This paper is based on a presentation at a conference on 'Developing Health Promotion in Undergraduate Medical Education' held in March 1987 and sponsored by the Health Education Authority (HEA). The paper was first published in a report of the conference proceedings, edited by Katherine Were and published by the HEA (1988). This edited revision is reproduced with their permission.
This review was Wendy's last published work. We have reprinted it almost in full, although the original paper contains my more references. Copies of the original paper, published in 1991, are available from Social Planning and Research Council of British Colombia (SPARC) No. 106-2182 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6K 2N4. We are grateful to SPARC for allowing us to publish this version of the paper in CPH.
SummaryThis paper seeks to explore some of the issues surrounding the use of immunisation as a public health strategy. As a health visitor I began to question the issue of informed consent which I found may compromise immunisation targets and related financial incentives. The measles and rubella campaign in the Autumn, 1994 is the focus of discussion although the general issues can be generalised to all childhood immunisation programmes. The evidence shows many discrepancies. Vaccination can be seen as the major contributor to the reduction of many potentially harmful diseases. However in developed industrialised countries it can be argued that the diseases should not be avoided and that, in seeking to avoid them, we may cause more damage both short term and long tenn than just leaving alone.
Terminal care is an important part of medical work but it is an area of work which doctors find difficult and about which they may express some anxiety. Terminal care is seen as amenable to improvement by the provision of undergraduate education and this is now seen as an important part of the prequalification curriculum in medicine. This paper considers the content and aims of such education for terminal care, and asks whether it is effective in achieving its aims.
Is quality good for you? a critical review of quality assurance in welfare services Naomi Heffer and Anna Cook Institute for Public Policy Research, Social Policy Paper No. 5,1991. ISBN 187452361, £10.00Clinical practice guidelines. directions for a new program Institute of Medicine. National Academy Press, 1990. ISBN 0309 043468, £12.85