David Zigmond is a veteran NHS doctor, writer and healthcare activist. His many decades of working as a psychiatrist, GP and psychotherapist have informed and fuelled his many published articles and books. From his earliest writings he has used authentic, vividly written, vignettes to explore and illustrate hidden social and psychological aspects of illness and healing which are mostly disregarded, yet so often crucial. These constitute the art and ethos of medicine, in contrast to its bedrock of science. He has long been publicly concerned that our very successful treatments increasingly push out care which is the art and vocational basis of medical practice – so procedures now displace relationships, data now replaces personal understanding.His work in healthcare education and psychotherapy continue in London.
