330© Royal College of Physicians, 2011. All rights reserved. complexity and risk of the
procedure increases, and the more experience surgeons gain in their specific field of …

It is a truth universally acknowledged that there is a problem with general medicine.
Physicians have become increasingly specialised over the past 30 years or so, and …

People are whole but their health breaks down in parts. Science has discovered more and
more about disease mechanisms and understanding causation has led to more effective …

A perfect storm is developing in 21st century healthcare with unprecedented demands being
placed on healthcare systems across the globe. In the western world, we have soaring rates …

We don't have enough doctors. This is odd because we have plenty of applicants, good
universities, and the money spent on training is a fraction of the cost incurred by a limited …

Since the beginning of the existence of NICE in April 1999, there has been almost constant
change. We were originally set up to ensure that the most clinically and cost effective drugs …

The explosive expansion of scientific knowledge over recent decades has made it difficult for
individuals to stay abreast of a single specialty. This, together with specific developments …

DEFINING PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE Primary care may be distinguished from
specialty care by the time, focus, and scope of the services provided to the patients. Primary …

Summary Objectives In England, patients can choose to have their NHS elective care
delivered by private (or 'independent sector') providers or by the NHS. Providers are paid a …

Front-line medicine is arguably under more pressure now than it has ever been. This is at
least in part due to a population living longer than ever before with an increasing number of …