Rewilding general practice

Iona Heath’s editorial gets to the heart of what is important in general practice, the relationship between patient and GP, and how that can be used to explore, through a shared understanding of biotechnical and biographical frameworks, how best to address the patient’s concerns and problems.¹

The rewilding metaphor offers a helpful way of exploring different and better ways of linking ‘medical research, primary health care, and the health of the planet’ as the article states.

However, we also need to be aware of how the term can be used to reinvigorate outdated and dangerous ideas in the guise of new language. Fraser MacDonald’s article illustrates how ‘rewilding’ can be used to marginalise people living in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.² ‘When 432 people own half of Scotland’s private rural land, rewilding can happen easily enough without local support.’ There are parallels here with current ownership and control in primary health care.

As Heath states, rewilding needs to be driven from the heart of the community, whether that is the GP community, or those living in remote and rural communities.

• © British Journal of General Practice 2022