Commentary & Podcasts

We urgently need to reckon with the impact that eating meat has on the climate, human health, biothreats, animal welfare and much more. But delivering a proportionate response depends on knowing how much meat we are eating. And that, as this blog sets out, isn’t entirely clear.

This blog reflects on the recent launch event for 'Political Philosophy in a Pandemic: Routes to a More Just Future', a new book by the SMF's Chief Economist, Dr Aveek Bhattacharya.

In this essay, Richard Disney analyses the economic incentives offered to GPs over where and how to work, and uses economic theory to propose improvements.

The problem of lack of access to GPs lies not in some deficiencies in the GP service and the individual practitioners, but in the public’s entitlement to access with no conditions. In this essay, John Allingham makes the case for a reorientation of our expectations of GPs.

James Kirkup, SMF Director, launches the SMF's essay series "A healthier future: How to make general practice work better for everyone". The series was born out of the responses to a Times article written by James, in August 2021. In this introductory piece, James showcases the article where it all began and reflects on the importance of contributions to this series (and outside of it).

So much is now defined as “medical”, requiring and getting a medical intervention, that the system is overwhelmed. In this essay, Tim Howard argues for why the role of the GP needs to be clarified (and subsequently better resourced) such that they can effectively treat key medical issues, whilst directing more deep-rooted problems to the appropriate institutions.