The State of Medicine is an eloquent, passionate, comprehensive, and, in many ways, dispiriting overview of the repeated damage inflicted on the NHS at the whim of successive governments. The frustration of the author, a GP from Glasgow, pours from every page, every paragraph and every sentence, as she contrasts the efforts of doctors to practice evidence based, safe, humane and cost-effective medicine, in a system that is routinely upended and overhauled according to manifesto sound bite, political opinion and, occasionally, outright self-interest.
Whilst the general themes of this book will surprise few who work in the NHS, the actual facts and figures, such as the vast sums wasted on management consultancy firms, may make the eyes of even the most hardened cynic water.
Each chapter begins with an interview with someone who is able to give a different perspective on our collective woes. Amongst these are some real gems that offer unexpected insights into different niches of the NHS world. The words of an A&E consultant who was working at Mid Staffs during the scandal may send a there-but-for-the-grace-of God shiver down your spine, and the thoughts of a Nobel prize winning economist will have you bewildered that there are still so many advocates of insurance based health care systems.
Dr McCartney offers a clear account of the follies of the last few decades and a personal view of where and how the NHS should proceed from here with ideas such as buffering the NHS from policy makers, funding it properly, treating health professionals with respect, and actually basing policy on evidence.
The message of this book is important. We must hope that it reaches a general readership, or, hoping even more bravely, that it reaches an audience amongst the political classes.
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