For some years I have acted as  an independent consultant in medical education and health care policy. Formerly I was a principal in general practice, Grays, Essex (1959 - 1973); Foundation Professor of Community Health, University of Leicester Medical School (1974 - 1983); Director, The MSD Foundation (1983 - 1991). I was a member of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners from 1970 - where, among other posts, I chaired its Education Division and Committee on Medical Ethics. 

From 1991 - 2006 I was visiting professor in the Department of General Practice at Guy’s, King’s College and St. Thomas’ Hospitals Medical and Dental School (GKT), Kings College London.  From 1996 - 2000 I chaired the Department of Health National Programme on Forensic Mental Health Research & Development Advisory Group. I have co-chaired the Department of Health Task Force on Medicines Partnership from 2000 - 2003, and from 1997 - 2006 I chaired an independent European Academic Advisory Board on health targeting and policy.

In recent years I have edited and part authored a number of books on health policy: Controversies in Health Care Policy (BMJ Books: 1995); Sense and Sensibility in Health Care (BMJ Books: 1998); with Sir Michael Peckham, Clinical Futures (BMJ Books: 1999) - concerned with developments in bio-medical research and practice in the coming decades; Medicine and Humanity (King’s Fund: 2001) – a collection of essays on medical ethical issues at the millennium; Health Targets in Europe: Polity, Progress and Promise (BMJ Books 2002) - reflections on the moral precepts that drive health policy making in Europe.

I have lectured and published widely on medical education, health policy, medical ethics and the theory of general practice. Over many years, I have enjoyed debating the broad sweep, and  the pernickety detail, of new ideas in medicine with colleagues and good friends. On this small, and embarrassingly amateur, web site I have collected together much of my past writings. in the hope of provoking  constructive conversations about the themes  that have long been a pre-occupation and a passion.  

By clicking on 'Articles' you can see an overview of the papers and other essays, together with some introductory comment. The individual pieces can be directly accessed by clicking on the  articles listed on this page.

The main themes are clustered around the notion of generalism in medicine - its clinical nature, its methods, its morality, and its place in the configuration of health services. Inevitably, I have also been drawn into the wider field of debate about the ethical and political issues of the public health.

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If you wish to comment or question you may mail me.