Heart-based Medicine

In this heart-felt clarion call for a re-imagined health service, Dr Gabriella Day gives an account, including various illustrations, of how the health service today has neglected to place the patient at the centre of care. So many other demands are placed on the doctor that all too often fear of litigation, fear of stepping off protocol and an unwillingness to step up and take responsibility for taking difficult decisions and addressing complex issues, can lead to patients' best interests becoming subordinate to a multitude of other directives in management decision making.

In plain English, Gabriella considers how we can reset this balance, not with more directives, but with a moral imperative to check in with the heart whenever we make management decisions for patients.

She argues that this way of practising will, when properly implemented, increase practitioner job satisfaction and fulfilment, empower patients and reduce demand on the health service, in the long-term.

'This book is a call to arms presented in a compassionate and accessible style.'

Dr Patricia Ridsdale

'Well written and thought provoking it will be in my head during consultations as a comfort and reference for when Heart base practices feel like they are the most important thing even when pushed for time'

Dr Kate Summers