Dr Julian Tudor Hart was born of medical parents in 1927. His teenage ambition was to become a general practitioner serving a coal mining community developing practical ideas for a future socialist society. After five years as a GP in North Kensington he worked under two famous epidemiologists, Richard Doll and Archie Cochrane. Returning to general practice in a South Wales valley community, he combined clinical work with epidemiological research led by his wife Mary and supported by the Medical Research Council. He has published four previous books and many papers in peer-reviewed journals, visited many countries as a lecturer or visiting professor, and served as an elected member of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He is an Honorary Fellow of four Universities, a former president of the UK Socialist Health Association, and now president of the SHA in Wales.

"...deeply practical...heart-warmingly optimistic." Helen Roberts in Public Health Today

• Foreword by Tony Benn; Preface to the second edition; The NHS as wealth production; What does it produce?; How does it produce?; Generalists and specialists; Ownership: Justice and solidarity; A space in which to learn; Notes and references

Dr Julian Tudor Hart was born of medical parents in 1927. His teenage ambition was to become a general practitioner serving a coal mining community developing practical ideas for a future socialist society. After five years as a GP in North Kensington he worked under two famous epidemiologists, Richard Doll and Archie Cochrane. Returning to general practice in a South Wales valley community, he combined clinical work with epidemiological research led by his wife Mary and supported by the Medical Research Council. He has published four previous books and many papers in peer-reviewed journals, visited many countries as a lecturer or visiting professor, and served as an elected member of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He is an Honorary Fellow of four Universities, a former president of the UK Socialist Health Association, and now president of the SHA in Wales.

"...deeply practical...heart-warmingly optimistic." Helen Roberts in Public Health Today

• Foreword by Tony Benn; Preface to the second edition; The NHS as wealth production; What does it produce?; How does it produce?; Generalists and specialists; Ownership: Justice and solidarity; A space in which to learn; Notes and references

Dr Julian Tudor Hart was born of medical parents in 1927. His teenage ambition was to become a general practitioner serving a coal mining community developing practical ideas for a future socialist society. After five years as a GP in North Kensington he worked under two famous epidemiologists, Richard Doll and Archie Cochrane. Returning to general practice in a South Wales valley community, he combined clinical work with epidemiological research led by his wife Mary and supported by the Medical Research Council. He has published four previous books and many papers in peer-reviewed journals, visited many countries as a lecturer or visiting professor, and served as an elected member of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He is an Honorary Fellow of four Universities, a former president of the UK Socialist Health Association, and now president of the SHA in Wales.

"...deeply practical...heart-warmingly optimistic." Helen Roberts in Public Health Today

• Foreword by Tony Benn; Preface to the second edition; The NHS as wealth production; What does it produce?; How does it produce?; Generalists and specialists; Ownership: Justice and solidarity; A space in which to learn; Notes and references