Confronting an Ill Society: David Widgery, General Practice, Idealism and the Chase for Change

David Widgery was a socialist GP who worked in the East End of London. For him medicine was as much about the social causes of illness as it was biological. He believed that if wealth were more evenly distributed society and its members would be healthier. Working in and fighting for the NHS symbolised his wider view of the world. This book tackles the difficult issues surrounding doctors’ roles including whether they should ignore or embrace the social causes of illness. It uses the unique perspective of David Widgery’s life to explore these issues and also considers why medicine at times can be disheartening. General practitioners other doctors and those who shape and make health policy will all find this book stimulating and enlightening reading. ‘We join Hutt and Widgery on a journey where we reflect on what it is to be a doctor how medicine can be combined with other perhaps more glamorous activities like politics writing rock music and how we can give meaning to our lives. (The book) presents a rich cache of material for those who want to meditate on the nature of doctoring in general and general practice in particular. I hope this book will be useful to others readers in provoking internal and external conversations.’ Richard Smith in the Foreword