It’s no secret and no controversy to say that the health care system is ‘broken’.
With dangerously long waiting lists and the laissez-faire writing of prescriptions, does anyone really get better in the current system?
Of course there are many who benefit and lives saved through the practice of modern medicine and the great care and attention given by the nurses and doctors.
Having been through the system at a time when I needed it the most, I’m sure glad it exists.
And I suppose this opens my conversation today. What medicine can do and the people who work in and deliver it is quite truly amazing. I often think of the nurses when I complain of having a long and difficult day. I know they have it worse and carry a bigger smile than me.
But what is not working in the health care system is the approach to health. In fact one of the first improvements I see is to call it what it is, a ‘sick’ care system. Honestly, there is not a lot of health that goes on in a hospital.
If we start our focus here we could rebuild it for what it is.
For starters, in a sick care system, a patient should only attend when they are indeed sick. This is how it used to be and if that were the case, a huge load would be lifted off the service.
The focus could be on getting sick people well, not juggling beds for every person who comes in just to be ‘checked’.
And to aid the aforementioned is a strong education of the public around true health care. And what do I mean by this? Health responsibility.
I understand it can be scary when you are sick or think you are, but with a little education, it is easier to understand why and what your body is doing. And with education on health, we could go some way to limiting the pressure on the system.
What does the education look like? It starts with a simple understanding of where health comes from and what it means to be healthy.
We know health comes from within, and it is not found in a pill or a potion, we also know that to achieve health takes a little effort.
Building a societal culture around this would take years, but the outcome would be far greater than the direction we are heading in now.
So I will keep my rant short and end it there, but I want you to know that by taking your time and energy to invest in your care at Epoch and to read these blogs, you are taking great responsibility for your health, and that will pay dividends for your family way into the future.
I would love to hear your comments on this subject.
With love,
Tom
