This is the first major study of a significant post within the British government. Drawing on a wide range of archival sources and interviews with senior health professionals and politicians, this book positions the Chief Medical Officer as one of the most influential individuals within the Whitehall system, with personal responsibility for the health of the population. Through a number of case studies, including the 1950s smoking and lung caner issue, and the AIDS and BSE crises of the 1980s and 1990s, "The Nation's Doctor" examines how the CMO operates, drawing on expertise to inform the direction of government health policy.

Implementing safety practices in healthcare saves lives and improves the quality of care: it is therefore vital to apply good clinical practices, such as the WHO surgical checklist, to adopt the most appropriate measures for the prevention of assistance-related risks, and to identify the potential ones using tools such as reporting & learning systems. The culture of safety in the care environment and of human factors influencing it should be developed from the beginning of medical studies and in the first years of professional practice, in order to have the maximum impact on clinicians' and nurses' behavior. Medical errors tend to vary with the level of proficiency and experience, and this must be taken into account in adverse events prevention. Human factors assume a decisive importance in resilient organizations, and an understanding of risk control and containment is fundamental for all medical and surgical specialties. This open access book offers recommendations and examples of how to improve patient safety by changing practices, introducing organizational and technological innovations, and creating effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care systems, in order to spread the quality and patient safety culture among the new generation of healthcare professionals, and is intended for residents and young professionals in different clinical specialties.

This book contains forewords by Chris Del Mar and James Hutchinson respectively - Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Australia; Chief of Infectious Diseases Control, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. Acute respiratory infections make up a quarter of all primary care consultations. This book is the ideal quick reference and teaching aid. In presenting best evidence on the epidemiology, causes and management of the most common acute respiratory infections, this book gathers together a wealth of previously scattered original research and information and offers solutions for practical application. It is concise, clear and easy to use. Primary care professionals, including doctors, nurses and health visitors will find it invaluable, as will general practitioners in training. 'There is much more to these diseases than most of us realise. It will not take you long to find fascinating and useful material here. It makes for a very interesting read. The evidence about management, as well as diagnosis, is very important. Acute respiratory infection is one of the famously important areas in which mistaken beliefs by not only our patients, but also us doctors, of the benefits of antibiotics makes to the contribution of bacterial resistance. Graham Worrall has highlighted new forms of treatment we often forget when we reach for the pad to write another 'safety' prescription for antibiotic. There is a wealth of information here.' - Chris Del Mar, in his Foreword. 'An objective, thoughtful treatment of a subject that accounts for a large part of a primary care physician's working life but inexplicably little of his or her training. Thorough evaluation of the literature, often exposing huge gaps in the study of these extremely common conditions, will serve as an impetus for study and a guide to rational decision-making. The straightforward approach with excellent practical distillations of the evidence and resulting recommendations is perfect for the busy physician or busy student. As someone who teaches medical students about infections I have longed for a concise resource to support my efforts at encouraging prudent antibiotic prescription for respiratory tract infections. I long no more.' - James Hutchinson, in his Foreword.

You may not know it, but an innovation has made our world a better place. The use of alcohol-based handrubs protects us from infectious diseases and saves millions of lives each year through safer health care. Here is the story of this revolutionary formulation, made available without patent and offered as a gift to humanity by Professor Didier Pittet and his team at Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve (HUG). From bush doctors to giant pharmaceutical corporations, everyone can now produce effective handrubs, cheaply and easily. Didier Pittet's medical odyssey has taken him to the four corners of the Earth. It also reveals a new path open to human society, one that pro- mises a radical shift from a predatory economic system to an economy of peace. "WHO is fortunate that Didier Pittet said "yes" when the call went out for his help. ...] Much can be learned from the story that is told so well and so inspirationally in this book." Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization.

Eine revolutionare Entwicklung hat unser aller Leben grundlegend ver- andert, und dies nahezu unbemerkt: die alkoholische Handedesinfektion zum Schutz vor Ansteckung. Dieses Buch erzahlt die einzigartige Geschichte eines weltverandernden Produkts. Professor Didier Pittet und sein Team am Universitatsklinikum Genf haben bewusst auf Patentschutz fur ihre Weiterentwicklung verzichtet und diese so der Menschheit zum Geschenk gemacht. Jeder, vom Grossunternehmen bis zum Buschdoktor, kann kunftig das Desinfektionsmittel herstellen, das durch verbesserte Hygiene Leben retten wird. Begleiten Sie Dr. Pittet bei seinem spannenden Unterfangen und entdecken Sie dabei zugleich eine Seite der menschlichen Natur, die die Abkehr vom Raubtierkapitalismus hin zu einer Friedensokonomie beinhaltet. Didier Pittet kam, als die WHO ihn rief; dessen konnen wir uns glucklich schatzen. Aus der Geschichte, die dieses Buch so lebendig und mitreissend erzahlt, konnen wir alle viel lernen." Dr. Margaret Chan, Generaldirektorin der WHO"

Talvez voce nao tenha se dado conta, mas aconteceu uma inovacao que mudou sua vida. Friccionando as maos com um gel hidroalcoolico, voce se protege das doencas. Esta e a historia de um produto revolucionario que nunca foi patenteado, um presente que o professor Didier Pittet e sua equipe dos Hospitais Universitarios de Genebra ofereceram a humanidade. Hoje, tanto aquele que pratica a medicina em plena selva quanto os laboratorios farmaceuticos podem fabricar essa solucao que garante mais seguranca na assistencia a saude, permitindo salvar milhoes de vida. Acompanhar a aventura medica de Didier Pittet e descobrir que outra humanidade e possivel, aquela que nos leva de uma economia da predacao a uma economia da paz. ''A OMS teve sorte quando Didier Pittet respondeu ao seu chamado. Numerosas sao as licoes que podemos tirar da historia magnificamente contada neste livro.'' Dra. Margaret Chan, diretora-geral da OMS"

Conciliation is the term used in the National Health Service to describe a particular form of dispute resolution that is used in relation to the complaints process. Conciliation has uses beyond the resolution of complaints. It can be of value in any situation where the clinical relationship has broken down. Equally, it may be used in an attempt to restore relationships as part of conflict management, either within the NHS or in other organisations where conflict or disagreement exists. This concise, practical guide clearly sets out the role of conciliation, and dispels the many misconceptions surrounding procedures and expectations. Conciliation in Healthcare provides invaluable resources for all healthcare staff involved in complaints, either from an operational, strategic or academic perspective. This includes conciliators themselves and those involved in their training, and staff with specific responsibilities for implementing complaints procedures, both in the public and private sectors. It's also highly recommended for those who provide advocacy and support for complainants, as well as those against whom complaints have been made.