title: Perspective: lessons from the past.
abstract: A considered analysis of some factors used in the past 50-70 years in medical education, care on a hospital ward, organisation of health services, medical research and the attitudes of media and politics to health services is described. The possible reasons for changes in these areas over time are considered, and recommendations are made in each area on how current practice could be improved in the light of past experience.
authors.affiliation: London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
authors.forename: Walter W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000266:history; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D011057:Politics
keywords: healthcare; medical education; medical research