David's Blog
A blog to promote debate and discussion around current issues of interest to the network. David MacKintosh, one of the founders of the network, writes a weekly blog piece, all editions of which can be found here. We also invite contributions to the blog from others with ideas and opinions on issues relating to health behaviours and urban health and wellbeing. If you would like to contribute, please send your post to us for consideration at [email protected] - if accepted for publication, your blog will be posted here on the GPHN website, as well as being included in the weekly GPHN alerts sent to all those in the network.
David's Blog #69: From the Ground Up
I hope this finds you well. It has been a while since my last blog, with holidays, work and yes COVID, all getting in the way. But I have also been reflecting upon the general direction of travel ...
David’s blog #68: Broken, Wanting, and Not Fit for Purpose
The above is not a judgement on the English football team (who had a great tournament). They are, in fact, the words of Dame Carol Black last week when presenting her long awaited review on the st...
David's blog #67: Dates, Doom, Doughnuts, and the Value of Breakfast
I started thinking about this blog nearly a month ago, in fact on the day that marked the 50th anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act. This landmark anniversary has come at a time of increased ana...
David’s blog #66: Of Mice and Men – and Adders
For the last decade or so there has been a dismal lack of interest shown in the UK towards drugs policy. We have had the annual wringing of hands when updated drug related deaths figures have been...
David’s blog #65: The View Beyond the End of Our Noses
At the moment, it is understandably difficult to look beyond COVID. The boasting and blame games around vaccine roll outs continue, alongside the debate over who is, and isn’t, a priority for rece...
Guest blog: Partnership That Saves Lives
This week we have a guest blog from the City of London highlighting a valuable collaboration that improves the response to individuals experiencing severe mental health episodes while also helping...
David’s blog #64: It’s a Small World
The well-known saying above usually applies when we find we have friends in common with our colleagues, or similar events happen in different places. For those lucky enough to have visited a Disne...
David’s blog #63: Fresh air makes the Doctor poor
The above is, I am led to believe, a Danish proverb. I think it is a sentiment many of us can relate to, though we have no desire to see our medical friends reduced to poverty! But with London enj...
David’s blog #62: Summit in Sight
As we look forward into 2021 and beyond, we see glimmers of hope that the world is getting to grips with the pandemic and that we can start to think about returning to “normality”. Most of us are ...
David’s blog #61: Under Pressure
In my local area, many people have kept up their Christmas decorations and lights longer than usual, perhaps hoping to fend off the current gloom. I have certainly appreciated it. The January blue...