This book has two purposes. First, it aims to identify key issues in health and health care, and, second, it aims to identify ways in which improvements in both might occur. Its title recognises that more might be achieved now if we were able to use our existing knowledge more effectively. We already know what needs to be done the question is how can that potential be realised. It is also acknowledged that change will only come about through people, individually and collectively, changing their behaviour. One important feature of this is to improve quality of life. The aim is to make people fe ... More

This book has two purposes. First, it aims to identify key issues in health and health care, and, second, it aims to identify ways in which improvements in both might occur. Its title recognises that more might be achieved now if we were able to use our existing knowledge more effectively. We already know what needs to be done the question is how can that potential be realised. It is also acknowledged that change will only come about through people, individually and collectively, changing their behaviour. One important feature of this is to improve quality of life. The aim is to make people feel better and enjoy life in addition to living longer. This concept includes the whole population, it is about health for all, regardless of race, social class, place of birth, and so on. It also requires that decisions and actions are based on evidence and requires a rigorous scientific approach. The basis of the change is education, built on a knowledge base which is constantly being revised and improved and at the heart of the process are ethical issues which provide the framework around which decisions are made.