many contracts been issued on a “take or pay” basis, the cost efficiencies of these units have not been hauled up for scrutiny. Professor […]
Continue Reading →Crossing the guideline
Guidelines, guidelines. My desktop, bookshelves and floor are covered with them. Advising on everything from diabetes to incontinence, they come from multiple agencies in increasing sizes and scope. Some guidelines are excellent; they save doctors from a long trawl through the evidence and give directions in shorthand that everyone can understand. But Baroness Young, chair […]
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